fish swim up as if looking for air when i put a new fish they die right away whats wrong?

Question

i have a bubble machine and i had the tank for about five months i just woke up this morning and all my fish were dead the ones that staied alive and on the top of of tank as if trying to get air

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a water quality issue. What's your water cleaning schedule? Do you test your water for high levels of ammonia and nitrates? Is this a newer tank? (If so, the tank is cycling - do a big water change RIGHT NOW, and continue to do changes daily until the quality stabilizes.)

Sites like www.aquahobby.com have forums where you can ask experienced aquarists questions and learn how to manage your tank and keep your fish healthy and happy. They also have good articles on things like cycling, and fish profiles so that you can be sure you are stocking your tank with appropriate, compatible species of fish.

Answer 2

Well, this could be a few things. This could easily be your water parameters. Ammonia & Nitrite levels in ppm (parts per million) being the quickest killers. Both of these are highly toxic to aquarium fish, with Ammonia being the most unhealthy.
What can you do about this? Two things:

1) Feed your captive fish only as much as they will eat in a few minutes, once a day. This lessens the amount of algae-based fish food that will sit on the gravel and rot; producing Ammonia and Phosphates. (The latter causing 'green water' and other algae problems.

2) Perform regular, small water changes. By small, I mean 10-20% while vacuuming the gravel with a siphon tool. Replace the water with treated tap water of the same temperature. The treatment should consist of the recommended dose of a de-chlorinator such as Stress Coat, Amquel, AquaPure, etc. Just be sure the product contains chlorine AND chloramine neutralizers. While these two chemicals are moderately harmful to fish alone, they are devastating to the nitrosomas and nitrosonomas; the aerobic bacteria which consume Ammonia and Nitrites.
This routine will also control the Nitrate levels in an un-planted aquarium and keep them at safe levels. (Not to be confused with Nitrite)
Read more about this VERY important process here: http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

Another practice that could cause death in fish upon introduction to you tank is failure to acclimate the fish to their new environment. Know that fish can often live in poorly maintained aquariums, or in water way outside their recommended water parameters, (Read temperature, hardness, pH levels), but rapid changes in these parameters can kill them in less than an hour. Even if you are bringing those parameters back to the recommended levels!

This answer is getting long, but I highly encourage you to read and save these important steps when acclimating all but the most expensive, new fish you bring home from your pet store. For more expensive fish, use a quarentine tank for this process.

1. The inhabitants of the quarantine tank or aquarium that will be receiving the new animals should be fed. After feeding, turn the aquarium lights off for the remainder of the day. Room lights should also be dimmed to reduce stress.

2. The UNOPENED bags should be floated in the quarantine tank or aquarium for approximately 15 minutes.

3. It is critical not to open the bags until after the shipping water has had time to match the quarantine tank or aquarium water temperature. If opened prematurely, the water will quickly lose dissolved oxygen, thus suffocating the fish. Air stones must not be added to the shipping bag. The aeration process will rapidly increase the pH and cause an increased ammonia level, each of which is toxic to the fish.

4. Carefully cut the shipping bag as close to the stainless steel clip as possible.

5. Roll back the edges of the plastic to form a float ring. Continue floating the now open bags. For heavier items that are prone to sinking, such as corals, remove the items and all of the shipping water to an acclimation container. An empty salt bucket or Rubbermaid container works well for this.

6. Begin slowly transferring quarantine tank or aquarium water into the bags or acclimation container. Expected duration of this step is 15 minutes.

7. When the water volume has been approximately doubled, dispose of half of the water from the bag.

8. Repeat the Step 7, taking another 15 minutes.

9. Your new specimens are now ready to be transferred to the quarantine tank or aquarium. Again, remember that no water from the shipping bags should enter your quarantine tank or aquarium. Use a net or a cup to transfer your new animals from the bag into the quarantine tank or aquarium.

Answer 3

It would be helpful if you include more information. Does your fish tank have a "bubble" machine thing that blows bubbles in the tank, fish like this because it puts more oxygen in the air. Don't add fish to often because they get stressed out quickly and may die from "ICH". i would wait 1 week every time you add a new fish and don't add more than two fish at a time. also, float the bag in the water for 10 minutes before you release the fish in the tank, this way they get used to the new temperature and it's not a shock. if you have tropical fish you can use a chemical called "stress coat" it's like a fishy sedative. Have you tested for Ph, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia? also if this is a new tank let all new tanks sit 2 weeks before any fish are added so everything can settle.

Answer 4

Get an air pump for your fish tank, but change the water first.

Answer 5

2 things you got an infection in the water or you dont have an air pump blowing bubbles in the tank to put oxygen in the water.

Answer 6

Sounds like the water isn't properly aerated to me. Check your pump and make sure that it's clean and functioning properly. Someone who is more experienced with fish might be able to tell you more than I can.

Answer 7

there's this stuff called no pike that might work. i work at a bait & tackle store and we use it for the shiners because they do the same thing.

http://www.landbigfish.com/tacklestore/showcase.cfm?PID=3657&SiteID=1546

i don't know if it's exactly what your looking for but it should work. also do you have an ariator? that might help to.

Answer 8

Most likely nitrate poisening!