Deadly Bacteria?

[Skymollie]

Hello; I'm not sure if I'm just an idiot or missing something but I have an ongoing issue. I went on vacation and left the care of my fish to my nonfish loving husband and while gone the Goldfish pond outside went toxic on nitrites. Fish were jumping out and being eaten by my dogs and by the time I came back I only had six ragged Sarasa comets left. I put them in a new tank with a filter from a cycled tank plus a cycled sponge filter in the house. Every day the nitrites would build. I made the mistake of moving them to the Angelfish tank because it was bigger at forty gallons. This move eventually killed those eight Angelfish and five of the Goldfish died. I moved the one remaing Goldfish back to the other tank. I did a complete water change and in one week I added ten new Angelfish and within two weeks they succumbed to such things as fin rot, swirling sideways and one by one they all died. The question is: I did water changes every other day from the moment I put those sick Goldfish in that tank, water parameters were at 0 for Nitrites and Ammonia and about 10-15 on nitrates. The question is: I am wondering if there are bacteria in that tank from the nitrite poisoned Goldfish that are hanging on and if so must I tear down this tank and kill all with bleach? Thank you for your help and sorry this is so long winded. Debbie

 

[Petie]

Whats temps are your tanks?

As angelfish are tropical and goldfish coldwater?

 

[Skymollie]

Yes, know this. It was a hot week here in Nebraska when I went away. The Goldfish went from 75 outside temp to an inside temp of 78 and the Angelfish tank was 80.

 

[Aqua Tom]

How long where you away for?


Tom

 

[Skymollie]

Six days, it was a 100 gallon stock tank newly cycled. So it was pretty unstable.

 

[Tolak]

I'd bet overfeeding, nitrite stressed the pond fish which let an opportunistic disease take hold. It probably did transfer to the existing angels, hard to tell if it affected the new ones, or if they were exposed to something else which may have caused them to die off.

This is the reason it's suggested to quar sick fish, or new fish, as it helps to prevent disease transfer, as well as narrow down where any problem may lie. Is the 100 gallon newly cycled tank the one with the remaining fish, what fish are in it if any?

 

[Skymollie]

I'd bet overfeeding, nitrite stressed the pond fish which let an opportunistic disease take hold. It probably did transfer to the existing angels, hard to tell if it affected the new ones, or if they were exposed to something else which may have caused them to die off.

This is the reason it's suggested to quar sick fish, or new fish, as it helps to prevent disease transfer, as well as narrow down where any problem may lie. Is the 100 gallon newly cycled tank the one with the remaining fish, what fish are in it if any?

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate everyones help. I gave my non fish person exact measured food per day in vials. I think that stock tank was not cycled and needed a water change daily like I was doing before I left. It's pretty much impossible to enlist the help of the unwilling in this fun project. All the Goldfish had nitrite poisoning. Their skin was sloughing off, red streaks all over their bodies. I am just wondering if this bad bacteria that caused my angelfish to succumb to stress illnesses are still in the tank? And if so, must I bleach the tank to kill them? At the moment that sick tank is empty. The Lone Ranger Goldfish survivor is doing well in another tank with some new little Goldfish pals and the 100 gallon stock tank became my grow out tank for female mollies and they are all doing fine. Thanks everyone.

 

[Tolak]

I'd at least rinse the tank well with chlorinated tap water & let it dry thoroughly. 1 part bleach to 20 parts water & a good rinse after is probably the safest thing, it sure won't hurt.

 

[Skymollie]

I'd at least rinse the tank well with chlorinated tap water & let it dry thoroughly. 1 part bleach to 20 parts water & a good rinse after is probably the safest thing, it sure won't hurt.

Do you know the name of the bacteria I'm trying to kill with the bleach bath? I didn't want to kill all of my good filter bacteria off. I added 10 tbsp salt to this new tank water and it still has 20 ppm nitrates. Do you think this tank would be safe as is for a hardier fish than angelfish? Thanks

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Six days, it was a 100 gallon stock tank newly cycled. So it was pretty unstable.

If it was recently cycled then it shouldn't have been unstable at all. How did you cycle the tank?
My first thought is thst you have put too much bio-load into a tank that the good filter bacteria can handle.
It's a little confusing to me though as to what you put where..Goldfish into Angel tank then they all died?
I am not sure of any bacteria that would continue to run without a source of food in any tank, and i guess that would include the beneficial bacteria in our filters.

Terry.

 

[Skymollie]

Six days, it was a 100 gallon stock tank newly cycled. So it was pretty unstable.

If it was recently cycled then it shouldn't have been unstable at all. How did you cycle the tank?
My first thought is thst you have put too much bio-load into a tank that the good filter bacteria can handle.
It's a little confusing to me though as to what you put where..Goldfish into Angel tank then they all died?
I am not sure of any bacteria that would continue to run without a source of food in any tank, and i guess that would include the beneficial bacteria in our filters.

Terry.

Hello England; It was definitely not completely cycled when I added eight small Goldfish. Nitrite level was at 0 ppm without fish. Fishless cycled for two weeks. The minute I added the Goldfish Nitrite levels went up daily. This tank had all the old filter materials from two different tanks. I added gravel from established tanks weekly. I think the fact that it was started outside in April and water stayed at a low temperature further decreased the ability of the bacteria to grow. Just too cold. So it was taking longer. It just wasn't enough. Poor fish. Yes, you are right. The bio-load was too much at that point. The Goldfish were first put into a small tank and I thought they'd have a better chance in a completely cycled tank so hence, the move to the Angelfish tank. I thought since all levels stayed at Nitrites 0,Ammonia 0 and Nitrates around 15 that the Angelfish would be safe. I tried to save the Goldfish and sacrificed the Angelfish, my fault, but I have one beautiful Goldfish left. He is an amazing fish. My husband found him outside the tank in the dirt, put him back in the tank and he started breating again. He was the first to jump out and the only one to survive. Thanks

 

[The Taffy Apple]

My head hurts. But best of luck with it.

Terry.