Tanks going great then...

[Katchan]

While it's not really an emergency now, I'd like some advice in dealing with the aftermath, but first I'll explain what happened...

My wife's had a tank going great (2 foot, 12 gallon, instantly cycled by adding a large amount of filter media from my 40Gallon), adding fish here and there as we could afford it for the last month or so. Water has been regularly tested, it's always been purfect or near on it. Anyways yesturday we noticed one cardinal dead and the rest plus some 6 week old guppy fry in difficulty, gasping at the surface. Ammonia & Nitrite tested zero. Early evening another dead cardinal, panda cory's not happy and bristlenose often surfacing for air. I do a 30% water change and replace the filter carbon. Everyone looks happy when we go to bed.

This morning all cardinals, and both penguin tetra's dead. I do a 50-66% water change, wash the sponges and add some Amtrite Down as well (the LFS guy gave it to me for free when I was cycling my desktop 1/2 hex, Dunno if it really does anything to instant cycle but it did seem it quicken the cycle and it was free ). Again all looked fine before we went out after lunch. Apon arriving home things not looking good again. Cory's and Bristlenose not good again, and a near dead guppy fry. So we set about saving the remaining fish (guppy fry, panda cory, Bristlenose, female betta, moonlight gourami) by putting into our other tanks, all have since picked up lots (except for the panda's which have picked up a bit). Havn't been able to see or detect anything wrong with either the dead or remaining fish.

Which leads me here, what the hell to do with the tank? The filters still going at the moment. I figure if I remove everything (rock, plants, wood & filter) and give a good wash in water, then give the tank and sand substrate a good wash as well everything should be fine to start the tank to a new cycle. Any other recommendations or suggenstions would be appreciated.

Katchan

 

[WILDER]

Have you been using any household chemicals near the tank, or decorating, i would do some water changes as you have an ammonia reading there, also do you have an airstone for aeration, can you give the full stock list of fish that is kept in that tank, what filter do you use.

 

[Katchan]

Household chemicals? None that I can think of recently. Ammonia and NitrIte readings both at zero. No I have no airstone, the tank uses and internal powerfilter (56 liter tank, filter is suppossed to suit up to 150L), the output on this is set to give good surface disturbance/airation at one end of the tank with some floating elodia and milfoil in the middle to keep the other end calm.

Stocking list before the problem
4 small (<1")cardinal tetra's (rescues from my 40 Gallon tank)
2 penguin tetra's (purchased to school with the cardinals)
6 6 week old guppy's
4 female betta's (varius size's)
4 panda cory (small)
1 small bristlenose
1 small (<5cm) moonlight gourami

yes I know its probably overstocked, but all test readings had been (and still are) perfect (according to 3 different LFS's, so testing shouldn't be an issue).

the guppy's were to be removed on maturing, and same goes for the gourami if needed

as stated the cardinals were rescues

Katchan

 

[WILDER]

The problem is you are over stocked for a 12 gal this is the problem, penquin tetra's need bigger tanks, and your filter might not be able to cope with that many fish.

 

[Katchan]

I doubt that was the problem, as stated the fish were added slowly and no problem seen between or after additions, and I use the same filter on my fully (non-overstocked) 40gallon

Now please are there any comments on treatment of this empty tank, will washing all items well with water, using the clorine and clormine added to the water be enough to hopefully eradicate any unknown chemical/biological problem?


Katchan

PS please wilder no more posts here as you are not really reading what I have posted (not if I have to say multiple thing multiple times just for your benefit)

edited the naughtyness out, but please compulsive posters keep a W I D E berth

 

[Mr Miagi]

First off, i dont know why i should respond, cause you are being pretty rude and abnoxious, and even though u think that tank isnt overstocked, it is, and Wilder is right.

In my mind, washing items would not be beneficial, or do anything. Unless something has been added to the tank, before fish started to die.

Simplt put, i dont know why u started this thread, u asked for ideas, got one, and shot it down. your tank IS overstocked, and although you added fish slowly, it has nothing to do with the fishes lives after thay have been placed in the tank. One day is all it would take for something to happen in your small tank. now im not being as mean as what i could be, but dude, start listening to what others have to say, and not just what u want to hear.

