Need some help with my cichlids

Got a cichlid tank that i need some advice or cure for.

I've lost some fish in the past week and I don't know why.
Hope there is some help out there.

Here is what is happening:
They have difficult breathing and stop eating.
Then they just hover over the bottom of the tank.
Then about 3 day later die.
I have read all i can to find a possible answer but could get none.

Here the tank parameters:
Ph - 7.5-8.0
ammonium - 0
N02 - 0
NO3 - 30-40
dKH - 5

 

Have you added any new fish recently? Changed anything recently? Any form of physical change other than breathing? Fish underweight etc...

System seems ok, nitrate higher than I'd like but I'm obsessive about that, that level shouldn't cause issue's.

 

No other fishes added.

What is also mind boggling is that my red jewels are fine and that they have laid eggs just last week...unfortunately they ate them after 2 days...so that should show that tank is alright....right?

 

Next development is to bring the NO3 down with a outside plant filter...but that have to wait for now.

 

Maybe this is a blonde question but... temperature?

Not a malfunctioning heater making water too hot?
Maybe add an extra airstone..

 

Temp is fine - 27deg C... got 2 stones in already....
spoke to Jwh who had the same occurrence in Nov 2014... no solution yet

 

Perhaps provide more information. Tank size, list all livestock, list fish that died, what do you feed, aggression issues, describe water changes (how often, how is the new water prepared), any stray voltage, is the tank open/closed, possibility of household detergents sprays or doom getting into the tank, any sign of disease, describe all equipment and filtration, post pictures of livestock/tank and dead fish, is there any power failures (maybe at night).

@mods can you create a standard template with such questions that can be completed when requesting advice, if there isn't and sticky it please.

 

1.2m x 45cm x 60cm tank with a close mirror top. Got a dophin 1600 canister filter with 2 airstones in the tank.
I've slow down with the 30% water changes to lessen stress and not to erode immune system further. Water was added slowly not to shock.
There is no signs of desease.
Power is fine.
Dead fish looks fine except that they are dead
No other fish was added.
It is a cichlid tank.

Parameter is fine as previously mentioned.
My bumble bee is looking like it is recovering a bit after some salt was added over the weekend. More lively but still not eating...

 

@Wilhelm ... I remember the incident with Jwh...

Is this the tank you posted on the other thread with the African cichlids? If so, Maybe @Jack Stone can give some advice...

I dont know if i would slow down the water changes.... after all you want clean water in to get rid of whatever the problem is.. what do you use to treat your water?
Salt does help with breathing problems

 

Those rocks, can you check if any of them are rusting.

 

Will do when getting home this afternoon BoelderBeestie.
AMariaS. Yes unfortunately....Jewels are fine and trying to breed and other fish is dying, doesn't make sense to me...

 

Please list the species that are dying. It may be possible that you are feeding them a diet that is unsuitable, and they suffer from bloat. This will not show outwardly as anything but a loss of apetite at first.

 

That will be futile...i've raised them on the same food and have not changed....
I have reduce the feeding to once a day also to eliminate that.
But will do it later for you anyway

 

No deaths during yesterday and last night....
Hope this was the last..

 

I am glad to hear that...

Was thinking about it and I guess there is also the possibility that the council added something too much or different to the water when you last did a water change... we dont test the tap water every time we do WC so its also a possibility.

Keeping the fingers crossed that its over... nothing more frustrating than not knowing what is causing it.

 

@MariaS . I'm fortunate not to use council water. I'm of the water grid and using collected rainwater and borehole water.
Was in contact with a cichlid expert and said that it is worms that do that and had to de-worm my fish with nema-Rid.
Must say that i had oscars for 5 years plus and never had that problem....
Bought it and will do it anyway just to be safe.
Will report back tomorrow.

 

@BoelderBeestie - no rust on the rocks that i can pick up...

 

All fine again this morning

 

Glad to hear things seem sorted.