WTF!!

Hi all,

Arrived home from work to fin 6 of my tiger barbs and my new snowball plec dead. Also, two more tiger barbs are unwell. Water checks out, tested with two different kits to be sure of readings and all above board. There have been recent changes to the tank, I planted it yesturday morning. The fish have been in the tank for a few weeks before I planted it. I am useing an undergravel fertillizer and the tank was completely cycled. Strangely, none of my 8 corys were affected and the remaining 7 tiger barbs and red tailed shark appear to be fine. I have no Idea what is going on here, temperature is steady 25 celsius so if anyone out there has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Cheers,

Jay

hi jay,what are the water parameters readings,

Parameters are as follows:

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 25ppm
Ph 7.2 stable
Temp 25 degrees celsius

strange one,could by any chance that something fell in,i would do a large water change and put a carbon in,

Nope, didnt spill anything into it. Always careful cleaning the tank. Im wondering if mabey the plants might have been sprayed with something, or the RTBS went postal but he only goes a bit nuts when they approach his cave and I have never witnessed him really attack anything with purpose. Dido on the water change and carbon, got to be some sort of poison or illness.

Wierd one...Did you paint... Use air freshner or anything?

Hi J,

When you get a mass die off like that it isn't usually disease related it usually stems from an oxygen deficiency due to either poor aeration or lack of o2 due to some toxicity. The fact that all of the Corys survived is an indicator as they get supplemental o2 from the surface just as Gourami do.

Did any bubbles come out of the substrate when you installed the plants? I know the substrate you bought and that is perfectly fine, The plant companies only use algacides as there are very few diseases that suffer from diseases, ferts yes but other chemicals would be a no no. The fact some barbs survived may be that their fellow fish were competing with the remaining o2 and they lived.

Sorry buddy, I hate losing fish and wish I could be of better help.

Kev

How long was it after you planted your tank before the fish just died? Overnight or a few days? Plants release CO2 (carbon dioxide) during the night and that probably caused a shortage of oxygen inside the water?! Do you have good circulation or/and an air pump attached to the tank?? I personnaly think thats what happened, perform a large water change after the other fish dieing! They would have polluted the water a little! When you came to look at the tank during the day time, thats when the plants are releasing oxygen into the water!!! Be careful with that and really sorry to hear about your fish buddy!! Atleast you do your best for them!!!

arabesque wrote:

Wierd one...Did you paint... Use air freshner or anything?

No, havnt been doing anything of the sort recently.

stretnik wrote:

Hi J,

When you get a mass die off like that it isn't usually disease related it usually stems from an oxygen deficiency due to either poor aeration or lack of o2 due to some toxicity. The fact that all of the Corys survived is an indicator as they get supplemental o2 from the surface just as Gourami do.

Did any bubbles come out of the substrate when you installed the plants? I know the substrate you bought and that is perfectly fine, The plant companies only use algacides as there are very few diseases that suffer from diseases, ferts yes but other chemicals would be a no no. The fact some barbs survived may be that their fellow fish were competing with the remaining o2 and they lived.

Sorry buddy, I hate losing fish and wish I could be of better help.

Kev

Hey Kev,
Didnt notice any bubbles rising when planting, thx for reply cos you got me thinking about 02...

Steveo wrote:

How long was it after you planted your tank before the fish just died? Overnight or a few days? Plants release CO2 (carbon dioxide) during the night and that probably caused a shortage of oxygen inside the water?! Do you have good circulation or/and an air pump attached to the tank?? I personnaly think thats what happened, perform a large water change after the other fish dieing! They would have polluted the water a little! When you came to look at the tank during the day time, thats when the plants are releasing oxygen into the water!!! Be careful with that and really sorry to hear about your fish buddy!! Atleast you do your best for them!!!

Cheers stevo,
Thinking this might be a lack of oxygen senario. Yesturday after planting I removed the internal filter that I was using to supplement the external. I then put the media from the internal into the external. The internal created alot of agitation and bubbles in the water and Im yet to install an airline as have not been home. Dammit, this happened fast.

Yeah from hearing that id nearly put money on it that it was a lack of oxygen issue?! Anyway you could place the externals outlet near the surface to agitate the water? The remaining fish would probably appreciate that, especially after there ordeal last night?!

Its something that you would have never thought about so i wouldnt beat myself up over it! I know it sucks losing fish but think of all the fish out there that have no chance?! Atleast you provide the right environment for them!!

If you are around at the mo, pop down to me i have a nice little pump and airstone you can have, i won't be around tomorrow, give me a bell if you want it.

Kev

Steveo wrote:

Yeah from hearing that id nearly put money on it that it was a lack of oxygen issue?! Anyway you could place the externals outlet near the surface to agitate the water? The remaining fish would probably appreciate that, especially after there ordeal last night?!

Its something that you would have never thought about so i wouldnt beat myself up over it! I know it sucks losing fish but think of all the fish out there that have no chance?! Atleast you provide the right environment for them!!

Cheers stevo, gonna try sort it now. Will let you guys know how it goes.

stretnik wrote:

If you are around at the mo, pop down to me i have a nice little pump and airstone you can have, i won't be around tomorrow, give me a bell if you want it.

Kev

Thanks for that Kev, owe ya one