Why are my fish dying?

Question

This lady i know had a 54 gallon tank and and she had 16 fish in it. She decied to give me the fish and the tank. We took it home and i feed them cleaned the filters and added more water. We left for a few hours i come home and 6 of my fish are dead. I was worried the others would die and the next day 0 died. Then i come home today and 1 is dead. The others seem to be ok. Why are they dying please help i don't want my other fish to die

Answer 1

The first few were from one of few problems, temperature shock from putting them in without floating them i the tank first. pH shock from not mixing the tank water into the bag slowly as they floated, or you forgot to add dechlorinator to the tank.

As for the 1 death a few days after it was set up, tht may be from ammonia build up in the tank. Check it or take a sample of the water to the pet shop and have them test it for you.

MM

Answer 2

Without knowing the answers to other things as mentioned like cleaners in the tank, or dechlorinator in the new water, I would presume that the fish did not get proper acclimation into the new tank.
This is important not only because the temperature of the new setup would vary, but also the water parameters.

Now that you have the fish all moved and settled, watch out for the tank to cycle (again, without knowing if the gravel was washed, or etc., it's hard to say what will happen & to what extent). Get some test kits and monitor your ammonia and nitrates and do partial water changes if they get high.

Answer 3

Hi Kelly, I'm wondering if you cleaned the filters in freshly drawn water? The material in the filters has a bacterial colony which keeps the eco-system of the tank in balance & should only be cleaned by rinsing this material in water taken from your tank during a partial water change (the new water should never be straight from the tap/faucet but treated with a dechlorinator) The purpose of rinsing the filter material is not so much to clean it but remove excess gunk, leaving the beneficial bacteria there. Using freshly drawn water which contains chlorine will kill off this bacterial colony so your tank will have to completely recycle as if it were a new tank. This is very stressful for fish & probably accounts for your losses.

The attached links tells you about the Nitrogen cycle, I would recommend you get water test kits for your tank to monitor the levels & keep up with the partial water changes to dilute any toxins.

Answer 4

Fish are very sensitive to chemicals. You should never use harsh cleaners like bleach to clean tank parts, if you did that could be poisoning them. Most likely though it involves the water quality. When you added fresh water did you also add a water conditioner? That's very important to use any time you change the tank water, because a water conditioner solution neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals . If you have a water test kit use it to check the levels. The fish could also be in shock from the changes in temperature and stress of moving. My advise would be to visit a pet store that deals with fish and talk to them to see what treatments they recommend.

Answer 5

have you put the right chemicals in? Never put plain tap water in unless you have put the chemicals to get rid of the chlorine and but some pH balancing stuff. The chlorine in the tap water kills fish and a pH spike can kill them as well. If they still keep dying after this I would ask the lady you got the tank from or research on google or any other search engine.


Also, never allow any kind of soap or other chemical in the water, it will kill your fish. Only use fish safe chemicals or just use a sponge.

Answer 6

Hmmm well it could be one of several problems...one of which is the the water that you used to clean the fliter may have had chemicals in it we use to "purify" the water, if you used tap water that is. To avoid this set some water in a bucket or something and leave it sit for at least 24 hours, that way all the chemicals evaporate. Then use the distilled water for cleaning. Another problem the could be affecting your fish is temperature shock. If your house, or the area that you are keeping the fish is a significantly lower (or hight) temperature than the previous owner, it can cause them to go into shock.
--Good luck with your fish--

Answer 7

horsewhisperer is correct.
DO NOT add chemicals/cleanser to anything youre putting in your tank. Not only will it kill the fish, but it will kill your good bacteria in the tank since its already an established tank.

DO NOT add salt to your freshwater fish aquarium (unless directed to do so by a trained pro for treatment of some kind). Freshwater fish are called that as they swim in water free of salt. Just as saltwater species would die in freshwater so will freshwater die in saltwater. Though there are brackish water fish that are like saltwater diluted fish (and many can do freshwater alone).

My guess is that adding the new water stressed them (wrong temp, untreated, too much change at one time, etc).

Good Luck

Answer 8

1. left over traces of cleaner poisened the fish
2. the temperature of the water may have shocked the fish

Always prepare water for changing a tank by letting it sit overnight. The chlorine from tap water will evaporate. Then acclimate the temperature - both temps should be the same - what the fish were in and what they will go into.

Next, about 1 teaspoon of salt per each 10 gallons of water will provide pH and inhibit disease.





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Answer 9

Did you clean the filters with water that's safe for the fish? Did you use any kinds of cleaners? Was the water filtered and the right temperature? Fish can be really difficult and temperamental this way.

Good luck!

Answer 10

4 gallon of water according to inch of fish is the guideline for installation a tank this facilitates area for them to locate there very own territory and room to develop additionally en ought oxygen as they ex hail carbon witch keeps to be in the water for alongside time even have an decrease than gravel clear out this makes friendly micro organism to digest waste you may commence with a twenty gallon tank in case you elect to maintain fish don't be fobbed off with cheep novelty tanks you may have a heater this keeps the water consistent tropicals like 80 to 80 3 stages & gold fish dont innovations