Can Someone Help Me With My Fish Dying?

[Clarey]

I'm pretty certian I followed all the instructions. The kit I got details how long you have to shake the test tubes for and how you have to shake them and I left it for just over five minutes.

The colour chart on the box is quite difficult to tell, and I was unsure if my nitrate level was somewhere between the 0 -12.5 - but it looked more like the lighter colour. Do you think this could be what's wrong with my tank?

 

[Christine1014]

I'm not sure... it could be.... but it's also hard to believe that a 6-month-old tank wouldn't be cycled!
Here's what I'm thinking: As long as ammonia is being produced (and you have fish, so they're going to be producing ammonia), nitrite will be produced. In a tank that's still being cycled, you're nitrites would be high because nitrAtes wouldn't have developed yet to eat them. As the cylcing process continues, the nitrates increase, and your nitrite levels come down. To have no readings at all (or even 12.5 nitrates) just makes no sense.... my tank's 5 months old and at last check my levels were Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 30.

Unless.... when you were doing your water changes, were you adding a tap water conditioner? If no, I think I've got this figured out.... if yes.... well, then back to the drawing board!

 

[Clarey]

I was adding a tap water conditioner called Aqua Safe and also something to break down nitrates - could this account for the low readings? Should I be adding the stuff that breaks down the nitrates?

I wil run another nitrate test - just to make sure and post my results.

Thanks for helping.

 

[Clarey]

I've just done another test on the nitrate and got the same results.

 

[Christine1014]

Hmm... whatever you added to break down the nitrates might be the issue... (ultimately, I don't know if that could have affected your fish, but lets figure out the water first!)

How are your fish looking right now? if they seem okay, I'd hold off on any more water changes. Do your water test today, then do another tomorrow. No water changes. See what happens to your test readings. If you start to get nitrate readings, then you know that other additive you were using was responsible for your 0-nitrate reading. Then I think you can resume your regular, once-a week 25% water change & gravel vac, and just use the Aqua Safe. As long as your tank is cycled properly, you shouldn't ever need to nitrate-reducing chemical.

 

[Clarey]

The fish seem fine at the moment.

I'll follow your advice and test the water again and then the next time I change the water I won't use the nitrate reducing chemicals. Fingers crossed that will work.

Thanks again - hopefully if the tank settles down the fish might stop dying.

 

[fishkers]

With what Christine1014 said is that you need to have a little nitrate if your tank is cycled most say about 20 is when your tank is cycled it should read 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and about 20 Nitrates. When you get that reading your tank is cycled. The reason your Nitrate level could be low is because of all the water changes.

To be honest with you I can't come up with anything to be certain of what is wrong. It could have been just purely stress that might have killed them if the tank was maybe slightly over stocked it could have just been too much.

Did your fish look normal when you found them dead? Like no bite marks or tufts of anything? any abnormalities at all???

 

[Clarey]

I've just checked my tank now and the female black mollie isn't looking too well. Her tail looks a bit ragged and she's swimming slowly.

The fish that died were mostly the original fish I had when I first stocked the tank. Some did have ragged tails and I assumed that perhaps the aggressive female guppie (or another one of the fishes) had taken a few nips if they were dying and weaker.

What should I do about my black mollie? The others who behaved like her soon died.

 

[Clarey]

I've just done another water test

Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate Somewhere between 12.5-25

My nitrate does seem to be going up.

But my black mollie is looking a bit pale and has a chunk missing out of it's tail.

 

[Clarey]

Update

I've just got home to find my black mollie has hardly any tail left. Could it be the guppies ganging up on the other fish? They seem fine and I have four of them - three females and a male

 

[Christine1014]

Hey Clarey; sorry to hear about the Molly! Do you have another tank you can put her in for a while? It does sound like someone's nipping at her. I've no experience with guppies though... Anyway, if you can get her in another tank that would surely do her some good.

 

[Clarey]

Sadly my black mollie died today - she had no tail left. I've now only got five fish left.

Does anyone know if guppies can be a bit vicious?

 

[lilfishie]

i have heard that guppies can be fin nippers, but i myself have never experienced it with any of mine. sorry to hear about your losses

 

[Clarey]

Thanks - I have observed my guppies nipping the other fish. Does anyone know if there is some way I can calm them down with maybe the way I feed them or something?