Something Is Seriously Wrong

[Amunet]

Something is seriously wrong with our 28 gallon and I don't know what to do.

Yesterday, the remaining 2 danio fry we had just up and died for no apparent reason. They had no signs of distress.. nothing.
The guppies in the tank had started to hang out at the top, but they weren't lethargic. They swam around as normal, but still just hung out at the top.
So I did a 50-60% water change, and they started to come away from the surface again.
Danios in the tank were fine.

Now I wake to find all 3 of the guppies dead and 3 of my danios are hanging out at the bottom of the tank while one is at the top.
I can't see where the 2 corys are so dunno if they're ok.

I did make a HUGE mistake though when our barbs started to die. I did put it into the main tank thinking that the water and room would make it better (yes I know newbie mistake), but took it out after about 30mins.

If... no.. actually I think it's probably wht's going on.... WHAT on earth did this barb bring into my tank that would be causing these deaths??

The only signs of distress is the hanging out at the bottom or the top of the tank. That's it. The fish are still active.. like if you put your finger near them they dart away quickly.... And then a few hours later the fish is dead.
All I have on hand is tetracycline, and melafix.
If god forbid all of the fish die... would just taking the water out of the tank and then refilling it be enough to get rid of whatever bug was in it? Would I have to throw away all gravel? What about the live plants?

 

[AndreaC]

Have you tested your water??

Did the barb die in the end??

Dont know what it could be. What is left in your tank?? Maybe treating with salt would help??

Im sure someone will come and answer soon who knows.

 

[tmack]

Have you tested your water??

Did the barb die in the end??

Dont know what it could be. What is left in your tank?? Maybe treating with salt would help??

Im sure someone will come and answer soon who knows.

I'm not sure either. Check the temperature too.

 

[Amunet]

Yes I've tested the water and everything is the same as it has been for the past month.
Ammonia is at 0.50 (it's been that way for a month now.. between 0.25-1.0.. I do regular water changes).... nitrite is at 0, nitrate is between 5-10.

Yes the barb ended up dieing after a few hours.

There are 4 danios and 2 corys left. They all look like they're on their last legs here.....

Temp stays at a constant 80F

 

[Amunet]

Alrighty... I watched the fish more closely and one of the danios is resting on the bottom breathing very rapidly.
The rest that are hanging down at the bottom are breathing fine though.. it's just the one.

 

[dixaisy930]

I'm wondering if the tanks oxygen levels are too low. What is the circulation like? Is there much surface aggitation? If you have a turkey baster, suck up and squirt out water about 15-20 times and see if that helps.

 

[Amunet]

There is plenty of oxygen in the water... from the filter and from an air stone on the other side of the tank.

Would it hurt the fish if I put in something like maracyn 2 into the tank? whenever we can get to the petstore to get some that is.

 

[Amunet]

Well.... the danio that had been gasping died.
We went out and got some maracyn 2 and I just put it into the tank.
Really hoping it will save what we have left.

 

[WILDER]

Check the gills to see if there pale with excess mucas or red and inflamed.
Any flicking and rubbing.

 

[dixaisy930]

I didn't notice before that you had ammonia in the tank.

This would explain why you saw an improvement after the large water change. I think if you kept doing daily large water changes, this would help.

I believe it has something to do with your water quality, especially since you saw improvement after a water change.

 

[Amunet]

I've been doing water changes every single day since we put fish into the tank (wasn't cycled before hand).. I've also been doing daily ammonia tests as well.. and since the time I had thought the tank was done cycling (everything was at 0)... and the ammonia started to rise again, it hasn't gone past 1.0. Actually the highest ammonia has ever gotten is 2.0 which was about hmm... 6-7 weeks ago.

The little spotted cory died a few hours ago. The other cory looks very lifeless but it's gills are still going so there is some hope... the other danios seem to be doing just ok, but you can tell they're not their usual hyper selves.

All gills look fine so far... do think the one that died may have had red gills but I'm not sure and I've already buried it.
The spotted cory that died gills were fine as well. Not pale or red.
Also haven't noticed any flicking or rubbing.


Sorry if I sound mad at you guys. I'm really not... just mad/frustrated at this situation and feeling so helpless.

 

[WILDER]

Need to look more closely then why you have ammonia reading, that can cause red gills.
How many fish are in the 28 gallons tank.
What filter are you using.
When did you last gravel vac and remove the ornaments.
Nitrate reading and tap nitrate reading.

 

[Amunet]

I actually have no idea why I'm still getting ammonia readings.
After the first month... I had thought the tank was done cycling b/c after a 2 week ammonia spike of 2.0... it started to come down. We got nitrite readings, but those went away after about a week, then nitrate readings... which were a bit high at first so did a few larger water changes to get it down.

And after about another week... No ammonia, no nitrites, and no nitrates (there were probably nitrates though b/c I did do the test wrong at first heh.. oops)...

But then after about a week... we still hadn't added anything else to the tank. Was still only the 4 danios plus the growing number of teeny fry... and we suddenly started getting ammonia readings again.

I do every other day gravel vacs. Yesterday I did an extra good vac moving everything around and making sure to get under ornaments.

I'm not sure what filter we're using though. It came with the tank. It's a hang on? filter. You know, where the main part is out of the water while the tube is in the water sucking the water up. Has a filter bag that I've only cleaned off in discarded tank water when I was doing a water change.

No nitrite or nitrate in tap water, but I'll do another test tomorrow to make sure since it's been a while since I've tested it.

The most fish the tank has had in it was 4 danios, 3 danio fry, 2 cories, and 3 guppies. Danios were the first in it on Jan 1st. Fry have been in there well.. since they were born ... guppies went in next a bit over a month later... then the cories went in about 2weeks ago give or take a few days.
As I've said before... ammonia has never risen over that 2.0 when the tank was cycling normally over a month ago. Now it hasn't gotten over 1.0. *shrugs*
I'm just gonna keep doing daily with an every other day in there water change. I really don't know what else to do at this point.


Anywho! On day 2 of maracyn 2 medication and it seems to be doing the trick. Fish perked up alot yesterday a little while after we first put in the tablets... today they're almost like their normal selves. I say almost b/c it's kinda hard to say with the tank only half way filled (did this to make medicating easier, plus I had forgotten I was low on dechlorinator when doing the water change ).
But cory is back to being very hyper instead of laying there about to die. And the other danio that had started to rest alot and breath rapidly like the one that had died is back to swimming and chasing and acting like a normal danio again.

I'm just kinda breathing a sigh of relief right now and whenever I look into the tank to see that none of the others have died. I hope the maracyn will get rid of whatever nasty bug was in the water.. I just wish we had caught it sooner before so many of our fish died. I really did love them all... *sigh*.....

 

[WILDER]

The gravel vac are to much only time you start to do them is when ammonia and nitrite are 0.
You only do gravel vacs once a week you are removing to much beneifcal bacteria from the gravel.
Leave the gravel alone for a week to see if that ammonia come down to 0.
Can you post nitrite and nitrate stats.
Nitrate tap reading please.

 

[esquirette2007]

Hello,

I hate losing my babies - ever! You poor thing.

I suggest you pick up some Stability made by Seachem. My tank is many years old and teeming with beneficial bacteria, but I've overstocked my 20 gal tank because I like LOTS of cardinal tetras. They're soooo pretty....

So, every water change and filter cleaning, or when I change the carbon, medicate, etc. (I have the same type of hang-on filter), I add some Stability. It's full of beneficial bacteria. It even boasts that it will instantly establish your bio filter. Great stuff.

Glad you were able to save some of your buddies. Sorry you lost some.

Karen