Fish die after a few hours - Need Help

[doreenjoy]

We'd also like to know the pH, nosey people that we are.

Oh, and how are you introducing the fish to your tank? I used to have a lot of casualties before I started drip acclimation (putting the fish and bag water in a bucket, then s-l-o-w-l-y adding tank water, sometimes for as long as an hour).

 

[captainhook]

The numbers are in. I used the API freshwater master test kit.

High PH = 7.4
PH = 6.0
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20-40 (It was hard to tell which color it was)

So to me the water seems fine. Correct?

What next?

 

[Weezer]

That is fine, the Rates may be pushing to the high side, My Rates are always around 10. I would do another WC and gravel vac if you can.........

 

[Marinemom]

You said you do water changes every week or two of around 25%. Do you have a set maintenance and water change schedule? I think you need to up the water changes at least for now and keep checking your water parameters. How are the new fish introduced and is there a big change in water conditions from the pet store and the water in your tank?

Marinemom

 

[leighasnana]

When you had all the fish die off initially - what did they die of? Did they die quickly and with no symptoms?

Even if your water parameters were off all fish that you add shouldn't die that quickly.

 

[leighasnana]

If it was me I'd take the gouramis out of there. Do a large water change - clean the filter and give the gravel a good vaccum and try one hardy fish by itself. Make sure you acclimate properly. The large water change is just in case some chemical (poison) got into the tank.

Do you have plants in the tank to help the new fish feel secure? What fish died initially?

 

[gatotsu77]

If it was me I'd take the gouramis out of there. Do a large water change - clean the filter and give the gravel a good vaccum and try one hardy fish by itself. Make sure you acclimate properly. The large water change is just in case some chemical (poison) got into the tank.

Do you have plants in the tank to help the new fish feel secure? What fish died initially?

I think a good point was touched on by leighasnana.... how did you acclimate the fish? If you put them right in the tank, or let their bag float for a bit and then dumped it in, you may have contributed to their deaths. Water chemistry is at best slightly different for everyone, and some places, its vastly different. I'd recommend doing some reading on "drip acclimation."

 

[jmhart]

I would start doing 25-50% water changes weekly. Unless it's a heavily planted tank, you need to reduce your nitrates by a lot. If you only have one fish and are doing water changes "every week or two", you shouldn't be getting that much nitrate. Either "every week or two" turns into "every month or two"(hey, it happens), or something isn't right.

Other thing, do you add any kind of water treatment when you do water changes? Does it handle both chlorine and chloramine? It's possible that right before you fish all died off the first time, your water board started adding chloramine, which a lot of water dechlor's don't treat.

What temperature is your tank? If you are using a digital thermometer it could be broken, they are notorious for losing calibration. On the other side, heaters could be broken.

There are lots of problems.

I'd suggest buying some cheap fish and watching them for an hour...see what happens.

 

[Marinemom]

When you get ready to add fish again, I would suggest for the sake of your pocketbook, that you buy some cheap fish first and observe for a while to see how they do before you add any fish that cost you more money.

Marinemom

 

[captainhook]

I will increase water changes and test again.

Water temp is apporx. 75 degrees with two thermos.

When I add new fish I let the bag sit in the tank for 15-20 minutes.

No live plants. A lot of fake ones.

I add water conditioner when I add water.

Carbon is changed once a month and I vacuum every other water change.

I think that my next step will be to take out the gourami and have him stay at a friends house (larger tank with larger fish) when I add new fish again.