Bala Shark Died, Why...?? Please Help

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by moe, Aug 22, 2011.

  1. moe

    moe

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    JHB
    Hi Guys

    please help
    i Have a Species Tank
    so Saturday i decided to service my cannister Filter with new media
    changed all four levels
    did a 50 percent water change
    added my anti ammonia salts etc
    so come sunday my water is crystal all my inmates look happy
    until last night when i noticed my bala shark acting strangley
    i moniterd him, he seemd sluggish, than around 9pm i see him swimming upside down
    and half and hour later he didnt make it

    what could be the reason?
    he was quite big , around 15cm and rather healthy
     
  2. Guest




  3. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2008
    Messages:
    3,080
    Likes Received:
    471
    Location:
    Durban
    When you changed all your filter media you lost a good deal of beneficial bacteria - the things that live in your filter that actually break down fish waste into less harmful products. Without them, your tank can foul up quite quickly, worst of all it's invisible to the naked eye.

    Even if you added anti-ammonia salts there would still be no bacteria to deal with the nitrites and nitrates in the water.

    The fish may have been weakened already by some other cause, and this may have given him the final knock.
     
  4. OP
    moe

    moe

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    JHB
    thanx for that but then how does one go about changing his filter media correctly..?
     
  5. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2008
    Messages:
    3,080
    Likes Received:
    471
    Location:
    Durban
    Well this is how I go about it:

    1) I rarely change my filter media. I remove it from the filter and wash it in water that I've removed from the tank. In this way, the bacteria will be kept well alive and I can still remove the muck within it.

    2) If I do have to change the media (ie: crumbling, fraying, etc). I do it in stages. I never remove ALL the filter media at once. I'd say give month-long intervals between removing/replacing any filter media. The exception to this rule are temporary products such as charcoal (carbon filters), zeolite etc., which isn't intended for bacterial colonization and never lasts long anyway.
     
  6. Big G

    Big G Apisto Nutz!!!

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,508
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Change one tray at a time. Usually you can use most of the media for a long time, and just need to give it a gentle rinse in a bucket full of tank water to clear all the mulm out, then palce back in. Only the sponges need replacing more often, and even the less dense foam (usually blue coloured), can be used for a good while as long as its gently cleaned to remove the blockages.

    Never clean a fitler directly under the tap... This will kill off all the beneficial bacteria in the filter media. Tank water is great as this contains this bacteria. If you actually do need to replace the media, do it in stages. This then allows the other trays containing the bacteria to allow this bacteria to recolonise the 'new' media.

    HTH?

    Regards
    G
     
  7. OP
    moe

    moe

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    JHB
    i See the error of my ways..
    i changed all at once and did it under a tap!
    cleaned it so well it looked brand new
    thanx a lot , il be sure to use this advice next round
     
  8. TomK

    TomK

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2011
    Messages:
    1,552
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    Klerksdorp
    moe, the question now is, how are you going to protect the rest of your 'inmates'? This one was the weakest and died first. The others is sure to follow if you do not act! I suggest a big water change and then 20% water change everyday for a month or till the filter is cycled again. Use Microbe-Lift GFCI and Special Blend to get your filter going quickly. Takes like a week if you do the combination.

    PS. GFCI stands for Gel Filter Cartridge Inoculant.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2011
  9. OP
    moe

    moe

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    JHB
    thanx for the advice guys, @
    yes did a water change sunday and twice yesterday
    the other fish seem fine
    would it be advisable as a safety measure to use water from a buddys tank
     
  10. TomK

    TomK

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2011
    Messages:
    1,552
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    Klerksdorp
    I would say that is going a bit overboard and risky in that you could transfer disease. Get your filter seeded with bacteria and keep up with the water changes. Measuring NH3/4 NO2 and NO3 will tell you how you are doing.

    Here is a good article to read.
    http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?7286-Nitrogen-Cycle-for-Aquariums
     
  11. OP
    moe

    moe

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    JHB
    Thanx alot Tom will be sure to give it a read
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Bala Shark Died Forum Date
Freebie: large silver dollar and 2 large bala sharks Wanted/Swop/Freebies May 20, 2023
RSS Feed Bala Shark Care Guide RSS Feeds Feb 22, 2021
Freebie: Bala / Rainbow sharks Wanted/Swop/Freebies Dec 4, 2020
My Bala shark die General Discussions May 31, 2017
Bala Sharks not doing good General Discussions Feb 2, 2016
Injured Bala Shark General Discussions Apr 11, 2013
Wanted: Silver/Bala Sharks Wanted/Swop/Freebies Jan 4, 2013

Share This Page