Urgent Help Required

[FishGO]

Hi everyone,
 
My tank has been running for 6-7 weeks with 6 tetra,1 Dwarf gourami, i woke up yesterday to every fish floating at the surface gasping for air, i had to leave for work and didnt return until this morning to find 1 dead tetra and the water had became extremely cloudy.
 
Around 4 days ago i applied fin rot medicine but sadly the fish died within a few hours, so i placed a new carbon filter back in. This is the ONLY thing that has changed between my day to day running of the tank, i am extremely confused.
 
I have done another approx. 40% water change around an hour ago, the fish originally responded well but now (whilst slightly less constant) all the fish are back to gasping for air at the top (bar the DG)...
 
I am extremely confused! I live in Scotland, traditionally very good water and have applied the needed chlorine killers etc.
 
Whats wrong...

 

[coolie]

So you had a fish die originally that you were treating for fin rot before all this started??

 

[FishGO]

Basically as posted in another thread a DG i had became swollen and infected behind one pectoral fin, i seeked a little advice from my LFS and attempted to treat it with finrot/abscess something like that, just in the off chance it would help whilst being told on here it was DG disease.
 
So i replaced 20% water change, applied the medicine, removed the carbon filter and unfortunately the fish died a little later (4days ago). I placed the carbon filter back in and all was well for another 2 days, suddenly yesterday all my fish are gasping for air, water was clear.
 
Arrived home this morning to incredibly cloudy water and 1 dead tetra, 50% water change a couple of hours ago, still very cloudy water and a little better response from most fish but they are still struggling at the surface.. I am very confused and concerned.

 

[coolie]

I am thinking bacterial bloom, newly or poorly cycled tank, or suspended particles - uncleaned or disturbed substrate?

 

[FishGO]

With it only being 5/6 weeks old im not sure? but theres never been any issues up until now, that was however the first water change i have done. I dont see why this would cause the fish to struggle at the surface and die? (especially seeing as it was clear yesterday?)
 
Since the last water change, they arent back to normal but they are looking a little better, still a huge drop in colour and not occupying the same areas, all seem to be sticking together and still struggling at the surface

 

[PrairieSunflower]

My thoughts are whether or not the carbon had been rinsed of debris when you removed it... if not... I am thinking the debris dried on the carbon, then when you re-added it, it dispersed into the tank as debris causing an ammonia spike and bacteria bloom.

To keep a healthy tank, you are best off changing water and vaccuming the gravel once per week. 5-6 weeks without a water change (ESPECIALLY during cycling) is far too long.

Have a browse through the beginners resource center with various aquarium care links. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[FishGO]

It was a brand new carbon filter i replaced it with.. Funnily enough yesterday was the first day i had ever seen very small snails in my tank.. unsure if thats relevant. 
 
hmm so you think with me leaving it 5-6 without a water change has caused this? Why would this force all the fish to the surface? Whats is the best thing to do now.. They are still struggling and lacking in colour.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Gasping at the surface is a classic symptom of nitrite poisoning, massive ~95% water change ASAP.

 

[daizeUK]

Have you tested your tank for ammonia?  I only mention as one other member in Scotland found out that his water company was periodically adding ammonia to the water supply.  Worth a check in case you're in the same area

 

[FishGO]

But surely if that was the case there wouldve been an issue when i originally filled up the tank? Doesnt add up..


Going to carry out a 95% water change right now, wish me luck guys, any other tips? Nitrite poisoning seems to fit the list of symptoms.. thats been a day and a half now... they cant have long to live!

 

[daizeUK]

No, it turned out his water board only added ammonia under certain weather conditions.  He had tanks running for about a month or two then, bam, all his fish wiped out.  I'll see if I can dig out the thread for you.
 
Edit:  http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/410456-22-aquariums-wiped-out/#entry3454228
He was based in Aberdeen

 

[coolie]

Hi Daize, all the water companies in the UK add ammonia, as it binds with a proportion of the chlorine to form chloramine. However there should not be free ammonia left after that, but free chlorine.

 

[daizeUK]

Hehe I know that... but this particular company was adding 2ppm of raw ammonia.  Scottish Water.  I assume it's a localised thing as I've never heard of anybody else finding those levels of ammonia in their tapwater.  I just thought I'd better let this guy know before he does a mass water change, in case it's the same thing.  Fingers crossed it's not.