What Am I Doing Wrong? Dead Fish, Sad Kids

[Swimmingdownstream]

I have a 20 gallon tank. Have had it about a year and a half. It had guppies and an algae eater up until a month ago when the last of the 3 guppies died. On April 1st, I bought 3 tetras and a dwarf gourami. Yesterday, I woke up to find the gourami dead. I went to the store with the fish and a sample of the water. Water was fine they said except pH was a little off, and gave me a new gourami. I went home and all was fine until in the afternoon I noticed that the three tetras had (I think) fin rot. Back to the pet store and I bought what they recommended (Pimafix). This morning, two of them were dead. The other one is not eating.
 
Here's more info-
No plants except moss ball (maybe I need more?)
Water changes twice weekly (20%)
I don't add anything to the water except water conditioner (maybe I need aquatic salt?)
I feed them Tetra flakes (maybe I need something different?) once a day.
Maybe my pH needs to be adjusted? (not sure how and pet store person didn't really think it was a big deal, but I am not convinced).
Temp is at 78.
 
Please help. My kids are unware that the fish have died. Only said they were sick and to stay out of the room where they are so they can recover.

Just read through my post and it's not clear that algae eater is still alive and in there too.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Not sure what they could mean by pH was a little 'off'. So long as the pH remains fairly constant and is not generally below 6.0 or higher than 8.0 then most shop sold tropical fish will tolerate it (there are exceptions).
 
You need to check your own water quality as I was never convinced that all the people who work in LFS's know how to use test kits. You need to know exactly how much ammonia, nitrite and, less importantly, nitrate are in your tank as ammonia is highly toxic especially in higher pH water and nitrite is only slightly less toxic put poisonous nevertheless.
 
Buy yourself an API Master Test Kit and check your own water; they are expensive but last for ages.
 
Once you know the water quality precisely you can work from there to safeguard your fish.
 
In the meantime do larger water changes and more often, using a dechlorinator in the right dosage (Seachem Prime or Tetra Aquasafe or some such) and see if your fish improve.

 

[AquaPit]

One half year and suddenly all these are happening??

Hmm.. Are there any big changes that you did in your fishkeeping routine?

Eg. Change of a filter? Wash the filter medias with untreated water? Etc..

I think its wise to invest on the water test kit as mentioned above
Let's start from there and see what we can do next to help...

 

[Swimmingdownstream]

I will get the water test kit today.
 
And no, the 3 guppies didn't all die at the same time. One lasted about 5 months, another about a year, and then the last one died a month ago at about a year and a half. They were all 3 males. That's all we had in the tank up until we got the algae eater about a month before the last guppy died.  
 
Should I keep going with the pimafix?
 
Should I not replace the dead fish?
 
Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

I agree about buying some liquid test kits of your own.
 
Did the fish show any symptoms before death.
Like going pale or darker in colour.
Did the fish act listless and lethargic.
Did the fish look bloated, or go thin.
Did they rest of the bottom for long periods.
Any signs of heaving breathing, ir gasping.
The new fish could of fetched something into the tank.

 

[Swimmingdownstream]

Well, we only had the fish from the 1st, and these are the first time we've had this kind. Here's what I noticed. First day, they were very active and spooked whenever we came near the aquarium. Seemed ok the next 3 days or so. Did a 20% water change, and noticed that the dwarf gourami was hanging out by itself at the top of the tank near the heater. Didn't move much that day and then was dead the next day. The 2 tetras didn't eat yesterday (thought maybe they were grieving... silly me. Then I came back later and noticed their tails looked a little funny. The tails progressed rapidly and started falling apart. The fish stopped swimming much and were kind of hanging out at the bottom. I don't think they look thinner or fatter than normal? Not completely sure on that one.

 

[WILDER]

We really need to know how far your PH was out.
How long did you climatise the fish for?
 
 
Get the pimafix out of the tank as not all fish tolerate it to well. It's not a great medication at that.
I would add some myxazin by waterlife.

 

[Swimmingdownstream]

Third tetra just died. I never dreamed fish would be so hard. We have cats, dogs, and chickens who all live nice long lives
 
Ok, so no more pimafix and I will put back in the charcoal filter.
 
Should I still do the myxazin even though the last tetra died? Still have algae eater and the new dwarf gourami.
Oh, and I didn't do much for this bunch in terms of climatizing. I simply did what the pet store told me and left it in for 15 minutes. I did research though yesterday and added water slowly to gourami's bag. Maybe an hour of this?

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your losses.
R.I.P.
 
Just do some water changes for now.
 It's quite common to lose fish in a few days, or weeks after buying them.
Don't buy anymore fish for a few weeks just to make sure the other fish are OK.
I would strongly suggest buying some liquid test kits of your own.
If the LFS does test your water ask them to write the readings down for you.

 

[Swimmingdownstream]

Ok. Thanks, just did another water change and I am off to buy the test kit.

 

[WILDER]

If you have anymore problems don't hesitate to post back.
 
Good Luck.

 

[Swimmingdownstream]

Hi,
Here are my levels-
Ammonia- .5
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 10
pH 7.4
Alkalinity- 75
Hardness- 75
Chlorine- 0
 
Do these numbers explain the fish deaths?

 

[WILDER]

Yes.
As ammonia  of 5 can kill fish.
Carry on with water changes.
 
Get you some information.

Ammonia Poisoning

 

 

Symptoms:

The fish will hang just under the surface with labored breathing. Its gills will appear to be lilac in color. Red streaking may be seen throughout the body and fins. Fishes with ammonia poisoning will become lethargic and eventually die, maintaining their full coloring. The ammonia will damage their skin, gills, nerves and internal organs. The red streaking is due to hemorrhages (internal and external bleeding). Its mucous membranes of the skin and intestine are also destroyed. Damage also occurs to the brain and central nervous system.
 


 

Cause: 

Abnormally high levels of ammonia.
 


 

Treatment: 

Test the water to confirm the disease. If ammonia levels are high, perform an immediate water change. It�s also a good idea to use a chemical that will remove the ammonia. Activated carbon, Ammo-Lock, or Tetra Easy Balance.
 
Fish Disease Net

 

[Swimmingdownstream]

Not 5, but .5

 

[WILDER]

What's the name of the test kit please.
Does your lowest reading on the test kit for ammonia go to 0.05