Harlequin Rasboara dying one by one...
- Thread starter Meeko
- Start date
I noticed earlier he started just losing colour .
In the pictures below you can see what I mean when I say the red colour.
I have taken a couple of pictures, I'll put them as links below;
https://ibb.co/gzfqjo
https://ibb.co/nEfqjo
https://ibb.co/fMwwPo
Did you wash the tank, sand, equipment and everything fish related with fresh water when you first set it up?
What water conditioner are you using?
In your tank there is a plant leaf that looks like an elephant ear plant. Is that real of fake?
If it's real take it out.
What water conditioner are you using?
In your tank there is a plant leaf that looks like an elephant ear plant. Is that real of fake?
If it's real take it out.
Everything was washed with fresh water. The water conditoner I was using was Fluval AquaPlus (https://www.swelluk.com/fluval-aquaplus-tap-water-conditioner/) however I have since purchased Seachem Prime which I was going to switch to.
it might be worth contacting the shop you got them from. They may have had a problem with their batch of Harlequins and if not (or they don't admit it) they might test your water for you and, if all shows ok to them, they may replace the fish.
Most of the shops around my way do this so you might be in luck.
Most of the shops around my way do this so you might be in luck.
I'm pretty sure they are being poisoned.
When you do water changes, are you using fish only buckets? Basically a bucket that has never been used for anything else?
Do you use a sponge in the tank and if yes, what sort and is it new and soap free?
How do you remove the tank water?
Have you got carbon in the filter?
carbon is a small black granulated substance, usually in a mesh bag
When you do water changes, are you using fish only buckets? Basically a bucket that has never been used for anything else?
Do you use a sponge in the tank and if yes, what sort and is it new and soap free?
How do you remove the tank water?
Have you got carbon in the filter?
carbon is a small black granulated substance, usually in a mesh bag
Yeah have done, waiting on a response, when I called the other day they said they didn't do returns. Its a Maidenhead store FWIW.
Oh. Interesting. I purchased 2 buckets specifically for aquarium use only and they haven't been used for anything else. I siphon the tank water using the gravel cleaner vacuum (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31Eim3BxlSL.jpg) Looks like that.
There is no carbon in the filter, however I do have some.
It is layered like this;
Bottom: http://www.fluvalaquatics.com/cache...-Bio-Foam-Filter-304-406-2pack_1w400-h400.png
Middle: Ceramic rings
Top: Foam pads
My housemate uses an e-cigarette but not in the same room as the tank which is situated in my room. I usually get ready and use any aerosols or sprays in the bathroom which is a completely seperate room to the tank.
Did you wash the buckets out before using them?
if not I would use hot water and a perfume free soap to wash then out several times. Sometimes buckets can get contaminated by chemicals and that can get into the tank.
If you have actual carbon, it will be a small black granules like black gravel but not gravel, then rinse it under the tap and put it in a mesh bag, leg of a stocking or something similar. Then put the bag of carbon in the filter.
If you need more carbon then visit a pet shop and get some Activated Carbon, or Highly Activated Carbon. Buy about 1 kilogram (1/2 pound) of it and rinse some off and put it in a bag in the filter. Keep the carbon in the tank for a week and see if it helps.
if not I would use hot water and a perfume free soap to wash then out several times. Sometimes buckets can get contaminated by chemicals and that can get into the tank.
If you have actual carbon, it will be a small black granules like black gravel but not gravel, then rinse it under the tap and put it in a mesh bag, leg of a stocking or something similar. Then put the bag of carbon in the filter.
If you need more carbon then visit a pet shop and get some Activated Carbon, or Highly Activated Carbon. Buy about 1 kilogram (1/2 pound) of it and rinse some off and put it in a bag in the filter. Keep the carbon in the tank for a week and see if it helps.
Last edited:
Yeah I gave them a good rinse.
This is the stuff I have, which I got when I purchased the tank; I will go add it right away. Not sure what else I can do.
https://charterhouse-aquatics.com/files/resize/fluval/ActivatedCarbonX555X498X.jpg
This is the stuff I have, which I got when I purchased the tank; I will go add it right away. Not sure what else I can do.
https://charterhouse-aquatics.com/files/resize/fluval/ActivatedCarbonX555X498X.jpg
Interesting. My local Maidenhead Aquatics are really good with things like this. If you take in a water sample they'll test it for you and if it shows up as ok but you lost fish they normally offer some fish to you.
rinse the carbon first to remove any fine black dust, then put it in a bag and put in the filter. If you don't have a fine mesh bag then put it between a couple of layers of sponge.
Wash the fish buckets out with warm/ hot soapy water a few times. Oily residues & chemicals won't always come out with cold water.
Do you have anything on your hands, moisturising cream, oil, grease, medication/ ointment?
What sort of soap do you use to wash your hands?
Do you use a disinfectant to clean the tap handles?
