Tiger Barb Swimming Irradically

[xion0374]

Today 1 of my 5 tiger barb died - reason unknown.
 
my 2nd tiger barb is swimming irradically, sometimes it will swim on its side, sometimes it will stop and just lose balance.  Sometimes it will just flip tail over like its dead.
 
I have 5 tiger fish in a 5gallon tank.  Which isnt to crowded.  But a few days ago the fish where swmming fine.  Yesterday I pick up a rock in my back yard, rinse it and put it inside my 5gallon tank with the tiger barbs.  This morning 1 died, and 1 swimming weirdly.
 
Status of tank is fully cycle.
ph is 7.6+
ammonia 0.0ppm
nitrite 0.0ppm
nitrate 0.0ppm
 
Not sure it my tiger barbs infected or what any ideas to help determine why the tiger barb is swimming irradically.

 

[greenmumma141]

I would take out the rock.  How long has the tank been set up and is it cycled? I'm thinking if your nitrates are zero, then it's not cycled. You should have a look in the beginners resource center on how to cycle a tank.
 
I would also suggest rehoming the tiger barbs that are not infected/sickly immediately as a 5 gallon is extremely too small for even one tiger barb.

 

[xion0374]

The tank has been cycle completely.  The reason theres no nitrate at all or very little is i do moderate feeding and vacum out whats not eaten.  I might have to do a 100% water change and go buy some medications, but if i do that will the medication kill of the good bacteria.  And if so will the bacteria recover, I dont want to purchase new tiger barbs again.

 

[greenmumma141]

I wouldn't suggest medicating when you don't know what is going on with your fish.  There are a couple medications that can kill the good bacteria in your filter, yes, as well as cause more harm to your healthy fish and sick fish as well if it's not the appropriate medication.

Again, I would rehome the healthy barbs. 5 gallons is such a small tank. How long have you had these fish? There is no way these tiger barbs are not overloading a 5 gallon tank, what type of filter do you have?!

 

[xion0374]

Just the standard hang on the back filter.  I check my water paramater and no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate buildup.  I even diluted the water for a secondary test and result are the same.  I looked up dr tims aquatic video on why diluting the water with RO water will allow the nitrite and nitrate to show even if it didnt show up with the pure tank water.
 
But like I said I been dosing the tank for over 2 weeks with ammonia and nitrite was building up. Up to the point where I had 5ppm or more of ammonia in the tank the following day, the ammonia was down to 1ppm or less, as the nitrite went up to 3ppms and nitrate was over 80ppm.
 
I changed the water and added the fish the following day.  Theres no reason why my fish would be deing with such a good water parameter.
 
I dont have an alternative to put the barbs in atm, as my 55g is still cycling.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

2 weeks is very quick to cycle a tank....which makes me believe your tank and filter are not fully cycled.
I don't think you have proven that your filter is processing FULL ammonia time after time....this needs to be recorded over time, sometimes taking weeks and weeks.
 
As was stated above, your tank is far too small for these fish, as is your filter, probably.
I would...
 
1/ Rehome the fish. Any half decent fish store will take them back when you explain why.
2/ Research the beginners section on here, it's a cave of knowledge!
3/ Continue with your fishless cycle, proving that your filter is doing what it should be doing.
 
Terry.

 

[xion0374]

I know my tank has fully cycle because everytime I would add im ammonia the would get converted by the next morning.  So I dont understand why would it not cycle by now, a 5gallon tank shouldn't take that long to cycle.  And I keep track of my 5gal tanks, and just last week my nitrate went up to 80ppm before I changed the water.  And when I did, I retest it the night before and theres no sign of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate.  And when I added the 5 tiger barbs in, I also tested the water the same day and 2 days later with no sign of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate.
 
So whats wrongs

 

[xion0374]

Update.
 
I found out it was the water, i believe I may have introduce something into the water when I picked up a rock from my backyard and put it into the tank.  Even though I was the rock with soap and all. That may be it, I still dont know.
 
However when I did my water test, this is what I got.
 
Ph 7.6+ its like a dark blue close to maybe 8.0+
ammonia less than .25ppm
nitrite less than 1.0ppm
nitrate between 5ppm to 10ppm
 
but just to be sure I use RO water mix with tank water to get a more accurate reading on the nitrite and nitrate.
Nitrite less than 1.0ppm
Nitrate is at 5ppm or less
 
Reason using the RO water mix with tank water to test was to make sure the api liquid were conclusive and not accurate.
 
So to see if my fish do any better, I mix 60ml of RO water with 60mil of tank water and my last tiger barb seems to be fine, hes not swimming irradicully or weird now.
 
So i dont know whats wrong maybe its the water maybe its the rock from my back yard, or something.  They were fine before I put the rock into the water.
 
Hopefully my last tiger lived past 24 hours.  Crossing fingers.
 
I did a 100% water change to my 5gal.
 
The ph before was over 7.6+ so i dont know exactly what ph it is.  But after the change of water and the RO water in my 5gal bucket over night was 6.4, hopefully it doesnt kill the fish.
 

 

[greenmumma141]

Just the standard hang on the back filter.  I check my water paramater and no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate buildup.  I even diluted the water for a secondary test and result are the same.  I looked up dr tims aquatic video on why diluting the water with RO water will allow the nitrite and nitrate to show even if it didnt show up with the pure tank water.
 
But like I said I been dosing the tank for over 2 weeks with ammonia and nitrite was building up. Up to the point where I had 5ppm or more of ammonia in the tank the following day, the ammonia was down to 1ppm or less, as the nitrite went up to 3ppms and nitrate was over 80ppm.
 
I changed the water and added the fish the following day.  Theres no reason why my fish would be deing with such a good water parameter.
 
I dont have an alternative to put the barbs in atm, as my 55g is still cycling.

 
1ppm of ammonia is not the same as 0. And 1ppm of nitrite is lethal to fish. When you add ammonia, and the next day it's almost 3, and the nitrites are at 3ppm, your tank is not fully cycled. Your filter has to take the convert the ammonia and the nitrites. Both should be at 0ppm before adding any fish. You are now in what is called a "fish-in cycle", take a look here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/
 
Any time you put anything into your tank, you shouldn't wash with soap. Just lots of scrubbing and hot water. 
 
Again, even once your tank is fully cycled (which it is not) it will be extremely too small for tiger barbs. You should rehome them before they die

 

[the_lock_man]

It's too much of a coincidence that you add the rock and then encounter problems - something wasn't washed off properly and it killed the filter bacteria, IMO. It could be that there was some sort of weedkiller or pesticide or something like that used in the garden that go into the rock and it leached out. Or possibly you just didn't wash the soap off fully.
 

I have 5 tiger fish in a 5gallon tank.  Which isnt to crowded. 

 
I think it is. Tiger barbs need a much bigger tank that a 5gal.

 

[xion0374]

The last barb is swimming freely now with clean water.  What should I do next?

 

[the_lock_man]

What's today's water test readings?

 

[xion0374]

ph 6.4
am 0.0ppm
nit 0.0ppm
nat 0.0ppm

 

[greenmumma141]

The last barb is swimming freely now with clean water.  What should I do next?

 
rehome him.

 

[xion0374]

I just did.......
 
Anyway anyone know where to find crush coral for 5lb and under.