My Kissing Fish Just Died

[Nikkig85]

Hi all,

i'm deverstated. My kissinf fish, Wait, has just died.
i have no idea why.
he was fine this morning before i left for work. i got in at lunchtime (love half days) so i did the weekly 50% water change. as the tank is a little bit over stocked (thanks to some bad advise!). The levels are all fine. 7.6ph, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrate and 0 nitrite.

he had been hanging round the bottom of the fish tank before i did the water change but this is normal when you get near the tank or go near the lid. after the water change he was still at the bottom. at 5ish i feed the fish and he was at the top eating after i put the feeding hatch down. about 7.30 i was eating tea and my other half notice that he was next to the filter hardly moving on closer inspection he had gone. and some of the dalmation molly was pecking at him.

has any one got any ideas why Wait died? all the other fish are very active and do not have any signs of stress or illness.

Thanks in advance.

 

[WILDER]

How old was he.
Without any symtoms it hard to say.
Bless Him. R.I.P.

What your tap nitrate reading. Do you have live plants as it rare to have a nitrate reading of 0.

 

[Nikkig85]

i brought him 4 and a half months ago as part of a pair. he was about 4 inchs long so i don't think he was that old.

 

[WILDER]

In the last few weeks was your water quality bad.

 

[Nikkig85]

the ph has been between 7.6 and 7.7, amonnia has been at 0 same as the nitrate and nitrite. i test the water 3 times a week in an effort to avoid this. i'm gutted.

 

[AdAndrews]

what test kit are you using, if you dont mind me asking?

 

[WILDER]

I find it hard to believe you nitrate reading 0 when you say your tanks overstocked. it only can be 0 if you have a tap reading of 0 and live plants.
Was he every stressed by other fish.

 

[Nikkig85]

its an API master freshwater test kit.

i have live plants and a nil reading on the tap water. i change the water 2-3 times a week due to the stocking on your advise.

 

[WILDER]

Ok thats fine just wanted to check.
Best to over filter a tank when its on the overstocked side.
How many fish and which type do you have in the tank.
How many gallons is the tank.

 

[AdAndrews]

just checking that ts a good tester. and it is- i had this "problem" with the nitrates, i thought it was 0, the colour chart goes from 0 and then 5- my colour wasnt 5 but wasnt as bright as 0, is this the case with you?

 

[Nikkig85]

the fish i have in there are 3 mollies, 4 penguin tetras, 9 neon tetras, 1 kissing fish, 1 pleco, 4 platies, 2 cory and 2 dwarf gourmi.
the tank hold 110 liters, i think thats about 24 uk gallon, 29 US gallon.

I've just re-tested the nitrate and the yellow is really yellow.

 

[WILDER]

You get away with the stocking as neon tetra don't produce much waste.

 

[Nikkig85]

So my stocking isn't as bad as i thought?

 

[WILDER]

It's enough.
How many filters do you have. If only one would be wise to run another one so you don't have to keep doing so many water changes.

 

[Nikkig85]

I'm not planning on any more fish in there as they all have their fave places to chill and theres no bullying going on so i'm not going to mess with the balance!!!

i've got the one filter going but i don't mind doing the water changes.

will the other kissing fish be ok on his own. i've heard they prefer pairs?