Whats Killing My Fish?

[i3lade4life]

I got home today to find at least 3 apisto's,1 black neon and a BN all dead in my tank.
Did a water workup, to find that all my levels are within parameters. PH normal, Nitrites 0 and Ammonia 0.
In my tank I have a group of Apisto's a group of BN's and a few tetras.
Couldnt see any obvious attack marks on any of the fish, and one of the apisto's that died was swimming erratically before dying.
Yesterday I dropped a couple of slices of Courgette in,but I usually feed frozen bloodworm.
Could this be something that I have fed them? or is it likely to be something else?

 

[JoeyWoodall]

if you have not already flushed the bodies of the fish maybe it is worth checking them thoroughly for any signs of disease in the fish? i have heard a few stories of fish acting erratically when they are suffering from disease. im not claiming to be an expert, just trying to help you find the cause. also, maybe take a sample of your water down to your local aquatics shop and they may possibly help. have you added any new editions to the tank? eg plants or other fish?

 

[balajake]

could a substance/chemical accidentally got in the tank ? sometimes it could be something simple like air freshner or flea treatment being sprayed in the air and the mist somehow settling in the tank.

 

[i3lade4life]

Cant think of any chemical contaminants. I added some plants and 3 black neons last week.
Just found another dead apisto, seems like a recent victim as it hadnt lost much colour.
Done a 50% water change to see if that helps.
Just hoping that its not a massacre by the time I wake up in the morning

 

[balajake]

i would do a 90% change straight away. shame you havent got another tank to put them in

 

[i3lade4life]

will do!

 

[balajake]

also i would get a bucket of dechlorinated water and give your filter pads a good swish in them. what are your nitrates like ?

 

[JoeyWoodall]

hmm, its strange that you mention you have added a plant recently, my mother in law had also just added a new plant to her tank last saturday and since she has gone to feed her fish and found 5 belly-up, on 4 different occasions, hmm?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Did you wash the skin of the courgette before putting it in the tank?

 

[i3lade4life]

Did you wash the skin of the courgette before putting it in the tank?

No I didnt. Never even thought of that.......

 

[balajake]

im not a plant expert. if you could identify the plant you added someone might be able to tell you if that's the cause

 

[i3lade4life]

Its just a ludwiga, Got it from a guy who's well known for growing good plants, so I cant imagine its from that

 

[SaTiVa1984]

Did you wash the skin of the courgette before putting it in the tank?

No I didnt. Never even thought of that.......

Could be as simple as unwashed fertilizer or pesticide, even chemicals from the pre-sale wash on the courgette then.

Hope everything works out for you.

 

[i3lade4life]

Im starting to lose my mind over this now. Got up this morning to find at least 4 more casualties. 1 more BN and 3 Apistos (1 swimming erratically again before dying).
Done more water checks and my PH has spiked at approx 7.6 but ammonia nitrites and nitrates are all at 0.
The other fish seem very active and there doesnt seem to be any signs of disease until its too late.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

If it's a toxin introduced on the courgette or new plant then you need to do a massive water change to clear it. And if you have carbon then use it in your filter.