What's the deal with O.T.S.? The guy at my LFS was telling me about this. I have an established 5 gal hex tank (w/Bio wheel) and suddenly my fish are dying. In the last 3 days I've lost 1 oto (new in tank - lived 3 days), 1 zebra danio (acually one of 5 my starter fish and has been in the tank for >1-1/2 years) and this morning my Beta (in tank 3 months) was dead. My water test are: Ammonia = 0, NitrAtes = 0, and Ph = 8.0 (I don't have a NitrIte test). I have well water and my Ph has always been at 8.0 so this is not a change. There's no obvious signs of illness in any of the fish. I don't know what else to look for. :huh:
Old Tank Syndrome?? Fish Dying
- Thread starter nlmadison
- Start date
never heard of it
guess i have to wait wid u on other ppl's response, m quite curious
guess i have to wait wid u on other ppl's response, m quite curious
Last edited:
Khombre
Here's what I've been able to find out online:
http://www.bestfish.com/oldtank.html
http://www.gloversaquatics.co.uk/articles/aquarium/old-tank-syndrome.html
Here's what I've been able to find out online:
http://www.bestfish.com/oldtank.html
http://www.gloversaquatics.co.uk/articles/aquarium/old-tank-syndrome.html
Can you please tell us what your normal cleaning/water change schedule was before this started happening? And how long exactly had the tank been set up? I personally am more likely to suspect one of your new fish having added some disease rather than old tank syndrome – the reason being your nitrAte reading. As a side note, are you sure it’s 0? Do you have a planted tank?
There are a number of general pollutants that lead to OTS which we can’t measure, but we can measure nitrates.
There are a number of general pollutants that lead to OTS which we can’t measure, but we can measure nitrates.
Admittedly, my tank changes aren't the best. But I'd say about 30% once a month and do a "breakdown" cleaning (i.e. take out fish & flush gravel, clean glass, deco, etc.) about every 3 months. I haven't cleaned the filter itself. I change the filter cartridge every couple of months but I rinse ~3 weeks or so. Tank was set up in Feb 2004. There are no plants. The only new fish was the oto which I bought with 1 other that's in my 29gal now and doing OK. Yeah, I'm sure of my NitrAte readings. I use the same test kits on my other tank and have had those test results duplicated at my LFS. The tank had 1 beta, 5 danios, 1 small snail & the 1 oto. These are my first fish losses since last year. Before the Beta I had a dwarf gourami in that tank with the danios and snail. I moved the dwarf gourami to another tank when I put in the beta.
Its new tank syndrome aka cycling. Your "break down" is killing any bacteria you have built up. Having no nitrAtes indicates that you have no bacteria growing and need to firstly cycle your tank.
For a fishy cycle its 0.5ppm for ammonia and nitrites. Keep doing this until you have some nitrates. You can do a 20,30...80% water change. What ever it takes to bing it down And never do a break down! What kind of test kit are you using?
On a side not your tank is overstocked. What fish are currently in there?
On a side not your tank is overstocked. What fish are currently in there?
Zebra danios need more space because they are really active. Butting them in a small space is not good for them.
Why not just get a whole new Aqiarium Pharm master test kit? They are only $15 at BigAlsOnline.com They are better that the Wardley ones.
Why not just get a whole new Aqiarium Pharm master test kit? They are only $15 at BigAlsOnline.com They are better that the Wardley ones.