What's Going Wrong?

[buttercupbabe078]

In my main tank I have had 9 Deaths in the last week.
2 of my mollies have died, 5 guppies and 2 Platties.
I have done a test myself and even for reassurance I have taken a sample into lfs. Thay say everything is fine apart from slight nitrates which I have been dealing with by not feeding the fish many water changes and cleaning my gravel.
There doesn't appear to by anything wrong with the fish by looking at them. My tetra's, 2 dalmation mollies, plec and baby platy, guppy and molly are all fine.
I love my fish and this is getting really depressing.
Whats happening?

 

[Lynda B]

what size is the tank?

how long have you had your fish?

what are your readings:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrites:
nitrates:

you've had no symptoms at all? no growths on the fish? all have been eating and swimming well?

just what does "many water changes" translate into? if you change to much water, too often, it can have an adverse affect on the fish.....

 

[idlefingers]

have you used any air fresheners or other sprays/chemicals in the room with your tank in?
Have you added any new fish, equipment or ornaments recently?
Did the dead fish have any marks or damage on them?
What size is your tank, how often do you do water changes and how much?

Clutching at straws, really, but you never know..

*edit* woops Lynda got there first. ignore half of what I just said!

 

[buttercupbabe078]

My tank is 126 litres
Had the fish about 6 weeks
PH:8.0
No3:25-50
No2: 0

I've done 2 water changes ina week of about 20% and a mini gravel clean.
Some of the guppies became arched but all the others just disapeared and I had to hunt round the tank to find them!
All equipment ornaments etc have been in from the start.
Thank you for any help.

 

[Lynda B]

what are you feeding?

Did you cycle your tank, and then add your fish? And, did you add all of the fish at one time?

 

[buttercupbabe078]

I'm feeding them tropical fish flakes.

This is a new tank coz I hated my old one. so some of the fish have come from there. On the advice of my lfs I used the same filter, ornaments etc with out cleaning them. set up the new tank in new location with with only 50% ish new water and left if for about 3 days then added the other 50% from my old tank. with the few fish I had. That was about 3 months ago but then about 2 weeks ago they started dying. All the fish have been added at different times gradulally.
I have another smaller guppy tank with the same readings as my big tank and they are doing great!

 

[Lynda B]

What brand of food are you feeding? There are contaminated foods out there now.

 

[buttercupbabe078]

It's nutrafin max. I've been using it since bout oct.

 

[Lynda B]

I'm stumped.....

Is it possible that you brought in a fish with bacteria or illness and that fish has passed it along? Or..... is it possible you're purchasing older fish?

 

[buttercupbabe078]

I'm soooooo glad is not just me. They could be older fish but they never seem to have the same fish at the lfs everytime I go. but then saying that you don't know where they have been or for how long before that.

 

[idlefingers]

really odd. perhaps there's something contaminating your tapwater in some way. (really clutching at straws now)

It's either going to be some sort of contamination or loss of water quality, disease or infection of some sort or just general old age as suggested.

 

[Lynda B]

Seems like your only option is bringing one of the dead fish to the store and having them dissect it to see what it died from.

I'm so sorry that I couldn't help you. It sure sounds like you're doing everything right.

 

[buttercupbabe078]

I'm so greatful for the help. Even though we don't know whats doing it, it's such a weight off my mind knowing it's not me that's killing them. Gonna let things settle down then try a diff shop.
Thank you. x