View Full Version : Please help me, Im on new territory
I have a 360L tank, with a under gravel filter and a power head, a sub pump to keep my water clear, and my temperature is on a constant 24deg cel.
I had 5 Silver dollars, and 3 weeks ago I swopped them for a bunch of tettras, scissor tails, and plattys. I never had any casualties for 2.5 years, but now everything is going downwards. I lost 2 tetras and 3 plattys TODAY. What am I doing wrong. All that is new in my tank is some plants (could not have plants and silver dollars) and my new fish.
I try to do a 20% water change every week.
Anybody? I am desperate!!:eek:
Ferryman
22-08-2009, 20:37
What are your water parameters? Ammonium-Nitrite-Nitrate readings i.o.w?
Has this tank been running with the silver dollars before you added the new bunch, or is the tank "cleaned out"?
Have you tested your water recently? What are the Ammonia/Nitrites/Nitrates reading?
24 degress is a bit low for tropical, mayb turn up a degree today, and another degree on Monday.
What is your usual maintenence proceudre?
First of all chuck the U/G filter.Get one or two Waterfall filters instead.
I do not like the u/g filtters.
First of all chuck the U/G filter.Get one or two Waterfall filters instead.
I do not like the u/g filtters.
I SECOND THAT
They are the biggest load of junk sold at pet stores and they always rant and rave about how great they are and that they use them only... Um... HELLO.. their stock is turning over all the time!
Farryman, I did a nitrate/nitrite test this afternoon and according to the chart it is <0.3mg\L. I took the dollars out the morning and I've put in the "bunch" that same evening.
Zoom, I clean my sub pump's filter every 3rd day and try to do a 20% water change every week. I've learned one only need to do a 10% change, but out of desperation I now do 20%.
Slojo, Thanks for the advice, but why would everything been going well for so long?
How do you clean the sub pump?
I would think that your ammonia levels is too high.
5 Silverdollars as opposed to how many platys,tetras and scissor tails?
I think your tank started a minicycle again as the fishload is higher.
The new fish could also now be acclimatized to the pathogens left in the water from the dollars...
Zoom- I clean my sub pump's sponges in a bucket I only use for my aquarium.
Slojo- How do I lower my ammonia level? I swopped my 5 dollars for about 40 little fish. And then, what is a minicycle?
Sorry guys. I did do my homework, but I've never read these in books.
Zoom- how do I get rid of these pathogens?
MIni cycle means that the bacteria colony is re-establishing itself population wise according to the amount of waste being produced... which means your nitrite level will possibly spike soon.
The important thing to remember when cleaning your sponges is do it in a bucket dedicated to aquarium use... BUT do it in water from the aquarium and NOT tap water. Tap water has chlorine and will kill the bacteria.
how long does the minicycle usually take?
Hey Dougger - if your tank was cycled and has been good for 2 years or so - I think the best possibility is the fish themselves, as this is the only thing that has really changed. Also 2 tetras and 3 platys out of 40 fish being introduced in a new tank is not a huge number.
Where did the fish come from - If an LFS then there is no guarantee that they are all healthy, sorry to say.
If this tank has been runnng for 2.5 years I would expect the biofilter to be established. If these silver dollars were as big as 2.5 year old silver dollars can get, I don't think adding 40 little tetras in their place will cause a mini cycle. They'd have produced enough waste to ensure a decent bacteria population was built up. 40 small fish in a 360l tank? I can't see how these fish can produce more waste that 5 larg silver dollars. So I don't think waste poisoning. 24 degrees is fine for most tropical fish. Tetras might like it a bit higher, but as far as I know live bearers prefer the cooler side of tropical. In any case, most LFS keep their tanks at 24, so it ain;t temperature shock either. Maybe ph? What is your ph?
Also, if you want to be serious about plants then ditch the UGF.
Hey Dougger - if your tank was cycled and has been good for 2 years or so - I think the best possibility is the fish themselves, as this is the only thing that has really changed. Also 2 tetras and 3 platys out of 40 fish being introduced in a new tank is not a huge number.
Where did the fish come from - If an LFS then there is no guarantee that they are all healthy, sorry to say.
Agree. With tetras you can almost always expect a casualty or two. Neons - almost for sure. They are mass bred in the East in sometimes fairly poor conditions. I've seen some terribly deformed neons for sale. No dissease, just bone structure defects.
Regards
Lauré
Ferryman
22-08-2009, 21:37
http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=245
take a gander at the link
I've read that plattys are hard fish and that it suggested for beginners. You see, my problem is not the five fish that died today. I started with 15 plattys 3 weeks ago, and I only have 6 left. Every morning there is a dead fish on the bottom. I thought that all was going well, but when the plattys started dieing, I knew that something is not normal. My scissor tails are doing brilliant.
Ferryman
22-08-2009, 21:39
ag, i didn't read page 2, ignore the link
Dougger - My feeling is it is a Platy problem - if you have a spare small tank - move the Platys to this tank and if no more die-offs in the big tank, then it was the Platys..
