Cichlids dieing

[rahimsach]

I am totally confused as to what's causing this. I lost three of my Cichlids in a week. I checked the water parameters and they are all fine. Nitride, Nitrate and Ammonia all show zero using the liquid test kit. I see no signs of disease such as ich, fin rot, cloudy eyes. There isn't much aggression except once in a while when they chase each other. I do water change every week. Water temperature is at 80 and ph is at 8.0 I have had them since they were juviniles and now they were about 3 inches. I feed them twice a day only for couple of minutes, none of the food makes it to the gravel. I am feeding them NLS sinking pellets and Hikari veggie pellets. The only thing that I changed a month ago is increase the amount of water being changed from 25% to 50%. The fish that died seem to have no energy to swim. If anyone has any idea as to what might be happening or what I should look for I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Cathy G]

Well the obvious question is the water declorinator... when you increased your water changes, did you add more conditioner? Also, could your city have switched from using chlorine to chloramines? This would cause a problem if you didn't use enough of the stuff...
Why are your nitrates 0?

Cathy

[Kegger22]

Why are your nitrates 0?

Cathy


beat me to it, that would be my first question that sticks out, sounds like something is wrong biologically

could it be too much conditioner and the fish got shocked from the drastic changes in chemistry?

[Coler]

have you got anything to provide surface aeration ?

nitrates shouldn't generally be 0 in a cycled tank...sure your test kit is working ok ?

[rahimsach]

I have had this tank for over six months now. I really don't know why the Nitrates are zero, I am following the instructions on the test kit and it shows the very first color I think it yellow for Nitrate and Blue for Nitride. For surface aeration I have basically attached the jet nozzle to the XP3 output and then the HOB filter is providing some. I never see the Cichlids gasping for air so I thought that there must be sufficient oxygen. As far as dechloronator is concerned I always use a cap full which is recommended for 50 Gallons and I am changing about 30 gallons, btw I am using Prime. Also, I do put a low dosage of stress zyme everytime I do a water change. Am I over conditioning? I have been doing this for past 4 months without any issues. I will take a water sample to my LFS to double check on Nitrates

[Coler]

ok I'm pretty stumped; sounds like you're taking great care of them.

very strange that your nitrate is 0 though.

[Cathy G]

Stop adding the stress zyme and see if that makes a difference. You don't need it anyway and it is possible that there is some inert ingredient in it which is building up in your water.

Cathy

[magakitty]

which test kit are you using?

[rahimsach]

which test kit are you using?

I am using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kits. Should I do a major water change like 80%, I still can't figure out what's killing them. The ones that died seemed pretty healthy couple of days back. Usually a sick fish would suffer for a few days but in this case it's pretty quick.

[Kegger22]

Stop adding the stress zyme and see if that makes a difference. You don't need it anyway and it is possible that there is some inert ingredient in it which is building up in your water.

Cathy



There's the problem I do believe, about 3 years ago I goofed and lost track of how much stress zyme I put in and it was too much and in about 3 hours or so after disaster hit, as fast as I could pull fish out of the tank others were dieing, out of 23 fish I had 10 casulties and it was right after I had did a water change and added it

[rahimsach]

There's the problem I do believe, about 3 years ago I goofed and lost track of how much stress zyme I put in and it was too much and in about 3 hours or so after disaster hit, as fast as I could pull fish out of the tank others were dieing, out of 23 fish I had 10 casulties and it was right after I had did a water change and added it


I really hope that's the rootcause, atleast I will be able to fix the problem. I will quit using stress Zyme. Should I also carefully measure how much dechloronator I am putting? cause I usually put a cap full everytime I do a water change (approx 30 gallons) and a capful is recommended for 50 gallons.

[Cathy G]

By all means don't put in more than called for... I hope you have gotten to the bottom of this one.

Cathy

[ddyerfamily]

MAYBE ,SMALLER WATER CHANGES ?
TOO MUCH, TOO FAST ......SLOW EVERTHING WITH FISH ;-)

[rahimsach]

MAYBE ,SMALLER WATER CHANGES ?
TOO MUCH, TOO FAST ......SLOW EVERTHING WITH FISH ;-)

I guess you're right. I probably will go back to 25% water change every week. The only reason I went to 50% was because it read in one of the forums that it's better.

[Cathy G]

Do the 50% per week! If the water is the same temperature and 'mix' unless you are creating Niagra Falls every time you do a change, the water changes aren't stressing your fish and causing health issues.

