Fish Continue To Die - Established Tank - Need Advice

[jeffsfish25]

30 Gallon Tank
10 South American Fish
1 Angel Fish
1 Algae Eater
- 2 Fake Plants
- 1 Small Rock
- 1 Piece of Wood
Standard Filter 
Standard Heater (80 degrees) 
 
All water levels have been checked. Took in two samples for testing, plus sample of faucet water to test for hardness
Regular water changes (monthly 50%)
Algae levels low and no build up of excess food/waste
 
We introduced new algae eater and 2 replacement fish (all the same breed) to meet max number above.
Fish started to get ick (3 fish), treated, but died within 2 days. The rest of the fish continued to move to the top and slowing die off.
We have retested the water with no issues. Fish store claimed it could be a parasite or disease we cant treat.
 
Can I do anything or is this tank doomed?
 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

We are going to definitely need more information here.
 
What type of fish, how long has it been set-up.
 
When you say water levels are "fine" - specifically what are your numbers.
 
 
Fish aren't the only ones to get ick.  Ich lives in the tank as a trophont and tomite as well, and so just because the fish that you saw it on are now dead, doesn't mean that you aren't still dealing with ich.  If any fish shows the signs of ich, the entire tank needs to be treated.  A single trophant will burst eventually and "give birth" to hundreds of free-swimming tomites which will attach themselves to the fish and start the cycle all over again.
 
 
Ich can also attach itself to the gills - which might explain why the fish are hanging at the surface - trying to get more oxygen, as the parasite can restrict that  and why you may not be able to see any spots on the fish.

 

[This Old Spouse]

We need much more information to be able to give informed answers. How long has your tank been set up? Did you properly cycle the filter before adding any fish? What "South American fish" do you have (there are LOTS of fish from SA). What kind of "algae eater" do you have? What exactly is the filter you have? What kind of substrate is in the tank?
 
A 50% water change might be "regular" but it's certainly not adequate. I'm afraid your fish might be dying from neglect, which is not necessarily your fault because it sounds like you're going on advice from your LFS (local fish shop).
 
You should invest in a liquid testing kit (API, Nutrafin, Salifert) so you know exactly what the levels are in your tank, such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Don't bother with strips; they're fairly useless.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Besides the Ich issue (as in how did you treat this), the biggest concerns are...
 
You should really be doing ~50% water changes weekly rather than monthly, providing water stats are perfect (0 ammonia or nitrite).
Why the 80F temperature? Unless you have a specific fish that needs this (eg. German Ram Cichlids), you be able to safely let the temp drop naturally to 75F and save electricity and prolong the life of your fish
 
Definitely needs more details on the fish community, there could be fish or fishes in there creating the stress that is triggering the Ich outbreak. For example, Chinese Algae Eaters are too big for a 30g and are infamous for "slime sucking" tankmates.
 
Immediately replacing lost fish is very risky, unless you are very sure of why they died and know new fish are very unlikely to come down with the same problem, new fish should be quarantined for a few weeks (to ensure they are illness free and getting their first decent meal sizes in a while). I have an issue going on in my ~48x17x17 right now, I cannot pinpoint what is the problem, so any fish coming out of that tank are not being cross-contaminated with my other tanks.

 

[stanleo]

Its funny you said that about test strips being useless cause I took some of my water from my SW tank to the my LFS and when they did the test they used strips. I thought to myself, I could have done that LOL"

 

[This Old Spouse]

I started out with strips but found early on how useless they are. And mine don't even test for ammonia. 

 

[jeffsfish25]

I do not have the specific levels for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, but they were checked at the fish store (twice).
All levels were normal. I started doing 50% change in the last two weeks to see if we could flush out any thing that could be in the tank.
 
I was advised to raise the water temperature to 80 since it fights off ick and helps certain parasites from growing.
I was also told that most sounth american fish like the warmer water. The tank was established for 5 years before i lost a few fish from the past.
I just added a new algae eater (died of natural causes) and two red chilids died over the last two years from attacks from other fish.
 
When the new fish were introduced we had a small breakout of ick, that killed 2 in 2 days, the rest did not show signs of any ick but they started to stay towards the top of the tank.
We also checked the tap water to see if the water change could have hard water (levels were normal). Ammonia levels were normal especially after the water change (50%), still the tank showed no signs of parasites, increased levels of algae, excessive waste/food, or fin rot.
 
Filter - Aqueon QuietFlow30
 
I also treated the ick when it first broke out with Quick Cure
 
Side Note: The fish store that I use has been in business for 40 years and only specialize in fish. I have been using them for 15 years and this is the first issue.
The algae eaters wasnt the issue, since they have shown no signs of ill will. I have been told this could be virus span off from the ick or something got into the tank.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Please mention the specific fish that are in the tank.

 

[jeffsfish25]

I had 6 chicilds and 4 Tetras
I have 1 angel, 1 algae eater, and 2 tetras left. The last fish are already showing signs of weakness

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Hanging at the top for cichlids can be a sign of submission.
 
 
The more specific you can be the better.  Cichlids is a large group and its nearly impossible to help if you don't supply specific information regarding species.
 
 
Post a few pics of the behavior, if possible - or even a video.

 

[glolite]

Do you know what the cichlids are called?

 

[This Old Spouse]

And the algae eater?
 
Honestly, if you can post some photos of your fish and tank, it will be worlds easier to help you.

 

[jeffsfish25]

Types of Fish:
 
Black skirt tetra (4)
Black Phantom Tetra (2)
Red Minor Serpae Tetra (2)
Angel Fish (1)
Pleco Algae Eater (2)
Tetra Red Eye (2)
 
cichlids (2) Forgot the name (see through, long body, with catfish whiskers)
 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Do a large water change right now, if that hasn't been mentioned. Replace with temperature-matched dechlorinated water.

 

[jeffsfish25]

Already did a 50% water change last week and on Saturday. No change only increased loss of fish.
I am losing my largest and oldest fish now the angel, which is almost the last fish left.
 
I have 5 fish left only, the rest are dead