I really need help ASAP

[Bloo]

Did you test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every single day ?
Did you do a water change just before or just after adding the new fish ?
Did you recently clean the filter ?
Did you contact the shop to find out of their stock (of the same fish) had any fatalities in the shop ?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Did you test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every single day ?
Did you do a water change just before or just after adding the new fish ?
Did you recently clean the filter ?
Did you contact the shop to find out of their stock (of the same fish) had any fatalities in the shop ?

[snapback]920722[/snapback]​

1. Yes, with the exception of Nitrates which I have not tested (forgot actually). but I did test it everyday or other day.

2. Yes, I do. In fact Ive been doing water changes every day, every other day or third day

3. I cleaned the filter about a week and half ago, yes. I have a Marinelad Bio Wheel.

4. I did not because that particulat store, which I only bought the original started stock from, is not a place a shop at it for livestock.

 

[Gourami Girl]

What substrate do you have in there?

Have you added anything new to the tank eg- PLants plastic or real, new ornaments, bogwood?

Do any sprays get used in the room?

Are there big fluctuations in the temperature?

 

[Bloo]

Did you test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every single day ?
Did you do a water change just before or just after adding the new fish ?
Did you recently clean the filter ?
Did you contact the shop to find out of their stock (of the same fish) had any fatalities in the shop ?

[snapback]920722[/snapback]​

1. Yes, with the exception of Nitrates which I have not tested (forgot actually). but I did test it everyday or other day.

2. Yes, I do. In fact Ive been doing water changes every day, every other day or third day

3. I cleaned the filter about a week and half ago, yes. I have a Marinelad Bio Wheel.

4. I did not because that particulat store, which I only bought the original started stock from, is not a place a shop at it for livestock.

[snapback]920726[/snapback]​

In response to questions 2 & 3 - something as simple as a water change or filter clean can cause a very sudden imbalance and in a new tank with fragile fish, this can cause the result you have seen. Daily water changes with Neons is really not a good thing at all. They require very stable pristine water. As do Rams.
With lack of physical evidence, everything points to a new tank syndrome with fragile fish I'm afraid.

And unless you've contacted the shop to find out if all their fish have died too (of the same stock) you really can't just speculate.

My money is on the fact that you were dealing with a very fragile and new environment and unstable water conditions.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Did you test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every single day ?
Did you do a water change just before or just after adding the new fish ?
Did you recently clean the filter ?
Did you contact the shop to find out of their stock (of the same fish) had any fatalities in the shop ?

[snapback]920722[/snapback]​

1. Yes, with the exception of Nitrates which I have not tested (forgot actually). but I did test it everyday or other day.

2. Yes, I do. In fact Ive been doing water changes every day, every other day or third day

3. I cleaned the filter about a week and half ago, yes. I have a Marinelad Bio Wheel.

4. I did not because that particulat store, which I only bought the original started stock from, is not a place a shop at it for livestock.

[snapback]920726[/snapback]​

In response to questions 2 & 3 - something as simple as a water change or filter clean can cause a very sudden imbalance and in a new tank with fragile fish, this can cause the result you have seen. Daily water changes with Neons is really not a good thing at all. They require very stable pristine water. As do Rams.
With lack of physical evidence, everything points to a new tank syndrome with fragile fish I'm afraid.

And unless you've contacted the shop to find out if all their fish have died too (of the same stock) you really can't just speculate.

My money is on the fact that you were dealing with a very fragile and new environment and unstable water conditions.

[snapback]920739[/snapback]​

but all of a sudden? Even the neons I had since week 1 were all ok until this weekend. What do you recommend I do?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

What substrate do you have in there?

Have you added anything new to the tank eg- PLants plastic or real, new ornaments, bogwood?

Do any sprays get used in the room?

Are there big fluctuations in the temperature?

[snapback]920738[/snapback]​

The substrate is just regular Estes gravel. I have added three new live plants..Anacharis and Rotala last week. I also used a disinfectent aerosl spray come to think about it, but It was only a little and I didnt directly spray near the tank. I also replaced my filter with a new, better one two weeks ago.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

What substrate do you have in there?