Don't be so quick to throw out good advice - you should do 50% in every tank at least per week. Not only are you getting rid of nitrates, but all kinds of pathogens which get into our tanks through the air. Molds, bacteria, etc all will grow to dangerously high levels if you don't keep on top of water changes. It is the best thing you can do for your fish.

Cathy

[rahimsach]

Do the 50% per week! If the water is the same temperature and 'mix' unless you are creating Niagra Falls every time you do a change, the water changes aren't stressing your fish and causing health issues.

Don't be so quick to throw out good advice - you should do 50% in every tank at least per week. Not only are you getting rid of nitrates, but all kinds of pathogens which get into our tanks through the air. Molds, bacteria, etc all will grow to dangerously high levels if you don't keep on top of water changes. It is the best thing you can do for your fish.

Cathy

I will stick with the 50% water change. I use a small hose which is connected to my kitchen sink that way I can control the temperature and also the flow. Ofcourse I put the dechloronator before adding new water. The only thing that I will get rid of now is Stress Zyme. Hopefully everything will be back to normal.

Thanks everyone for the support and good advice. This forum rocks.

[richos]

Not a good idea to use water from the hot tap...Your hot water system disolves minerals from the copper tubing and can harbour some nasty bacteria. (Thats why you shouldnt use the hot tap to cook with or make tea/coffee. If it can affect humans imagine what its doing to a sensitive semi-closed system like an aquarium)

[rahimsach]

Not a good idea to use water from the hot tap...Your hot water system disolves minerals from the copper tubing and can harbour some nasty bacteria. (Thats why you shouldnt use the hot tap to cook with or make tea/coffee. If it can affect humans imagine what its doing to a sensitive semi-closed system like an aquarium)

You have a valid point. Is there a recommended technique to add 30 gallons of warm water without using a bucket? Since I do this weekly I am trying to find a faster way and thought that one from one heater would work, but I guess I have to find an alternate technique.

[Coler]

You have a valid point. Is there a recommended technique to add 30 gallons of warm water without using a bucket? Since I do this weekly I am trying to find a faster way and thought that one from one heater would work, but I guess I have to find an alternate technique.

I use a bucket from the hot tap. I have no issues. I don't know what your plumbing is like though (or mine for that matter - never considered that copper pipes might be a problem)

[Jayhawk]

I'm in a 70 year old house and always use warm water including water from the hot tap. Most dechlorinators allege they remove heavy metals, and the warnings not to use hot water for cooking or drinking were related to a much older generation of water heater than most of us likely have.

I highly doubt that's the problem. The Stress Zyme could be it, but any chance you found them acting strangely in the morning? I'm wondering if some of your now sexually maturing fish are being aggressive after dark - you have a lot of fish in your tank and I can see internal injuries as a possibility if someone is chasing them around after hours. Then again, I could be flat out wrong.

Eric

[rahimsach]

I'm in a 70 year old house and always use warm water including water from the hot tap. Most dechlorinators allege they remove heavy metals, and the warnings not to use hot water for cooking or drinking were related to a much older generation of water heater than most of us likely have.

I highly doubt that's the problem. The Stress Zyme could be it, but any chance you found them acting strangely in the morning? I'm wondering if some of your now sexually maturing fish are being aggressive after dark - you have a lot of fish in your tank and I can see internal injuries as a possibility if someone is chasing them around after hours. Then again, I could be flat out wrong.

Eric


Eric,
I have been thinking about this same exact thing for a while, what if there is agression after dark. Then I think wouldn't I see some kind of injury during the day or is it possible that they just get too stressed out from the chase. During the daytime I do see some of them chasing one another but that only last for a few seconds. When I bought all these juviniles I was told that I might see more aggression once then grow and then I can pick the ones I like and remove the others. I haven't reached that point yet. I am hoping it's the stress zyme. So far rest of them are fine, they seem a little scared how ever they have been eating well. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

[richos]

The stresszyme sounds like the likely culprit for your problems, although Eric could well be onto something with the nighttime attacks. I hope a solution comes quickly...the hot water thing was just my 2cents worth. Something to consider for future...and yes even the new heaters use copper tubing and lead based solders (which the elevated temps leach out into the water) these are chemicals that acumulate in your body...no short term affects but if you want to have a healthily retirement... avoid the hot tap unless taking a shower.
Try half filling your sink with hot water (as hot as you can get it)...put the empty bucket in the sink and fill with water from the cold tap...leave for 30 seconds...the water should have absorbed some of the heat...the colder the room temp the longer you will need to wait.