Fish randomly dying / beginner

[KariC]

On the well water...I do not know what the cullagan filter might do in the way of filtering, adding chemicals/salt, etc, so it might help to look into that. For example, water softeners often add sodium chloride (common salt) to negate calcium and magnesium salts, making the water softer, but the sodium chloride salt is harmful in itself over time. Also, if the water has ever been tested for minerals like copper, iron, etc? Copper levels that are safe for humans can be deadly to fish.

Water changes could be more often, once a week is minimum, and half the tank. Obviously if the problem is in the water to begin with, this is not going to solve that, but assuming the water is OK the more you change the better for the fish. The points raised by Oblio in the above post are important, I second that post.

API Tap Water Conditioner (TWC) is good, about the best product we have frankly. Their StressZyme however is not really safe long-term, so I would not use it. Clean water, with only the amount of TWC needed, is the goal.

Thank you all so much!!! Things I will definitely check into, having the water tested, paying close attention to any substance that may y be on my hands, and changing water more frequently. Fish deaths seem to happen randomly, at different times of water changes. I appreciate the help and hope to have better success in the future

 

[outofwater]

We're kinda close, I'm in MA. Setup my 29g tank almost 2 months ago. Got fish from petco and pet supplies plus. Lost half a dozen tetra in a span of 3 days, a couple with no visible signs of anything, the rest seemed to suffer fin rot, and even considered columnaris but apparently that wasn't it, thank God. Also lost one out of 2 otos after barely a week. In the current conditions we're at (cold weather) the fish are arriving stressed and weak. Barring some issue with the plastic decoration leeching something (which I doubt, but still could be); I'd say focus on the fish you have just now, keep the water good, add live plants, and wait until spring to get healthy fish at the stores. Any of them, really.

I went by psp a couple of days ago, meager availability and no new plants.

Went to petco a couple of days before, guy literally told me that the previous week they had lost an entire shipment because the truck sat out there too long when it was brutally cold. Did a pass by the tank, many fish doing circle-around-the-drain last swims, some already dead and getting bitten by their tank mates. Also meager selection of plants.

Have seen online that a few sellers (plants or fish) downright refuse to ship at the moment because of the weather. Was able to buy some floater plants off ebay that arrived in a couple of days and look great, that's as much as I'm buying until late March or early April. Plus I need a proper quarantine tank now.

Good luck.

 

[Oblio]

You have a small tank. One thing you could try is to use bottled mineral water (make sure to treat it with API). This would take your well water out of the equation.

As a side note, If you have a water softener, these are often used only in the hot water side of your plumbing. If you are using warm water from the tap you will have excess sodium as Byron mentioned above.

 

[KariC]

We're kinda close, I'm in MA. Setup my 29g tank almost 2 months ago. Got fish from petco and pet supplies plus. Lost half a dozen tetra in a span of 3 days, a couple with no visible signs of anything, the rest seemed to suffer fin rot, and even considered columnaris but apparently that wasn't it, thank God. Also lost one out of 2 otos after barely a week. In the current conditions we're at (cold weather) the fish are arriving stressed and weak. Barring some issue with the plastic decoration leeching something (which I doubt, but still could be); I'd say focus on the fish you have just now, keep the water good, add live plants, and wait until spring to get healthy fish at the stores. Any of them, really.

I went by psp a couple of days ago, meager availability and no new plants.

Went to petco a couple of days before, guy literally told me that the previous week they had lost an entire shipment because the truck sat out there too long when it was brutally cold. Did a pass by the tank, many fish doing circle-around-the-drain last swims, some already dead and getting bitten by their tank mates. Also meager selection of plants.

Have seen online that a few sellers (plants or fish) downright refuse to ship at the moment because of the weather. Was able to buy some floater plants off ebay that arrived in a couple of days and look great, that's as much as I'm buying until late March or early April. Plus I need a proper quarantine tank now.

Good luck.

Good to know! Hope things get better in the spring

 

[KariC]

You have a small tank. One thing you could try is to use bottled mineral water (make sure to treat it with API). This would take your well water out of the equation.

As a side note, If you have a water softener, these are often used only in the hot water side of your plumbing. If you are using warm water from the tap you will have excess sodium as Byron mentioned above.

Oh, this sounds like a good idea to try. Water filter is just a micron filter changed every six months, placed right after the water tank.
Loving all the wonderful ideas and help in this forum!

