All Fish Died - What New Stock?

[furaha]

I'm not exactly a beginner, ive had my fish for almost exactly 3 years. Started with a fish bowl and 1moor, 1 fantail, and 1comet . Yup. All sold to me by my LFS. Despite daily water changes, the water was always murky, stank and fish were always gasping at surface. I then bought a 15uk gal tank and plonked the fish in. I didnt realise at the time but i was still massively overstocked, had not cycled etc...it's a miracle they survived. They even grew but i had trouble with algae so i was advised (by LFS) to get a common plec. They've all live happily ever after.

Until a month ago.

Then they all mysteriously died within the last month except the plec. Ive become quite good at spotting when they are sick just coz i know them quite well so i was surprised they died. I've been reading up and there seems to be indications that UGF pack up after a while, no matter how much you vacuum the gravel, with a resulting deterioration of water quality. Admittedly, I was very tardy with testing the water toward the end so i'll never know for sure.

Aaaaaanyway, so last week i aquired a slightly larger tank free from work (20gal) and gave away my smaller tank. With it came one large fancy goldfish (one of a pair - we lost the other one to dropsy) and it and the plec seemed happy for all of 2 days (i have to say, there was a little bullying by the goldfish during meal times as he would always try to eat the plecs wafers) then he suddenly died right before my eyes after only two days!!! (PS, ive never watched a fish die, thot they always went at night).

So now i wonder if the plec had some sort of disease or something that killed the goldfish.

Ive treated the tank (with the plec still in it) and ive been testing the water every other day. Tomorrow i do a massive water change and carbon goes back in to remove medicine.

But now im wondering what fish (if any) to put in the tank. I realise now it is a small tank for a common plec and i have been crusing ebay for a large second-hand in my area (im in sheffield if anyone is selling, will collect within a reasonable distance afield) but until then, i also bought a golden apple snail off ebay this week. Expecting it this coming week. I have also been looking at african dwarf frogs (2- only as of last night - i am very impulsive but i cant find anywhere that sells them) but id quite like to have another fish if poss.

Any suggestions?

also, my plec is still very small and ive had him 2 years almost. i thought they grow massive?

Sorry, long rambling post i know.

 

[dylema]

I am sure someone will post here to help you soon so please have the following info ready.

What are/were your water parameters: ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, pH, temp?

How did you cycle the new tank?

what kind of filtration do/did you have?

 

[furaha]

I am sure someone will post here to help you soon so please have the following info ready.

What are/were your water parameters: ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, pH, temp?

How did you cycle the new tank?

what kind of filtration do/did you have?

Right, ok, ammonia and nitrite are 0ppm, nitrate is 5ppm. PH is 7 and temp 25centigrade.

i kind of cheated with the cycling. The tank i acquired had been running for about a year so i just dismantled it, threw away the UGF it had, carted the gravel in buckets and re-set it up with the filter, gravel, plants and bogwood it came with. I added some rocks and plants and a hidy hole (plant pot) from my old aquarium and a new ornament. I know good bacteria die off quickly without a good o2 supply so the whole thing took about 2 hours in total (i had friends helping and i only live five mins from work). Ive tested the water every other day since setting up and had no problems so far.

I have a fluval 3 filter.

The reason i posted in beginner post is because i only have basic knowledge of fish-keeping although i had my fish for a while.

 

[dylema]

Ok, well this will soon get past my knowlege level too but there would be a pretty good chance that the tank went through a mini cycle (due to moving) and so you could have had an ammonia spike which killed your pleco and now the levels have all got back to normal (good). I would think that whatever killed the fish in your old tank could have weakened your plec and so he was not able to handle the spike of a mini cycle. Whatever you decide to do I would be patient and make sure your levels are staying good and no other fish gets sick, and add slowly making sure that all the tank mates like the same temp and pH. Hope this helps.

 

[furaha]

Oops, ive just re-read my post. I should be clear. The goldie died. Ive now only got the plec. Unfortunately i was too hasty and already ordered a giant apple snail. I guess i should have waited like you suggested.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Well, IMO, it would be best to leave the tank with just the plec in for three or four weeks, and the carbon, to make sure there are bacteria in the filter, and to clear out anything that might be in the tank (disease, chemicals, etc.). As for after that, well, what do you like? Community fish, schooling fish, a single larger fish?

 

[furaha]

As for after that, well, what do you like? Community fish, schooling fish, a single larger fish?

I quite like larger fish, that's what atracted me to goldfish in the first place. I have been considering bettas coz i think they are gorgeous but ive been reading up and not sure how they'd cope with filter flow. I read they need slow moving water. I love oscars but i just dont have a tank large enough so ive been considering 5 or 6 dwarf gouramis and 3 angel fish. I dont want any more catfish or loaches or bottom dwellers.

Unfortuantely i dont know much about the different types of fish (and there are soooo many, my poor eyes grow weary from all the reading) but i do know i dont like those teeny weeny fish like tetras etc. Just not substantial enough for my liking.

Ultimately, im looking to get a 40 gal tank (i dont think my floor could support any more).

 

[WILDER]

Overstocked, the first goldfish needs 20gal, then 10gal for every other one added, plus they need excellent filters, sometimes two.

 

[Taridan]

If you can, you might want to post a pic of your pleco in the Catfish section and ask for help ID'ing it. If it hasn't grown much it could either be stunted or it could be one of the species that doesn't grow into giants. XD

As for Stocking the tank, After you get the apple snail you ordered, wait at least 3-4 weeks like oofeeshy said, then... hmm, I don't know enough about Angels to say if that is a suitable tank.

 

[furaha]

Overstocked, the first goldfish needs 20gal, then 10gal for every other one added, plus they need excellent filters, sometimes two.

Huh?

Yes, i know my tank was overstocked. But unfortunately, it was a classic beginners mistake on the advice of my LFS.

You'll notice from my post that the goldfish are now all dead and im on here asking for advice on suitable and compatible replacements, given that im looking for a 40gal tank and already have a plec and soon to have an apple snail.

If you can, you might want to post a pic of your pleco in the Catfish section and ask for help ID'ing it. If it hasn't grown much it could either be stunted or it could be one of the species that doesn't grow into giants.

Oh thanks, that's a good idea, luckily i took some pics before i lost my digi cam (work christmas party, drunken nite... )