Fish Dying One By One

[sammclean23]

Hi All,

I have just been away for a week (left my mum in charge) and in that time 3 fish have died and another this morning.

Just tested the water:

Amonia (Liquid Test) = 0. Cl2 = 0 ph = 6.8 kh = 7.2 GH = 16d N02 = 0 N03= 100

I understand the nitrate level is up and should not be that high, however I have been doing regular water changes and performed a 50 % water change yesterday.

So far: 4 neons, 1 guppy and loach have died. I have noticed lumps of something forming on my plants? This was also present on the loach when it died.
Can anybody help at all?

I appreciate any replies

Btw, 50 Litre tank, not the biggest I know, and also the tank has been set up for around 6 months now and all has been fine

 

[KittyKat]

Firstly, do water change.

Secondly.. lumps? Describe in more detail, preferably with the help of a clear photo!

What is the full stocking? It sounds like it may be very high for a tank that size..

 

[sammclean23]

Firstly, do water change.

Secondly.. lumps? Describe in more detail, preferably with the help of a clear photo!

What is the full stocking? It sounds like it may be very high for a tank that size..

I did a 50% water change yesterday, is another neccesary. If so i will get on with it asap.

Full stock before deaths: 5 guppies, 6 neons, 1 clown loach.

I Know clown loach require big tanks, however the fish seller convinced me that he had kept loach in tanks my size for many years and so i took his word for it.

The lump has now gone as it split into bits when i attempted to remove it.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[KittyKat]

You should be fine on water changes

But you really should not have taken the sellers word about clown loaches.. that most likely was the cause of your problem. The only two bottom fish I would seriously consider for a tank that size are dwarf or pygmy Corys and only 6 of those realistically. In practice, I would always consider shrimp over the Corys even.

The neons would benefit from having their numbers up again, but that's up to you, of course.. I would even think about getting 8 in total, if that was my tank.

 

[sammclean23]

You should be fine on water changes

But you really should not have taken the sellers word about clown loaches.. that most likely was the cause of your problem. The only two bottom fish I would seriously consider for a tank that size are dwarf or pygmy Corys and only 6 of those realistically. In practice, I would always consider shrimp over the Corys even.

The neons would benefit from having their numbers up again, but that's up to you, of course.. I would even think about getting 8 in total, if that was my tank.

Okay thanks a lot, how soon would you recommend purchasing some more fish to get their numbers up?

 

[KittyKat]

If it was my tank, I would wait at least a week, then if everything is clear, get 2-3 neons, wait another week, if still no problems, get another 2-3 neons, and so on... Make sure to acclimatise them properly and everything.

As for the loach, I really would just make sure to have some plants (Java moss, Anubias, Java fern are undemanding) and have some cherry shrimp instead. I would add the plants right away and the shrimp a few weeks later.

 

[sammclean23]

If it was my tank, I would wait at least a week, then if everything is clear, get 2-3 neons, wait another week, if still no problems, get another 2-3 neons, and so on... Make sure to acclimatise them properly and everything.

As for the loach, I really would just make sure to have some plants (Java moss, Anubias, Java fern are undemanding) and have some cherry shrimp instead. I would add the plants right away and the shrimp a few weeks later.

Got a few plants growing so that shouldnt be a problem

will do this next week then.

I appreciate your help,

Thanks