 

[Oblio]

Oh, this sounds like a good idea to try. Water filter is just a micron filter changed every six months, placed right after the water tank.
Loving all the wonderful ideas and help in this forum!

I'm not sure the hardness of bottled 'mineral' water, but your fish have bigger issues than hardness. Once we find the actual problem, we can find a long term solution.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about the dead fish
Hopefully we will be able to find the problem and get you back on track.

I also have well water. How about the bettas? I had them as the only one in the tank, they don't last long either.

You need to get the water tested by a professional lab that specialises in testing water. It might cost a little bit of money but for your own safety and the fish, you need to find out exactly what is in the water. The well could be contaminated by chemical runoff or something worse and that might be poisoning the fish and you and your family.

This would be the first thing to check, just so you know you have a good safe clean water source to use.

You can take a sample of well water and tap water that has gone through the filter to a pet shop and ask them to check the pH, GH & KH. Ask them what the results are in numbers, and what the results are measured in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Yes I use conditioner

Well water should not contain chlorine or chloramine and you do not need a dechlorinator for it. Some water conditioners bind heavy metals and make the water a bit safer for the fish, and this might be useful if you have heavy metal contamination in the water. But get the water tested first so you know what you are dealing with.

Don't get any new fish until this problem has been sorted out.

 

[KariC]

My pH is 7.0 - 6.8. Never measured for GH and KH.
Just measured for pH, ammonia 0ppm nitrites 0ppm and nitrates always less than 20ppm

So just found a test kit for GH and KH. Unfortunately, just a strip kit.
GH is around 30ppm and KH is around 40.....

 

[KariC]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about the dead fish
Hopefully we will be able to find the problem and get you back on track.

You need to get the water tested by a professional lab that specialises in testing water. It might cost a little bit of money but for your own safety and the fish, you need to find out exactly what is in the water. The well could be contaminated by chemical runoff or something worse and that might be poisoning the fish and you and your family.

This would be the first thing to check, just so you know you have a good safe clean water source to use.

You can take a sample of well water and tap water that has gone through the filter to a pet shop and ask them to check the pH, GH & KH. Ask them what the results are in numbers, and what the results are measured in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).


Well water should not contain chlorine or chloramine and you do not need a dechlorinator for it. Some water conditioners bind heavy metals and make the water a bit safer for the fish, and this might be useful if you have heavy metal contamination in the water. But get the water tested first so you know what you are dealing with.

Don't get any new fish until this problem has been sorted out.

Bought the house 5 years ago and water was tested then and determined to be potable. Do I need further or more in depth testing? Just found out my GH is around 30ppm and KH is around 40ppm

 

[Slaphppy7]

Buy my fish from petco / petsmart

That alone is cause for concern...not the healthiest fish, IME

You've gotten some great advice so far, welcome to TFF

 

[Byron]

The GH (and KH) indicate very soft water but this should not be issues here, as the fish earlier mentioned in post #1 are soft water. The photo in post #12 though shows guppies, they prefer harder water, but no mention is made of their dying.

I do agree with others on fish from chain stores. I do not consider it coincidence that every major disease issue I have faced in the last 12 years was brought in with fish from Petland, Petsmart or Mr Pets. None of the fish acquired from the three independent stores had problems. That does tell us something.

 

[KariC]

The GH (and KH) indicate very soft water but this should not be issues here, as the fish earlier mentioned in post #1 are soft water. The photo in post #12 though shows guppies, they prefer harder water, but no mention is made of their dying.

I do agree with others on fish from chain stores. I do not consider it coincidence that every major disease issue I have faced in the last 12 years was brought in with fish from Petland, Petsmart or Mr Pets. None of the fish acquired from the three independent stores had problems. That does tell us something.

My mistake, said tetras, but meant guppies. Betta fish die (only one in tank at a time) zebra danios died within days

 

[Byron]

My mistake, said tetras, but meant guppies. Betta fish die (only one in tank at a time) zebra danios died within days

I would not think the GH (or pH) responsible for any of these deaths. There is still the question of what exactly is in the well water, and a test by a professional water outfit would be my action. A thorough test. Contaminants from the ground can get into well water.

There is also substances leeching from the substrate and rocks. Do you kn ow what substance the gravel is made from?