Perhaps try washing the tap and tap handle with soapy water a few times before working on the tank or getting water for a water change.
Rinse your hands and arms down with water before working in the tank.
Are you using tap water for the water changes?
If using well water or rain water it could be contaminated.
I would do another water change tomorrow. Make sure you double dose with conditioner and dechlorinate the water before adding it to the tank.
See if you can increase aeration too, more oxygen can help.
If you have a clean sponge that has no soap or additives, then wipe the inside of the glass to remove the white stuff. It shouldn't be causing the problem but if it comes back tomorrow, then there might be something in the tank that is being released into the water.
Maybe take a sample of your tap water to the shop and have them test it for nitrates. Write the results down at the time they test it.
Wash the fish buckets out with warm/ hot soapy water a few times. Oily residues & chemicals won't always come out with cold water.
Do you have anything on your hands, moisturising cream, oil, grease, medication/ ointment?
What sort of soap do you use to wash your hands?
Do you use a disinfectant to clean the tap handles?
Perhaps try washing the tap and tap handle with soapy water a few times before working on the tank or getting water for a water change.
Rinse your hands and arms down with water before working in the tank.
Are you using tap water for the water changes?
If using well water or rain water it could be contaminated.
I would do another water change tomorrow. Make sure you double dose with conditioner and dechlorinate the water before adding it to the tank.
See if you can increase aeration too, more oxygen can help.
If you have a clean sponge that has no soap or additives, then wipe the inside of the glass to remove the white stuff. It shouldn't be causing the problem but if it comes back tomorrow, then there might be something in the tank that is being released into the water.
Maybe take a sample of your tap water to the shop and have them test it for nitrates. Write the results down at the time they test it.
Last edited:
Rinsed the carbon and it is now in the filter. The lids on the fluval cannisters are a right pain in the bum though. I Will re-wash the buckets again. I work within a hospital so I have stacks of non fragrance soaps etc which I use at work and at home. I am using tap water. Will do, thanks for all your help.
Yeah they just got back to me and told me to take my receipt, take a few pictures and a water sample and they will "sort it" for me. I am not sure what tests they use but if its the API kit then they are only gonna get the same reading as I am. Cool if they can offer replacement fish but not going to be much use if they are just going to die again.
If you have a test kit, check the tank water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and check the tap water for the same thing. If you can't test for those items take a sample of tank water and tap water to the shop and get them to test it for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Label the tank water and tap water so you know which container is which.
Write the results down when they test the water. Post the results here. We want actual numbers not "it's ok".
If the shop offers to replace the fish, do not take any home yet. Get them to give you a store credit until this is resolved otherwise you could add new fish and lose them too.
Do you use a hand sanitiser at work? Some of these leave a residue on your skin and can be hard to wash off. I use an alcohol based hand cleanser and have to wash my hands 3 times with hot soapy water before I can no longer taste the residue on my skin.
Write the results down when they test the water. Post the results here. We want actual numbers not "it's ok".
If the shop offers to replace the fish, do not take any home yet. Get them to give you a store credit until this is resolved otherwise you could add new fish and lose them too.
Do you use a hand sanitiser at work? Some of these leave a residue on your skin and can be hard to wash off. I use an alcohol based hand cleanser and have to wash my hands 3 times with hot soapy water before I can no longer taste the residue on my skin.
If you have a test kit, check the tank water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and check the tap water for the same thing. If you can't test for those items take a sample of tank water and tap water to the shop and get them to test it for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Label the tank water and tap water so you know which container is which.
Write the results down when they test the water. Post the results here. We want actual numbers not "it's ok".
If the shop offers to replace the fish, do not take any home yet. Get them to give you a store credit until this is resolved otherwise you could add new fish and lose them too.
Do you use a hand sanitiser at work? Some of these leave a residue on your skin and can be hard to wash off. I use an alcohol based hand cleanser and have to wash my hands 3 times with hot soapy water before I can no longer taste the residue on my skin.
I can test and have been testing for a long time now. Since my tank finished its 'cycle' on Thursday readings have been 0,0,10-20 until I done the water change yesterday which you suggested and it brought the nitrates to 0. I will take note of the results but I really suspect it will be exactly the same.
Yeah that would be stupid to replace them I completely agree.
I do use a hand sanitiser but I have actually been off work on annual leave since I started the tank so it shouldn't be an issue as I haven't been using.
I am not sure if I will be able to make it to the store today as I have alot to do aside from this issue however I will report back when I can and I'll provide any updates on the fish.
One last question for now, I have about 10 plants coming tomorrow morning in the post, do you think I should add them to the tank or wait until this issue is resolved? I don't have space/money to have a secondary/QT tank so not quite sure what to do with them?
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
432 -
354 -
298 -
265 -
258 -
189 -
171 -
170 -
138 -
126 -
124 -
102 -
95 -
89 -
88