Need a hand on sudden death
- Thread starter Lady Ns
- Start date
This thread made me realize that it has been a long time since I tested my large tank. I test my QT when it is in use and I test any new tanks I start up for several weeks to ensure that they are very stable. Then if I see any issues the first thing I do is to check the water parms.
Everything has been very stable in my 72 and there have not been any new additions for many months. Everyone is fine, but I have decided to test anyway.
I do weekly WC of at least 30% and a gravel vac. I run 2 filters both rated for a 100 gal tank and I have a 72gal. I also run a UV sterlizer in the tank. That being said, my fish are growing and the bioload is growing. It used to keep the nitrates very very low just doing a 20%-30% WC per week. Now it is looking like I may have to increase either the percentage or increase the frequency.
If I had not read this thread I would have believed that my tank was in great shape too. I certainly snuck up on me...perhaps it snuck up on the original poster as well.
I hope the death was just a matter of old age.
Everything has been very stable in my 72 and there have not been any new additions for many months. Everyone is fine, but I have decided to test anyway.
I do weekly WC of at least 30% and a gravel vac. I run 2 filters both rated for a 100 gal tank and I have a 72gal. I also run a UV sterlizer in the tank. That being said, my fish are growing and the bioload is growing. It used to keep the nitrates very very low just doing a 20%-30% WC per week. Now it is looking like I may have to increase either the percentage or increase the frequency.
If I had not read this thread I would have believed that my tank was in great shape too. I certainly snuck up on me...perhaps it snuck up on the original poster as well.
I hope the death was just a matter of old age.
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While you may have not experienced any losses in a while that doesnt mean that your tank parameters are fine seeing as one of your fish just died. People with well-established tanks run into problems sooner or later so it is not a matter of how long you have had the tank running perfectly. You cant rule anything out at this point as unsuitable levels are the most common factor in aquarium deaths.
I think you have stocking problems. I think there are plenty of people who have kept those types of fish and know well enough to NOT try the mix that you have. But, its your tank, do with it what you please...But I guess thats just my opinion, take it or leave it.
(Somehow I highly doubt that the BN is the most aggressive in the tank unless the cichlids and sharks are juvies...but whatever...)
I just wouldnt be lulled into a false sense of security. You have a lot of higly unpredictable fish in there. You never know when things will turn loose in your tank...
Jack Dempseys live exceptionally long compared to most aquarium fish...roughly 8-10 years max. I highly doubt it was just because of old age.
High temps speeds up fish metabolism (increased breathing and pulse) and there is less dissolved O2 in warmer water.
Are you using water conditioner with the water changes?
I think you have stocking problems. I think there are plenty of people who have kept those types of fish and know well enough to NOT try the mix that you have. But, its your tank, do with it what you please...But I guess thats just my opinion, take it or leave it.
(Somehow I highly doubt that the BN is the most aggressive in the tank unless the cichlids and sharks are juvies...but whatever...)
I just wouldnt be lulled into a false sense of security. You have a lot of higly unpredictable fish in there. You never know when things will turn loose in your tank...
Jack Dempseys live exceptionally long compared to most aquarium fish...roughly 8-10 years max. I highly doubt it was just because of old age.
High temps speeds up fish metabolism (increased breathing and pulse) and there is less dissolved O2 in warmer water.
Are you using water conditioner with the water changes?
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The tank has been running for five years, I've only kept cichlids for three, the JD being my first. She would've been 3 yrs old this March. I doubt that my tank has been good for three years purely because of luck. Ever since I had that JD, the only fish I've lost have been two khuli loaches and some krib fry and thats only cause my JD ate them.
I never really had intentions for keeping cichlids to be honest with you. Only cichlids that I had interest in keeping were oscars.
Anyways, I'm not going into my lfs until their plant orders are in, which should only be a few days, so I'm hoping. So I'll get the test kit then or have them test the water for me.
As for the dimentions of my tank:
Width: 180cm
Hieght: 70cm
Depth: 65cm
I'm hoping those are accurate, though they should be, as I used a new tape measurer for them. However, if the tank isn't large enough, I can only remove the smaller fish from the tank and put them in some spare tanks I have, as the larger fish won't be comfortable in the other tanks and they're also too big for the net.
And I was being honest when I said that the BN pleco is the most aggressive, as it charges all the fish, accept for the two common plecos I have. The only other fish that show aggression are the kribs when they're spawning and Cozzi, the larger of the two common plecos, who only charges the eeltail catfish when it's feeding time. The cichlids are actually the most easy going fish in that tank.
Also, I'm buying building supplies shortly, as I'm going to be contructing a fish room in a few months, so I'll be buying alot of new tanks. I will hopefully be able to remove my golden gourami from that tank and get it one of its own. I will probably remove the kribs to their own tanks aswell, as I'm not fond of them being with my loaches. Would the electric blue and the yellow be able to go with the kribs or should they also possibly have their own tanks? The chocolate cichlids are going to stay in the tank they are currently in, so I can keep a close eye on them.
Also, if you could be kind enough, I wouldn't mind knowing the dimetions of a spawning tank for JD's.
I never really had intentions for keeping cichlids to be honest with you. Only cichlids that I had interest in keeping were oscars.
Anyways, I'm not going into my lfs until their plant orders are in, which should only be a few days, so I'm hoping. So I'll get the test kit then or have them test the water for me.
As for the dimentions of my tank:
Width: 180cm
Hieght: 70cm
Depth: 65cm
I'm hoping those are accurate, though they should be, as I used a new tape measurer for them. However, if the tank isn't large enough, I can only remove the smaller fish from the tank and put them in some spare tanks I have, as the larger fish won't be comfortable in the other tanks and they're also too big for the net.
And I was being honest when I said that the BN pleco is the most aggressive, as it charges all the fish, accept for the two common plecos I have. The only other fish that show aggression are the kribs when they're spawning and Cozzi, the larger of the two common plecos, who only charges the eeltail catfish when it's feeding time. The cichlids are actually the most easy going fish in that tank.
Also, I'm buying building supplies shortly, as I'm going to be contructing a fish room in a few months, so I'll be buying alot of new tanks. I will hopefully be able to remove my golden gourami from that tank and get it one of its own. I will probably remove the kribs to their own tanks aswell, as I'm not fond of them being with my loaches. Would the electric blue and the yellow be able to go with the kribs or should they also possibly have their own tanks? The chocolate cichlids are going to stay in the tank they are currently in, so I can keep a close eye on them.
Also, if you could be kind enough, I wouldn't mind knowing the dimetions of a spawning tank for JD's.
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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as far as your tank, the approximate volume is about 215g.
a spawning tank for jack dempseys should be at least a 75.
a spawning tank for jack dempseys should be at least a 75.
