Dying fish

[Riddles]

:confused: I am havinng a real problem. In the last two months, I have lost seven tiger barbs, a pleco, and a rainbow shark. I tested the water and found it to be acidic so I removed about half of the 45 gallons and changed the filter about two weeks ago. After I had lost the rainbow shark. I just lost two tiger barbs in the last two days. I called a local pet store and they don't know what is wrong. The dying fish lose their colour and swim veritcally up and down in the tank and the next day they are dead. Do anyone have any idea what could be wrong and how I can fix it before I am fishless?

[CandiBug2]

Did you cycle your tank before you added your fish? If not, you may have overstocked....

[OrionGirl]

How long has the tank been setup? Ammonia, nitrite and nitrated readings? Maintenance and feeding routine?

[Riddles]

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to reply. I read the thread about cycling and decided to take out and replace about 20 % of the water last night and I will do it again tonight. The fish seem a little better so far. I haven't lost anymore. But I do have a question. I have only one green tiger barb left and the gouramis and red tail shark are really chasing him around. Should I put him in my more peaceful tank that has a dwarf gourami, three orange platys, five zebra danios, and a pleco? Or would he be more harmful to those fish? Since I am trying to fix the water quality in my 45 gallon tank, is it worth keeping him in and buying some more tiger barbs or would they just die.

I have had this tank for about one year and until two months ago I had probably only lost about three or four fish. Then they started losing their colour and swimming to the top of the tank andd then straight back down. I am sorry but I don't have a water testing kit. I would just always take a sample to the pet store. Obviously, that is not the right method. Do you suggest any good test kits?
P.S. I have been changing about 25% of the water every month before this when I changed the filter. This is probably a big part of the problem.

[Riddles]

Another quick question. For how long should I continue to change 20% of the water on a daily basis?

[anonapersona]

The AP Master test kit is OK. Near $15 online, $20 or more at a local store. Add a nitrate test later.


Keep up the water changes until you get the test kit and can tell us the numbers. Fresh water is always a good thing, be sure to dechlorinate and match temps.