Platys are generally a hardy fish, but some spawns just seem to be weak and useless - happens with a lot of fish....
Ferryman
22-08-2009, 21:45
just a question... why would the dead fish sink to the bottom? dont dead fish usually float?
Zafgak- It could be true, I got the plattys from a friend, that kept them in a small pond outside her house. They were thriving there so I thought the would do so in my tank.
I don't know why the would sink.
No - most dead fish sink - I have only seen a few floaters.
Ferryman
22-08-2009, 21:56
oh, right, just curios, thanks
Im thinking of adding about six blue Rams. What would you suggest Zafgat? Should I give it another two or so weeks?
Dougger -I would wait a week or two - and then introduce ram pairs one at a time...If you want to see fish die - get rams !!!!!!!! They are bloody finicky about water parameters - most people manage to keep them alive for a couple of weeks only....
Any more deaths?
(Curious)Are there any LFS in Hoedsspruit.
I went there quite a lot recently,and could only find a PnP,Garage(2)and some or other restaurant and MTN shop?
Where do you get your Equipment/Fishes from?
Ive been lucky yesterday regarding my deaths. I'll check today ass soon as I get home if there is anything today.
Hoedspruit is a small town. A guy is trying to sell fish in a small take-a-way shop in our tourism centre, but his got 4 small tanks, I think their about 35L, but his prices is moer expensive. He wants about R18-00 for scissor tails, R24-00 for red eye tettras. So I useually go to Nelsruit or Lydenburg for stock.
I'll let you know about the "deaths" later on.
Ive been lucky yesterday regarding my deaths. I'll check today ass soon as I get home if there is anything today.
Hoedspruit is a small town. A guy is trying to sell fish in a small take-a-way shop in our tourism centre, but his got 4 small tanks, I think their about 35L, but his prices is moer expensive. He wants about R18-00 for scissor tails, R24-00 for red eye tettras. So I useually go to Nelsruit or Lydenburg for stock.
I'll let you know about the "deaths" later on.
I'll let you know when i go to Hoedspruit if you need anything i can bring it for you then.Much much cheaper here.:bigsmile:
Dougger -I would wait a week or two - and then introduce ram pairs one at a time...If you want to see fish die - get rams !!!!!!!! They are bloody finicky about water parameters - most people manage to keep them alive for a couple of weeks only....
I agree... Most of the Rams available locally are sold with their death warrants. You need to find a source that can supply good quality European Rams, otherwise, don't bother.
A nice alternative would be their Bolivian Cousins. Bolivian Rams are more hardy and tougher than the Blues. They are less colourful, but they are great fish.
With regards to your "Death Problem", I would say it's limited to the platy's themselves. They are one of the few tropical fish which I have totally struggled to keep alive. I have had seriously bad luck with Live bearers. Don't know why though?
Did you say you have red-eyes in your tank? Some say they are extremely aggressive little guys. Serious fin nippers.
There might be a simple solution to this...
What temperature was the water in the pond?
Because going from pond water in the teens to 24 degrees in you tank could have caused quite a bit of shock.
There might be a simple solution to this...
What temperature was the water in the pond?
Because going from pond water in the teens to 24 degrees in you tank could have caused quite a bit of shock.
I was thinking the same thing... :idea:
Fish Fantasy
03-10-2009, 09:40
I have a 360L tank, with a under gravel filter and a power head, a sub pump to keep my water clear, and my temperature is on a constant 24deg cel.
I had 5 Silver dollars, and 3 weeks ago I swopped them for a bunch of tettras, scissor tails, and plattys. I never had any casualties for 2.5 years, but now everything is going downwards. I lost 2 tetras and 3 plattys TODAY. What am I doing wrong. All that is new in my tank is some plants (could not have plants and silver dollars) and my new fish.
I try to do a 20% water change every week.
Anybody? I am desperate!!:eek:
Did you quarantine the new arrivals before adding them to the existing tank because they might have had an underlying disease.
Read and Read and read ... and agree with "Whipme" and "Gareth26" mostly likely water temp change was a shock to there systems.. would drop water temp and raise it slowly. try and get a temp reading on the pond and start 2 degrees higher than that and work you way up. If you still continue to loss fish. Another thing you can look out is the water current from the power head, used a spray bar to distribute the force of my 1800l power head.
Ferryman
04-10-2009, 23:18
any update since then?
tripwire
26-10-2009, 16:28
Your fish could be in danger due to water conditions and over crowding maybe. Test water , add tablets to bring down new water, do PH checks.Main thing is get a good Canister filter. I have a set it and forget it attitude with my canister in the diffrent areas I stayed in.5 layers of filtration in the canister and your sorted FLUval items for filtration is good .Good luck with the tank!
BTW undergravel filters are Silent killers of a tank.All the bad water etc. get stuck under the gravel and your tank will stay sick or have PH issues.Throw undergravel filters out ASAP =)
oh right i dont know what some of the short terms are yet...
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.10 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.