Losing fish, no obvious reason

CrashTest · 08-18-2007, 04:30 PM

I have a 36 gal planted tank that has been established for a couple years now. I have lost very few fish in that time. It is stocked with a larger gourami, a fairly large placastomus (sp?) and about 12 (now) smaller schooling type fish of which 9 are new last week.

I've lost my red finned shark fish (who I've had for 8 years) and three smaller fish in the last week.

I've been adding a lot of plants lately...
I restarted my co2 tank after about two months of not using it recently...
I've started dosing again (dry ferts) after about two months of neglect...

So obviously there have been some major changes recently, and I was wondering what I might do/check beyond an extra water change.

Maybe it was sharkys time to go, but with the other fish dying, I'm wondering if there might be a virus or something. There are no visible signs of disease on the fish.

Amonia is 0
nitrate is 20-30 ppm
ph is ~7.3
That's all I test for as of now...

Thanks for your help!

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crazie.eddie · 08-18-2007, 05:49 PM

Any signs from the fish before their death?

Maybe too much CO2?

How are you adding the ferts?

CrashTest · 08-18-2007, 06:31 PM

The fish have seemed fine all along (unless it's not well at all and dead...)

I'm actually trying minimal c02 right now, so it's pretty low, I think (1-2 bpm)

The ferts are added dry into a cup, mixed, and added.

skabooya · 08-18-2007, 06:54 PM

What do your fish look like and do right before they die?

CrashTest · 08-18-2007, 06:57 PM

They look and act completely normal from anything I have seen...

Aqua Dave · 08-20-2007, 09:25 PM

Your nitrates are high. Will be an issue if it is approaching 30+ ppm. What is your Kh? That combined with the Ph will give you an estimate of CO2. Could also be some bacteria or parasite the new fish brought in.

A water change will lower the nitrate and help remove any other dissolved solids. Melafix is a helpful prophylactic when adding new fish though you'll need a real med if you suspect infection.

David

08-18-2007, 04:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
CrashTest Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 47	Losing fish, no obvious reason I have a 36 gal planted tank that has been established for a couple years now. I have lost very few fish in that time. It is stocked with a larger gourami, a fairly large placastomus (sp?) and about 12 (now) smaller schooling type fish of which 9 are new last week. I've lost my red finned shark fish (who I've had for 8 years) and three smaller fish in the last week. I've been adding a lot of plants lately... I restarted my co2 tank after about two months of not using it recently... I've started dosing again (dry ferts) after about two months of neglect... So obviously there have been some major changes recently, and I was wondering what I might do/check beyond an extra water change. Maybe it was sharkys time to go, but with the other fish dying, I'm wondering if there might be a virus or something. There are no visible signs of disease on the fish. Amonia is 0 nitrate is 20-30 ppm ph is ~7.3 That's all I test for as of now... Thanks for your help!

08-18-2007, 05:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazie.eddie Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8) Join Date: May 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,683	Any signs from the fish before their death? Maybe too much CO2? How are you adding the ferts? __________________ 125 gal (473 liter): Low Tech (1.5wpg PC for 10 hours, no CO2/ferts, gravel substrate), Equipment (72" Coralife PC, Eheim Pro II 2128 w/built in heater, FilStar XP3 w/Hydor ETH201 inline heater), Fish (6Discus, 2Angel, 5Clown loaches, 4L-018 Gold Nugget pleco, 1L-260 Queen Arabesque pleco, 7Cories, Farlowella cat)

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08-18-2007, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
CrashTest Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 47	The fish have seemed fine all along (unless it's not well at all and dead...) I'm actually trying minimal c02 right now, so it's pretty low, I think (1-2 bpm) The ferts are added dry into a cup, mixed, and added.

08-18-2007, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
skabooya Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kitimat BC, Canada Posts: 494	What do your fish look like and do right before they die?

08-18-2007, 06:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
CrashTest Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 47	They look and act completely normal from anything I have seen...

08-20-2007, 09:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Aqua Dave Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 248	Your nitrates are high. Will be an issue if it is approaching 30+ ppm. What is your Kh? That combined with the Ph will give you an estimate of CO2. Could also be some bacteria or parasite the new fish brought in. A water change will lower the nitrate and help remove any other dissolved solids. Melafix is a helpful prophylactic when adding new fish though you'll need a real med if you suspect infection. David