Loss of life.

[Jaws.k]

Hi all, morning.
Lovely weather over here at the moment, (county Limerick, Ireland), just hope it last bit longer.

I got a problem in my tank, (think I have).
My tank is 8yrs old -ish, but newly set up with live plants about 3-
- 4 months running.
I have another thread on here, so I can copy & paste the plants & any info that may be of help here.

I got / had 8 black phantom tetra & 8 rose tetra, all seemed happy as I chilling with a bud. (wise - er).

After a few weeks I got up & noticed a few (when I counted there was 5 ) dead fish basically stuck to the pipe that take the water to the pump / filter.
I mediately removed them & did close to 50 % water change.
Before & after the change I did a water test & 2 of them incase, 2 before & 2 after.
Also in between changes I do 1, just to make sure.
My water test are....
CL - 0
pH - 8.0
Kh - 10
Gh - 16
No2 - 0
No3 - 25
This above reading was previous week. & all seem in ok / decent order, pH may be a little tiny high.

I left normal tap water in a glass / covered over night 24hrs & readings were basically the same except for pH was 7.6 ... Gh 6. ( Not 16).

I tested the tank with dead fish in &
the same as the top readings.

I tested the water 2days after change & Kh - 10 & Gh - 8.

Any ideas.
Plants seem ok, slow to grow.
Did I over feed the fish.?

Now I only have 2 fish left.
Please help....
I'd say his time is limited. I have no other tank to put him in.

Algae seems to be forming slowly, I was going to get a Otto or 2 this weekend.. not now tho.

Thanks all.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

What are your ammonia readings?

What type is the filter? The fish most likely got stuck in intake, and died.

What did the dead fish look like? Any white spots/patches? Stringy poop? Bloated, etc.?

 

[FishGuest5123]

Fish normally don’t get stuck to the intake unless they are already weakened from something else. PH, KH and GH too high for tetras. You’ll have to get your KH down before you can Successfully lower your PH. I’m no chemist so I am going to call on @essjay at this point.

 

[Essjay]

Fish normally don’t get stuck to the intake unless they are already weakened from something else.

I agree. It is more common for a fish to die then get sucked towards the filter.

pH is not as important as GH. This is the one that affects fish directly.


Can I ask about your test results, please. Have I got this right:
Tap water hardness 6 dH
Tank 2 days after water change 8 dH
But in your list of results, you give the tank GH as 16 - was that supposed to be 6?

Hardness of 6 or 8 dH is fine for the fish you mention, but if it is 16 in the tank, that's too hard and would shorten their lives. Also if the tank water really is 16 and tap 6, something in your tank is making the water hard.


Can you confirm the GH of your tank water please?
Also, it would be a good idea to buy an ammonia tester as when fish die this is the first thing you should test.
Ignore the pH for now.

 

[Jaws.k]

Sorry all I only replying now & you all trying to help me. Really appreciate it.
I have 2 little problems im trying to help with the sisters cars.
I have kept note of the beginning test from the start of set up, but then they was all the the same so I stopped.
But I do have the last (problem time) test kept.
& Il re do later today.
If you could bear with for a little longer I will confirm or correct the above test results.
Sorry all again for late reply & thanks for your help.

 

[Jaws.k]

hi all, how you doing.?

i just checking my opening test results in post 1.
& yes the figures are what i have on my note paper.

My water test are....
CL - 0
pH - 8.0
Kh - 10
Gh - 16
No2 - 0
No3 - 25
This above reading was previous week

I left normal tap water in a glass / covered over night 24hrs & readings were basically the same except for pH was 7.6 ... Gh 6. ( Not 16).

I haven't got an ammonia tester, (il get 1).

the filter.. on the top of the tank there's a plat-form & a pipe runs across this plat-form allowing water to run over the filter pads (a white gauze fabric, & a black carbon cartridge),
on the side of the plat-form is the pump, sucking water from the tank via a pipe that runs to the bottom (about 2 inches from the floor of the tank), on the end of the pipe is a ...(what il call a net to stop fish being sucked up by the pump. ..hope thats understandable in my discripition,).

sorry,..i cant remember what they looked like when they died, didnt really take much notice & i dont mean that in a bad way.
i do remember that they looked colour-less,

Folk, i was reading down your replies today while at work, & was thinking whats going on, what cause's gh spike.
think (dont qoute me on it... but did i read some were that magnesium & .... can make it high.)
i do use jbl proflora 24, plant food / fert', & when i got it off the shop , they said 1 - 2 drops each day.
so today id put 1 & tomorrow id put 2 & so on , (on the instruction it says 1 drop per 50 liter.. so hence my dose),
but the plants have / dont look like there growing or anything, from what i expected withe the plants i got was they'ed grow / easy keep.
so i have been putting in the dose... today 1 drop, tomorrow 2 drops & the next day 3 drops, then back to 1 drop & so on.
so now im thinking ive caused the problem.

I was using seachem excel at 1st, but was advised against it, so i stopped, well i used it every water change & by half the dosage.

hope you dont mind i have tried to reply to you all in 1 reply.

thanks a lot for your help. appreciated.