Setting up a new tank

[Jaded_Pulse]

Ok so it seems that all my fish are fated to die. I have no idea what's causing it but in the last monthish I've lost: an albino kribensis, a scissortail rasbora, a guppy, an angelfish, and as of yesterday, a neon tetra. Which leaves me with a black skirt tetra, a columbian tetra, another male guppy, and an apple snail. they've all seemingly died of different things, so I don't have a clue what's caused it. I've treated for parasites, did nothing, & I'm reluctant to put any other meds in when I don't know the illness because I don't want to make them live in a chemical soup.

So, if they were to all die (I really hope they don't, just have to plan ahead in case), what do I do with my tank? I'm figuring I'll throw away all the stones, soak my filter & sponge, + the few plastic plants, & cave, & aerator all in boiling water, get rid of all the water in the tank, completely clean out the tank, sun it for a day, and then start cycling it again. Does anyone know if that's the best way to do it, or is there an easier/better way? Also, what fish would you recommend for a new setup, bearing in mind that it's only around 15 gallons (yeah, I know the first set up was bad, but I was planning on trading off a few & getting the tetras shoals, but they started dying before any of that happened). So yeah, any advice would be really appreciated. Thanx

 

[jams.alaskan]

If you are hoping to save the remaining fish I think that a test kit is in order. That will give folks here a starting point with which to help you. Sounds like you have an ill tank. I may be blasted for this but I do know folks that have waved a white flag and totaly broken down their tank and started over/ cycle and all. This will not necessarily cure a fish with internal paracites or damage but it will help to get rid of lurking things in the tank. Your fish may already be challenged with what they have been going through - they may not survive the ups and downs of cycling. That is a given - do lots of reading on how to help the process along with the least amount of damage to the fish - it is not impossible to bring them through alive.
As to what planning you wish to do if they are all gone - that's a whole nother story - let's see if we can keep these guys. Add no one else till they are through this thing - 6 - 8 weeks, get the tester and go with it.

Best of luck and regards-

ALASKA

 

[Jaded_Pulse]

Thanx for replying jamsalaskan. I am hoping to save these guys, but I really don't know what's wrong. My water params r fine, no ammonia or nitrites, low nitrates. I'm really not sure if they'd survive a cycle since they've already (accidentally) been through one, plus all this sickness. i'm doing water changes of 30% + 20% when any of them die, but it doesn't seem to have helped anyone. i've noticed this afternoon that my columbian tetra's beautiful red fins & tail seem to have a black outline on the edges.....does anyone know what that could be? He seems fine, eating like the pig he really is, but anything different does worry me at the moment. Do you think it would be some kind of bacterial thing or maybe just everyone was just left week after me following my STUPID lfs's directions to the letter & only doing monthly water changes even WHILE IT WAS CYCLING!! (which he told me nothing about) *ducks for cover*. but they all survived probably nearly a month out of when i'm figuring the cycle finished so....?? I did treat for internal parasites when my first guy was sick, but it didn't help.....anything i can do for them u reckon? thanx all.

 

[jams.alaskan]

I can't say that I know that much, and I've only the information that we've exchanged here. Soooo hang on tight - what about weekly 20 percent changes as management... emergency changes if you have spikes in your levels ... Why not try melafix in the tank... I really liked it for helping fish with unknown stresses, water was testing fine but they just were not up to par. I liked it, wasn't horrible or so strong as to "kill em or cure em". What you think?

ALASKA

 

[crazie.eddie]

Before blaming it on bacteria or parasites, how about checking on the equipment first....

What size tank do you have?

What type of filtration?

Any powerheads, if so, what kind?

Did you use an airstone or bubblewand?

Did the fish show similar symptoms? Like were they gasping near the surface or on the bottom?

Do you check for chlorine?

Frankly, I would not start from scratch.

 

[Tropjunky]

like jams.alaskan said metaflex a great product that helps fish though almost anything and it's not a harsh chemical it's like a spritual cure and i always have a botle just incase

 

[Big_al_d]

what temperature is your tank running at? is it constant?

 

[Jaded_Pulse]

I've heard Melafix is excellent, but none of my lfs's seem to have heard of it let alone stock it (I'm in Australia). CrazieEddie:

What size tank do you have? 60L - about 15 US gal I think.

What type of filtration? I have a "CHOSEN PowerHead CX-1000" - it has a sponge in it, but water flow's good, seems to do the job alright.

Any powerheads, if so, what kind? uhhh......assuming that's the same as above.

Did you use an airstone or bubblewand? not a clue - it's in the shape of a dragon, u plug in the airline, which goes to a little box, got a tap in the line to adjust airflow & it plugs into the power.........so....whatever that's called.

Did the fish show similar symptoms? Like were they gasping near the surface or on the bottom? Nope, no gasping, maybe a little bit of lurking at the bottom, esp. when they were really sick, but I assume that's just because they were tired & well....sick....all the "healthy" ones were swimming around fine at their different levels. My krib stopped eating, puffed up a little & lost all her colours; scissortail died overnight; my lfs said my guppy probably had some kind of bowel obstruction even though I feed them right - apparently they're a little prone to it; my poor baby angelfish was fine one morning, acting drunk that afternoon, dead about 5minutes later ; my neon stopped eating, got a little skinny, but like my scissortail, was still getting little bits off the ground, then overnight he decided his new fave position was head down, tail up, about an hour later he was dead. I really don't know what's going on!!

Do you check for chlorine? I always add my stuff that gets rid of chlorine & chloramine, so nope.


Thanx everyone.