Things are going downhill, a lot of death. Don't know what to do!

**kjr928** · 10-25-2012, 7:10 PM

Forgive me for being overly detailed here, but I am at a total loss.

I have had my 90g for years. After moving it twice (once to my parents house, and then to our new house) - the center support snapped. I kept it about 1/4 full for about 6 months with the filter running on and off during that time. Amazingly all of my fish survived this ordeal (1 angel, 1 rainbow shark, 6 bloodfins, 6 loaches, 3 female bettas).

I finally got a new tank about 2 weeks ago, got it all up and running and everything was great. One of my bettas died because it swam into the hole in the bottom of a clay pot and got stuck, but that was it. So I went to the lfs and got 6 more bloodfins and 1 dwarf gourami. 2 of the bloodfins died the next day but other than that everyone looked healthy (this was last wednesday - the 17th) so I didn't think anything of it.

This past Sunday (the 21st) I got 6 quarter sized angels from a private breeder who has an immaculate fishroom & tanks. I have no concerns about the quality of his fish, this guy is very protective of his fish and grilled me before letting me have them. I acclimated them with a drip and they were fine. I also added a piece of driftwood that I've had for many years - I kept it in my snake's cage years ago but it's been sitting around useless for about 2 years. I did not boil it because it's too large. Later that night I noticed ALL of the fish breathing up at the surface, so I added an airstone and soon after they were acting normal again.

The next morning (monday) my 5 year old angel was dead. It never showed signs of illness. I immediately tested my water and got Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, pH 6.6. Monday I also added CO2 that was going 1 bubble every 4 seconds - I forgot to shut it off that night.

The next morning (tuesday) my new gourami was dead (he appeared to be very very healthy up until I found him dead - never showed signs of illness).

So yesterday (wednesday) I was thinking about this and decided to do a water change (30%) since I couldn't figure out what was wrong even though my parameters seemed fine (I tested them again and they were still the same). When I started refilling the tank I noticed that it changed temp and got really, really warm. I literally RAN to the faucet to adjust, but I'm sure that quite a bit of hot water got in the tank before I was able to fix it. After I was done I noticed one of my bettas was acting strange and lethargic at the bottom. I got her out and isolated her so I could observe her and she died. I don't know if it was because of the hot water or if she got bonked when I moved a piece of driftwood or if it was something else.

Today (thursday) I noticed one of my new angels up in the top corner just hanging out. It wasn't gasping or anything - but it was being very inactive and showed no interest in food or any kind of stimuli. It remained like this for several hours. Finally I isolated it and then an hour later it was dead.

So at my husband's prompting, I removed the driftwood (he thinks there's something wrong with the driftwood, but I don't really see how).
I'm feeling a little helpless and desperate. I have no idea what's wrong. Sorry for the long story but I'm trying to be as detailed as possible in hopes that someone will have some insight. (My ammonia & nitrite are still both 0 FYI)

PLEASE HELP!!! ALL MY FISH ARE DYING ONE AT A TIME!!!

**rufioman** · 10-25-2012, 7:36 PM

It could be the unboiled driftwood or the temperature change. I had a tank go from 76* to 86* right fast on me...lost a few fish, to be sure.

**TL1000RSquid** · 10-25-2012, 7:36 PM

Its possible its the driftwood, if it was originally sold for reptiles it may of been treated with some chemicals.

**kjr928** · 10-25-2012, 8:18 PM

Well, 4 fish died before I did the water change when the temp got altered, which leads me to believe that maybe it's something else.

I took the driftwood out - tomorrow I will do another water change as a precaution. Is there anything else you guys can advise me to do in the meantime?

Thanks so much!!!

**kjr928** · 10-26-2012, 11:48 AM

Well, no dead fish today (yet).
Driftwood is out and is not going back in. Hopefully that was the problem and now it is solved. I'll do another 50% water change today just in case. Keeping my fingers crossed.

**TL1000RSquid** · 10-26-2012, 12:01 PM

Some fresh carbon could help clean up anything bad the driftwood may of introduced into the water.

**kjr928** · 10-26-2012, 12:09 PM

Spoke too soon. My last female betta is dead.

GREAT idea on the carbon! I'm going to run out and get some this afternoon. Thanks - don't know why I didn't think of that.