 

[Katchan]

I know the tank was overstocked, I admitted it (I just said I didn't think it was the reason), what I get cheesed off with is people who DONT read what is actually in a post

ie I stated ammonia and nitrite were fine, he then said do a water change as my ammonia was high, where the hell did he get that from???

I had stated the filter was (and is) good enough for a 150L/40 Gallon tank, then he asked if the filter was good enough for the task of a 56L tank.

It wasnt the fact he didnt have good suggestions, both the ones he gave were good, but if someone doesn't read what they are posting on properly can you really be sure they have read enough to know what there posting about at all

So please miagi dont chew me out for someone else not reading things properly, thereby wasting my time by having to rewrite things again just for them .

I also stated I was after reccomendations on cleaning/resetting a tank NOT what the original problem was .

So will people please read my posts properly (you as well miagi, because I did admit to overstocking ) then AND only then post an answer.

Without an answer in that area I will go ahead and give everything a good wash and clean hoping that IF there is/was something nasty in the tank that will fix it.

Katchan

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS CLOSED

 

[Mr Miagi]

Ok, let me 'read' properly the 1st post and continue making recomendations!

Well u said u put the remaining fish in your other tanks, and they havnt been harmed by this "problem", so i would say the problem is not coming directly from the tap water. So im guessing its come from (obvioulsy) something unique to that tank.

The pollution from an external source like Wilder first suggested sounds like it could be the problem. Especialy with the plec and fry finding it difficult to breath.

If you have already established media, id suggest doing a complete water change (100%) and cycling again with the established media! Until the fishes can be safely re-introduced. Maybe a couple of days to a week.

 

[Katchan]

Thanks miagi, between wilder's first answer and yours is what makes sense B) . Our main tank room is also our study and has the windows open much of the time, I guess something could of got'en in through them (it never occurred before, becuse they are always open being in brisbane and all) while my 40gallon is right under the window it has alot more tank volume, and as such would need much more contaniments I assume than what was an overstocked 12 gallon tank. So I'll rinse the media in tank water (have to do a water change on my sons tank tonight anyways) give everything a quick rinse ( to make sure) and set to recycle.

Katchan

 

[Great Lakes]

What kind of ph and hardness readings did you have?

The large filter could possibly be moving your water enough to greatly affect them.

GL

 

[Katchan]

Dont know the PH and hardness readings, I've been waiting over a month for a master test kit in the post (there was a "delay" ) so have been relying on taking regular samples to LFS's, and last time they just did a ammonia & nitrite tests. It's PH was last done about 3 weeks ago and it was approx 7. Hardness I'll admit has never been tested in any of our tanks.


The too much filter isnt something I was aware of, if you can direct me to more info on that I'd be very interested.

Thanks Katchan

 

[WILDER]

Sorry i missed that last bit about you being over stock don't no how i manage that, but i do at times, read alot of post should concentrate more, so sorry.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

wilder, for as many topics as you chime in on with "add meds! add meds!" i hope you are reading pretty closely... overmedication can kill as quickly as any disease.

katchan, the problem probably was overstocking. overstocking has two sides: insufficient biological filtration and insufficient oxygenation. if you'll notice, the fish which survived can either ingest air directly or live in the uppermost regions of the water. the two facts combine indicate to me that it was a lack of oxygen that got your fish. (additional factors that will reduce oxygen levels: high temperatures, water impurities, salt and meds; plants also use up oxygen whenever there isn't enough light to photosynthesize)

as for cleaning: i suggest that you do a near 100% water change with chlorinated water. replace the filter floss and use a clean one. run the chlorinated water for a couple of days, drain and repeat. then just add enough dechlorinator for the entire tank, run a couple of days then swap the filter floss with your 40g. add the pleco at this time; plecos are generally hardy and have a huge bioload. you can slowly start restocking at that point. but try not to overstock it this time.

 

[WILDER]

I don't believe in adding med only when needed, and i make sure i have mentioned the right med, wouldn't need to add med if fishkeepers quarantine fish and kept up with maintanance, but they don't, also don't always pick the right fish for there tank.

 

[wrs]

well, hopefully you will stock your tank right next time.
That gourami should not go back in if you plan on putting some of the fish back, neither should the bristlenose.

Hopefully you will have better luck with the tank next time.