Tropical Tank Problems

[GibsonSmith]

Hello all,

First post so I guess I should explain myself a little.

Ok, generally when I tell people what tank we have and why we got it I get a shake of the head. We have a BiOrb Life 60l Tank and we got it to look good!

Now I know a lot of you are sat shaking your head but I quickly realised it wasnt as simple as just putting water in a tank and dumping some fish in and have become strangely addicted to having fish, so I really need help.

The tank is around 6 months old, we initially had no problems at all. I think only 1 Neon didnt make it and I put it down to the "New Tank Syndrome" which I read about.

Everything seemed fine until around a month ago, we purchased some guppies (various colours) from Pets At Home (yes I know I shouldnt of!), within 1 day 3 of the 5 we're dead and the other two followed shortly after along with my other 6 guppies who all became poorly one after the other. Then the Neons started going, then my plec went too, I forget the species, but it's basically the one that wont grow over 5 - 7 cm which was the biggest I could get due to the small entry into the tank. Now I knew I had a problem so I purchased some water testing kits so I could monitor it myself (I used to go to the pet store to get it tested). The kits I purchased kept showing good results! I bought Amonia testing (liquid) and that showed a very slight problem but nothing major. I took a water sample to Dobbies garden centre where the fish guy is an expert and he said he wasnt sure why my fish we're dying as the water is almost perfect.

Now, my explanation to him was that the fish had no visible problems. I couldn't see any white spots nor any markings on the scales, tonight however that changed. I have two bigger fish (sorry, I dont know the species again, but see photo). When I came home from work one of them was dead, at the bottom of the tank with a white spot approx 5mm in diameter on the top of it's head. Now, as you may see in the photo, the other fish has what looks like a scale to be missing showing red just in front of it's right gill.

There is currently 7 small fish in the tank, the biggest is 5 - 6 cm (in the picture) + 1 small plec.

The filter used is the built in one that comes with the tank and it's been in there around 3 weeks. I did a 15% water change 3 days ago.

NO3 = 17(approx)
NO2 = 0
GH = 16d
KH = 4d
PH = 7.2
Cl2 = 0.8
Amonia = 0.15

I do have a bit of a snail problem which I havent treated chemically, but have recently used some Algea cleaner which said it might be harmful to the snails.

I live in a soft water area.

I think I have mentioned everything that I need too, but if you need me to answer anything else please let me know.

Thanks in advance,


David.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Oh #41####! I just noticed the Tropical Emergencies forum, I should of posted in there. Will someone move it or should I re-post?

Not a good start ey

 

[star4]

I cannot honestly tell from the picture if that redness is due to ammonia or a parasite (its a dwarf gourami) Can you see anything worm like sticking out of the gill area? if so you need an antiparacitic medication like Sterazin (made by waterlife) are they usually at the surface of the tank? Do you have any air going into the tank from an air pump or surface agitation? I have read with a biorb because of the lower surface area there can be problems with low oxygen in the water, if not try and get an air pump or if possible move the filter so its disturbing the surface.


Dont worry about being in the wrong section, our excellent mods will move it

 

[GibsonSmith]

I turned the filter off to feed the fish, it stops the flakes falling down. But there is a filter that disturbs the surface, see pic below.

Dwarf Gourami (thank you) usually swims around the top of the tank, they have always been the same. They generally do swim around the top, along with the late guppies. Neons generally stay a little lower.

Oh and there doesnt seem to be anything else visibly wrong / strange with the fish. No worm like thing sticking out or near the gills.

 

[star4]

Arrrhh yes thats brill o2 shouldnt really be the problem then, the only other thing I can think of if the water stats are ok (ruling out ammonia poisoning) would be if the gourami has some sort of ulcer (hard to see from the pic) you could treat that either with daily water changes or use an antibacterial medication.

Wilder is great on this sort of thing in the emergancy section. I will ask for this to be moved for you.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Thanks...

To be honest, I have no idea what meds would/should be used, so any help and guidance would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again.


D.

 

[GibsonSmith]

I just managed to get a better picture of the problem.

Also, any advice on why so many of my fish havent made it when the water is apprently fine

Thanks,


D.

 

[Skins]

Having a quick look at your thread it could be down to overstocking as to the cause for loss of fish.

 

[star4]

I would guess at a bacterial infection brought in from the guppies you bought. Good antibacterial meds I have used are: Melafix (natural tea tree extract) Myxazin (fin rot & bacterial) or you could go for a general purpose med like eSHa 2000 which covers a wider spectum of problems.

With the size and redness of that mark I would use the Myxazin

I have pm's a mod for you to get this moved to the emergancy section, sorry I am not much help.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Overstocking... how many fish would you expect to have in a 60 (Litre) tank?

It seems quite bizarre as the fish stockists seem to have 60+ guppies / neon tetras in 30 litre tanks

D.

You've been a great help Star. Thank you.

I'll have a look around for them meds tomorrow.

Thanks again.


D.

 

[Skins]

Overstocking... how many fish would you expect to have in a 60 (Litre) tank?

It seems quite bizarre as the fish stockists seem to have 60+ guppies / neon tetras in 30 litre tanks

D.

They have a fast turn over, there not in there long enough.

 

[GibsonSmith]

Ok, so a 60 Litre tank... can you please advise how many small fish would be the limit for a tank that size?

 

[Skins]

Ok, so a 60 Litre tank... can you please advise how many small fish would be the limit for a tank that size?

I do appologise, just gone over your first post and i have so misread it. If i was to own a 60ltr biorb i would stock the following:
x6 cherry barbs
x6 tetra's
x1 bristlnose

Skins.

 

[GibsonSmith]

The shop only had Melafix in stock, so I just did the first treatment. It says continue to treat daily for the next 7 days.

Also got some white spot treatment, although I can't see any evidence on the remaining fish, I'm pretty sure there was a large white mark on the head of the fish that died 24 hours ago.

Can/should I treat with the white spot treatment?

Thanks,


D.