Emergency fish help?

Question

well for the past 2 days 4 fish in my tank died but every time i find them dead in the tank there always stuck in the plant...but its mostly the smallest fish in tank.that die..im planing to get a new fliter new gravel and air pump and plants is this a good idea..any other things i can add to the tank..if its not tell me why and i think amonia is occuring in my tank what should i do??? every morning i have one fish dead..and im scared another fish will die tomoroow

yes my tank is not a new tank ive had it over a month now and its a tropical fish tank

Answer 1

Even though the tank has been running for a month, there is a good chance it has not properly cycled yet and that would be the source of your problem. I would not suggest you replace your equipment. Some bacteria is already growing in your tank and filter and replacing all of that now would simply make you start all over from the beginning.

You need to test the ammonia level in the water or take a sample to a pet shop to have it tested. In the mean time, change about 1/2 of the water in the tank and clean the gravel as you go if possible. That will be the best way to deal with ammonia problems until the tank completely cycles.

If you don't already have one, get a gravel siphon. It will clean the gravel as you siphon out wanter and help keep the tank looking clean as well as prevent ammonia problems from uneaten food and from fish waste.

Here's a link about cycling an aquarium that might help to answer any more questions you have.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
Be sure to check out the link at the bottom about cleaning your tank too.

Hope that helps!

MM

Answer 2

Hi Maribeth, is this a new tank? I had the same thing happening when I started my tank. I suggest you purchase a broad spectrum antibacterial and antifungal solution to treat your fish with. My fish only stopped dying after I did this and took out the plant - it turned out have some kind of dodgy fungus. Plus the fish were purchased at a pet store and were sick with all kinds of diseases. I have since purchased a new plant and fish from an aquarium and had not trouble.

If it is a new tank doing 1/4 water changes every day will help to reduce the amount of ammonia esp. if you have a lot of fish. Btw, fish will usually lodge themselves in or under wood, plants etc when they are having trouble swimming or being thrashed around by a filter. You should also purchase a good bacteria and add this to the tank to help establish a bacteria colony, which will in turn fix your ammonia problem.

I wouldn't buy new equipment, if you are really concerned, take out the plant and do a full clean of the tank. I wouldn't add any new plants or fish until the situation settles.

Good luck!

Bella

Answer 3

Seems like you dont have a heater or your tank is too overcrowded.
What size is your tank, if its too small and your fish are overcrowded ammonia will build up and your fish will die.

If you dont have a heater your fish will go into shock and die.

If you are feeding them to much then your fish might die of over feeding.

Keep all your fish in some bowl temporarily. Take out all the things in your tank and wash it all off and then put it back in with all new water and make sure the temperature of the water is around 78 then put your fish in

Answer 4

You need to test the water. If you think you have high ammonia then you have too many fish in that tank. Do a 40% water change.. Now. Every day do a 10% water change until the test shows it's clear.

1inch of fish per gallon is the general rule.

the smaller fish will die first, and they are prolly floating around and getting caught in the plant.

clean your filter, make sure your are gravel vacuuming. food gets caught in the gravel and rots = ammonia.
Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Welcome to the joys of fish keeping. Quite simply dont introduce anything to your tank that you paid allot for or otherwise would care about for approximately 3 months. Keep a few "cheap" fish in there like mollies or platy's to "cycle" the tank. Do not replace the filter (bio-filter), or gravel or anything for that 3 months.

Here is what is happening. Waste (fish food, dead fish, fish poo etc) turns into ammonia (deadly to fish), ammonia turns into nitrite (deadly to fish but not as bad as ammonia), and nitrite turns to Nitrate (which is ok but not too much). What changes this stuff is Bacteria. The bacteria colonies grow on your "bio-filter" (not the regular replaceable filter pad, but the pad after that or the wheel depending on your filter type), bacteria colonies also grow in the gravel. You want allot of these guys eating the ammonia, and then eating the nitrite, and turning it into nitrate which you remove by doing regular water changes.

So simply do this, run your tank for 3 months - let the dead fish stay in and "dissolve" let the food dissolve and let the ammonia sky-rocket. Everything will probably die during this time but its going to happen anyways. And eventually after testing your water you will have a tank that is practically maintenance (and death) free.

You'll lose some now and then - but from normal causes.

Trust me on this one.. I have killed many fish.

You need to also test for the following when your tank is cycled

1. Ammonia - should be 0 if not 0 then no new fish.

2. Nitrite - should be 0 if not 0 then no new fish.

3. Nitrate - regular water changes will keep this safely low.

Another suggestion is find a product like "Cycle" or a variety of others that will quickly introduce this bacteria into your tank. Check with your local "Mom & Pop" fish store (not petco or petsrus or any chain - they kill tons of fish) and ask for their recommendations on this.

But most of all - just wait it will all be good and you'll have happy fish in no time. (also you wont have wasted tons of $)

Answer 6

Separate the female in some form of concern specifically made for it on the shop and on an identical time as yourthere u can ask them in the event that they pay human beings for their infants. Or ask ur family of they want some, or get an better tank, or as recommend because of fact it sounds get a fish( like a woman betta) to eat particularly some them.

Answer 7

Take the plant out first if that doesn't help then take out some water and replace it with new water and put a different filter cartage in if u have amonia then take the fish out and do a complete water change ( with like a cm left) if that doesn't help e-mail me cause i can help u

Answer 8

The fish would have been probably dead then got stuck in the plants!

Answer 9

how many fish are in the tank? there might be too many fish in the tank. that happened to me one time. it might be the pet store too

Answer 10

take a water sample to your local pet store and ask them to test it for the ph and ammonia if one of those levels are high you need to do some regular maintence after you change the water of course...possibly buy some testing kits and/or there are products that correct the ph and ammonia balances...ohh check for chlorine too