Have you added anything new to the tank eg- PLants plastic or real, new ornaments, bogwood?

Do any sprays get used in the room?

Are there big fluctuations in the temperature?

[snapback]920738[/snapback]​

The substrate is just regular Estes gravel. I have added three new live plants..Anacharis and Rotala last week. I also used a disinfectent aerosl spray come to think about it, but It was only a little and I didnt directly spray near the tank. I also replaced my filter with a new, better one two weeks ago.

 

[Gourami Girl]

Well if you replaced the filter a couple of weeks ago perhaps it could be that the bacteria have all been removed with the old filter sponge? Although, in these circumstances you'd obviously expect to see an ammonia reading.

Who do you have left?

If they are fish that like hard alkaline water, i would recommend doing 10% water chages daily, but if they are soft water fish, we might have to think again.

 

[kimbowee]

The tetras are a soft water fish. Your ammonia & nitrites are back down to 0. If there are no known diseases in your tank I would stop any treatments with medication. Tetras are very delicate fish as we have already established. They are also very sensitive to medications. This is why on most medications you buy you must use a 1/2 dose for tetras.

Slow down on your water changes. If your tank isn't overly stocked and there are no ammonia or nitrite reading doing water changes once a week should be fine. Put the carbon in your filter to remove any meds that are currently in the tank. Also, I would recommend testing the pH of your tap water and your tank. What is the difference between the two? If there is a large difference, when you are doing water changes you could try adding the water back slowly to the tank over a couple of hours to have the fish adjust the the change in pH.

What is the temp set at? You said the only physical sign is labored/rapid breathing. Is there an airstone in the tank? Possibly the rapid breathing is from lack of O2?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I thought that it could be a lack of aeration so i added an airstone back in last night and I still lost 4 more. There are zero signs of any illnes besides rapid breathing. My PH on both waters is 7.6-7.8. There is carbon in the filter and the fish I have left are 2 cories, 2 bolivian Rams, 4 ghost shrimp and 1 amano, 1 black neon and one regular.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

The temp is set at 79-80.

 

[kimbowee]

You have stumped me. Best advice I can give is to watch them closely over the next few weeks and don't add any new fish. Maybe also try lowering the temp gradually to 76 to 78 degrees. This can also increase the amount of oxygen. Reading up on Rams and Tetras it seems there max temp should be 79. Keep testing your water everyday to make sure all levels are fine.

I have to agree with bloozoo that without any signs of disease that you are most likely dealing with fragile fish in a newly set up tank. Give your tank more time to stablize. I know its hard losing fish. Try and keep your tank as stress free as possible. Try dimming the lights slightly & keep it quiet near your tank. Refrain from any medications, except dechlor for water changes, unless you are sure of a disease.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I dont know what it is. Maybe it is an unstable tank. I just cant fully swallow that because of all this fish I had and the readins are 0. This all started when I was an idiot and bought those fish from that store. The other female blue ram is next to go, she is breathing fast now.

 

[Bloo]

I also replaced my filter with a new, better one two weeks ago.

[snapback]920772[/snapback]​

So you have a two month old tank (8 weeks) and two weeks ago you replaced the filter within that time you had 18 fish (neons and rams) at one time in that tank. During which time you medicated the tank for fish with no actual symptoms of disease or illness.

And you wonder why they are dying ?

I am sorry and I really do feel your pain - it's a horrid thing to lose fish when all you try to do is make things right - but you will have to accept that they died (and are dying) because they just couldn't handle all these changes and stress of almost daily water changes, a new filter and new fish. I can't guarantee my opinion, but based one what you've told us, that's my gut feel.

As kimbowee said, slow down on water changes. Add no more fish for at least a month. Even if your tank is cycled and you are tempted. Give it time to find a balance.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

When the Nitires where up, I was told to do daily water changes. When the fish were breathing heavy last week, I was told to do a water change. When my fish had ich, I was told to do water changes. Changing the filter shouldnt have effected anything now, it would have already. All readin were 0 right after I put the new one in and stayed there until last night, when the ammonia went up to .25.