fish just started to die?

Question

My boyfriend and I started a 55 gallon tank about a month ago. We set it up properly and have all of the bio levels correct (Ph is 7.0, Amonia is 0, Nitrates and Nitrites are 0) The temp is 80degrees and the filters have been replaced once, but not the bio wheels. We have about a dozen neon tetras , a few larger gouramis, 2 plecos and 3 snails. We had a tetra die 2 days ago, so i took it back to the pet store and they replaced it for free. Since noon today I had another tetra die, and 2 of the gouramis die also. The two larger fish seemed to slow down over the last few days, but the tetras are harder to tell b/c there are so many. I have picked the brain of the fish store manager, and have had no luck. Any ideas as to why my fish are dying? help me!!

we purchased the fish from 2 different stores over the last 3 weeks. The temperature is set according to the recommendations we recieved from both fish stores.

I have a master test kit that I test all of my levels every other day. I work at a pet store and have received a ton of suggestions from them but they are stuck too. And I know never to change the bio wheels.

after reading several good answers, my boyfriend and i discussed the tetras we purchased. he said that there were a few dead fish in the tank, and one or two that we purchased were discolored. I think neon tetra disease is a possiblity, but would it affect the other fish also? What other ideas do you all have?

we have a thermometer stuck to the front of the tank that is where we get our readings from. we have a double filter that is adequate for a 75 gallon tank, so it is more than good for our 55 gallon tank. We test using a liquid test kit that is not expired. The fish seem to be pretty normal, except for the ones that died.

Answer 1

**the temperature is perfect. do not let it go past 82 they are tropical fish and need that warmer temp**
youre ph is a little high, not too bad, but tetras and gouramis like a lower ph like 6.5. also are you doing 25% water changes every 7 days and decholrinating the water you put in there? over feeding and under feeding can lead to sudden deaths as well... brine shrimp and bloodworms and a bit of tropical flake food is an amazing diet... but only put the amount the fish will eat in 3 mintues 1 1/2 times a day!

oh and never ever ever mix the water the fish came in with your tank water. most pet stores get fish from companies that breed fish in horrible conditions. pet stores either have heavily medicated water... or parasites and other stuff in their water.... so soak your fish right in the water in the bag they came in for 15-20 minutes that get a net and put only the fish in the water. and to be extra cautious for you fish to transition into the water you can add a cup of your tank water into the fish bag over a half and hour and then net out the fish into your tank!

Answer 2

Since this is a fairly new tank, did you cycle it first? I could understand not having ammonia or nitrite if the tank is cycled, but you should be showing some amount of nitrate. One of the first things I'd do is get a water sample tested by another source to confirm your previous results. If you're using paper test strips, these can go bad quickly from moisture in the air, or being handled improperly. Liquid tests are more reliable, and often more precise with their results, but the chemicals can go bad after 4-5 years. You might want to see if your tests (if you're doing these yourself) have an expiration date.

Are your fish showing any unusual behavior (gasping at the top of the tank, loss of appetite, split fins, heavy breating/rapid gill movement? These may all be signs of deteriorating water quality, and of the fish you've listed, neons would be the ones that would be most sensitive.

You also don't mention your filtration, although I would suspect that you are using a hang-on power filter if you've changed it once. That should provide enough aeration if it's the correct size for the tank (the gallons per hour rating should be 5 to 10 times your tank volume), and the tank is filled so that it creates a "ripple" effect across the surface (this is preferable to "waterfall" which disturbs less water at the surface).

Have you checked the water temperature with a thermometer? If you're just going by what you've set on the heater, you may not be able to tell if it's malfunctioning. If it's overheating the water, warm water holds less oxygen than cooler water, so this could be a problem.

Are your fish showing any discoloration, unusual swimming positions, or other signs of disease or parasites?

Is there anything in your tank that was not purchased at an aquarium store? (rocks, wood, fake plants, ceramic decorations, which may be leaching chemicals into the water) Or has there been anything used/sprayed in the room where the tank is located? (one user on the forum tracked a problem to her sister who sprayed hairspray near the tank and some got in the water) Just some ideas for you.

ADDITION: I just saw the addition about neon tetra disease - yes, it does affect other species. See info on it in this link (Called Pleistophora: http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm )

Answer 3

When's the last time you tested the ammonia/nitrites/nitrates? Having them all at zero is a little odd, especially if the tank is only a month old with that many fish in it and you're even replacing filters (which you shouldn't do completely -- you're throwing away your bacteria and forcing the tank to grow more.) I mean, ammonia & nitrite should be at zero, but a cycled tank should be producing some nitrates.

EDIT: You're right, the temperature is fine, and if your water parameters are good, hm.... are the fish showing ANY other symptoms? Neons have gotten really risky lately. Lots of bad batches, and NeonTetraDisease can be contagious if the others fish pick at a dead one and consume some of the diseased tissue.

Answer 4

It sounds like your tank is not completely cycled yet, because you should have at least a nitrate reading

But since some gouramis died as well i would by myself a new ammonia test kit, or test the water in your petstore

It somehow sounds like ammonia or nitrite poisening to me

did you add all the fish at once? if so that might be another reason that they have died

but i assume really that it is ammonia that kills your fish


Hope that helps
Good luck


EB


feel free to email

I will check back later if you added any more info

Answer 5

there can be so many reasons. if your fish tank is in its first month....have you put too many fish too quickly. tetras are a fairly hardy fish and can tolerate temperature changes. make sure tank is not near a source of heat or cold. Have you added aquarium salt and aquasafe/aquapure to ensure the water you have in is OK. sometimes adding an algae tablet (or 2/3) can help. you say the fish just slowed down...if they were swimming funny or had something on them it can be a disease and the water can be treated. food is also important. fish in the tank should be able to consume all you put in, in about 3 minutes.

Answer 6

You never need to replace the bio-wheels!! Sorry about the fish I have no clue whats going wrong, its weird because I read all these problems that and I have never had a problem with my fish at all I guess i'm just lucky!!

Answer 7

did you buy them all in one place they could have got a bad Bach of fish i would talk to the people you got them from

Answer 8

the temperature maybe a little too high for them. 80 degrees is above room temperature so they might not be able to handle the temperature increase. try decreasing the temperature.

Answer 9

the water might be slightly high. i would bring a sample of the water to the pet place and they should be able to help you