Can fish die quick from sickness or water conditions, without symptons before?

[vanpudin]

One of my rusty cichlids got sick quickly this morning. Last night it appeared completly fine and even chased around my new rusty cichlid some like it had since since i first got the new rusty. The rusty swimed normally in the tank.
This morning i saw the rusty swimming slowely at top of tank, almost like it was trying to get mouth above water. My new rusty was easily nuging it around alittle. Then the rusty was rolling around the bottom like it was fighting itself, before laying on its side dying. Could the fish already been having sickness or problem, while not showing symptons intill dying?
A month ago i had a yellow lab die quickly like that. No signs of injury on any dying fish.
I recently had my water tested. I did show minimal amount of amonia. I also think i had alittle of nitrates. My ph showed in the middle of the scale used when tested. My water also tested alittle on hard side. I know i need to test better and more often.
Would these levels be bad enough to kill a fish that quick?

This 55g tank now contains 1 rusty, 1 yellow lab, 1 kenyi/cobalt blue or hybred, 1 acei, and a firemouth. I know the firemouth doesnt belong but it was the first cichlid i ever had. It's fine though.

I did do about a 40% water change a few days ago. I just used approprete amout of declorinater. Thanksfor any help.

:help:P.S. Please dont grill me on my tank levels, even though i need to do better. Just would like good opinons and advise if needed, to do better.
Thanks.

[jpappy789]

How often do you do water changes? By you saying "I recently got my water tested" does that mean you do not own a test kit yourself? If so, I would highly recommend saving up for one (API liquid).

Otherwise, get the water tested immediately. Water params are the most important factor right now, seeing as there were no physical signs other than the odd behavior which could attribute to pretty much anything...

Sorry if this doesnt help, I am horrible at diagnosing. :(

[vanpudin]

No, i actually only own ammonia test strips right now. I usually change 40-50% of water every other week. I only have 6 fish in there now, the biggest being 2 1/2-3''. I had 8 fish. 1 died and 1 put in another tank.

[jpappy789]

Test strips are pretty inaccurate but they are better than nothing. Have you tested since the death? But do you only have ammonia? You should invest in some liquid tests for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate as well.

[vanpudin]

ur right i do need to purchase a real test kit. Has anybody here had a fish die like this though. I have had a few fish in past look sick for days before dying.But these are quicker deaths. thanks.

[vanpudin]

A few months ago i had a krib die. Before death it would breathe real hard like it had a lack of oxygen. So maybe their is more of a water quality issue, in less it was bacterial related. That rusty thou was my favorite african. It colored up some after i got it intill the death.Even thou it was bigger than the other young africans i have, it was not the mose aggressive. It just protected an area. Now my new rusty will take its place

[buzzbombtom]

are you putting anything in the water to supplement like nitromax? are you taking out 50% of the water and putting in tap? is that water cold? what are you feeding?

[elementkid65]

yes, i moved hob filter three days ago from my 75g on to my 46g as i added 4 labs.
then put three reasonable sponge filters on the 75g to replace it so it has the three sponge filters and a 1800l/p/h internal filter . it is a bare bottom tank except for 3-4mm sand layer on some of it which wouldnt hold any bactria. i found out that the internal didnt have enough bacteria for 13 fish. the ammonia went up and killed a yellow lab and i think another isnt recovering. i added more bacteria from another filter and the rest of the fish seem fine except for one which is dying and has ammonia burns on its gills really bad like heaps red. it was when i chnged the filters and then went out for the nite and cme home at like 5am

[vanpudin]

I'm using tap water, treating to remove chlorine before and during. i add water slowly so temp doesnt change too fast. I use my python to add water from outside because of the sink fitting wont work.. The last time i change water from outside it was near 80 in the houston area, so the water wasnt that cold. I lower my tank heater so it helps to heat water some while adding water slow.
I've been using wardley cichlid flakes. Once a week ill break up an algae wafer into small pieces and give it to them. They love it.

[buzzbombtom]

well your water might be of some concern, it can be a source of lots of problems when coming from the tap depending on a few things. first you could have a ph level that is way off which is stressnig the fish. the food doesnt seem to be a problem but i would focus on using di or ro water as that is the best to put into a tank. you did not mention what was being used to filter that too may be a problem.

[Star_Rider]

well your water might be of some concern, it can be a source of lots of problems when coming from the tap depending on a few things. first you could have a ph level that is way off which is stressnig the fish. the food doesnt seem to be a problem but i would focus on using di or ro water as that is the best to put into a tank. you did not mention what was being used to filter that too may be a problem.

you do realize that ro/di has all of the minerals removed.will be a neutral pH 7.0 ..right?

this will cause some issues, as the water will have 0(zero) buffering capabilities and will likely result in a pH crash.

or you can use ro/di and add the proper buffers..

generally (unless you have real mineral issues) this is not a good idea.

get a kH/gH test kit to see where you are in these readings.
you may also look at Fe in the water as this has caused issues for some folks if there is too much Fe(iron) in the water

[vanpudin]

Thanks for the advise. I'm using a whisper power filter rated for 60 gallons. I realize that i probably need to upgrade eventually. At the same time though i've only had about 8 fish in their intill recently, the largest at almost 3''. I also have xtra air being pumped in the tank through an airstone.

[vanpudin]

Just bought AmQuel+, made by kordon. Is says it removes nitrate, nitrite, amonia, chlorine & chloramines. It can't hurt since my last test showed above normal levels on all i believe. Is it safe to use with my stress coat since it removes heavy metals from water? The AmQuel does not. Should i use a normal dose of each, 50-50 0r 60-40 or etc. for the amout of the two diff treatment?
Thanks for any advise.
soon i'll buy a test kit.