Tropical Fish Problem Today!

[j_bo82]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can give me some advice. My fiance has recently bought a starter tank (70 litre) and after having it up and running for a couple weeks introduced 6 barbs and a rainbow shark. Everything was fine until the last couple of days. I changed the filter 3 days ago as it was time for a change (3-4 weeks ish) . I was using the aqua safe and aquabalance to kee pthe water healthy but since the filter change the water got really cloudy. Also there was a lot of residue like old food etc on the stones on the bottom. We introduced a silver shark today, a small bottom feeder and a sailfin molly and unfortunately within half hour of being in the tank the molly and bottom feeder just died. I also noticed before they were put in that one of the barbs had died. all the other were fine. After the molly and bottom feeder died i was advised to do a 40% water change and treat the water and add a bactozym tablet. nefore the water change i noticed that all the fish were right ar top of tank and looked like they were actually sucking air, but after the water change they all settled down below again and are back to normal. I have a filter / pump and heater but no oxygen generator. Just wondering if anyone has any tips on where i might have gone wrong??

Thanks for you time.

 

[WILDER]

Added to many fish too soon, the rainbow shark needs a 40gal tank, and the silver shark which is a bala shark need to be kept in groups to be happy and they need large tanks of 90gals.
When you say you changed the filter you didn't touch the sponges did you.
The tank will still be cyling as you have a bacteria bloom, fish have to go through the ammonia and nitrite process so it's like living in a toilet.
Do you have a test kit for ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.
I would strongly suggest taking the sharks back to the lfs no way should they be in that tank size.
Can you increase aeration in the tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=123786

http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_frenatus.php

 

[DarkEntity]

When you say you changed the filter, what exactly do you mean, if you took the old one out and put a brand new one in they you will have removed all the good bacteria from the tank, because of that the tank will need to cycle again.

Also you have the wrong fish for that size of tank really.

Silver sharks grow to 10 Inches, and are shoaling fish so you should have more than 1 (but your tank wont support them), Barbs (which type of Barb) the most common are Tiger Barbs, which are about 4Inch plus each when grown up, Rainbow Shark 6 Inches +.

Basically you should take back the Silver Shark at the very least. and get water readings every day until the tank is cycled again, keeping up with water changes to try and save the fish you have left.

Edit

Wilder you beat me to it

 

[WILDER]

You need to do some reading here.
Been badly advised by the lfs.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=58


Wilder you beat me to it
Lol very fast typer.

 

[j_bo82]

When you say you changed the filter, what exactly do you mean, if you took the old one out and put a brand new one in they you will have removed all the good bacteria from the tank, because of that the tank will need to cycle again.

Also you have the wrong fish for that size of tank really.

Silver sharks grow to 10 Inches, and are shoaling fish so you should have more than 1 (but your tank wont support them), Barbs (which type of Barb) the most common are Tiger Barbs, which are about 4Inch plus each when grown up, Rainbow Shark 6 Inches +.

Basically you should take back the Silver Shark at the very least. and get water readings every day until the tank is cycled again, keeping up with water changes to try and save the fish you have left.

Edit

Wilder you beat me to it

my fiance says she took the old filter out and replaced it with a new one, I had a feeling that was not a good idea. Yeah i'll break it to her that it would be wise to get the silver shark back to the shop, although she is talking of getting a much larger tank in the future. She has 3 green bars and 3 tigers.
So what do you think will have caused the tank to get so murky so quick?

thanks for the help much appreciated

 

[diet]

To help increase oxygenation into the water direct the exit flow from the pump/filter so it causes a ripple on the surface this will allow the process to happen and will introduce oxygen into your tank..


Swordtails and platys are hardy fish that are good as first fish for a new tank

eeeekkkk if u can how long has the old filter been off and has it been kept wet or now dry??

if its still wet and only been off 24 hours or less put it back to try and save as much bacteria as poss and keep both filter going for a while dont add any more fish for a few weeks as your tank will need to be re- cycled

 

[j_bo82]

what i did notice is that she topped up the tank nearly to the top, i have left an inch and a half so the water flowing out of the filter causes a ripple effect.

 

[WILDER]

When you add the new filter you should of put the old sponges into the new filter even if you had to cut them up with scissors to fit.
Your tank is cycling again, it will be cloudy its a bacteria bloom.
Research your fish before you buy them, that they are not to big for the tank, and also they are capatable with one another.

 

[j_bo82]

the old filter was bunged away unfortunately

 

[WILDER]

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling.htm

 

[diet]

Fingers crossed your other fish wont die but dont be surprised if they do if u can return the fish do and then just re start the process again.


Invest in a water test kit: around £20

if ur lucky enough to have a lfs like mine that do the full liquid tests for sod all then just take a sample to them every few days with the promise of when its ready to buy loads lol

 

[j_bo82]

yeah theres a pets at home that will test for free, but i've been told they sell unhealthy fish so have stayed clear of it. Do you recommend an oxygen generator?

 

[WILDER]

An air pump yes, what fish do you have left now as I would add some salt.

Get a jug of tank water and stir one tablepsoon of household salt into the jug water, make sure its disolved before you add it to the tank.

 

[j_bo82]

we have a rainbow shark, a silver shark, 5 barbs (2 green and 3 tiger)

 

[WILDER]

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335
If you take the sharks back the rest will have to go through the cycle.