Could my power filter be killing my fish?

[P. Salad]

I posted this in alt.aquaria...but thought I'd try here since they were
threatening physical violence against one-another...

6.6 Gallon fresh water tank, small power filter, small air stone,
couple fake plants, and a cool castle. Everything including the tank
and gravel was rinsed thoroughly before use.

temp is constant 74, ph is 6.9, nitrite is not detectable, amonia is
extremely low.


All water changes are done with RO water purchased from my LFS. I also

add the recommended amount of NutraFin Aqua Plus Tap Water Conditioner
(could THIS be the problem?).


Housed a few feeder fish for a few weeks, doing weekly water changes.
One morning, all were dead - no signs of any sickness. Yay.


I let the tank run empty for 2 more weeks, did a 75% water change and
vaccumed the gravel, waited a few days, tested the water (perfect on
the tests I ran), and then added 4 neon tetras.


Spent 1.5 hours acclimating the tetras. As soon as they hit the water,

two hid under the castle, two started darting around madly. By morning

all were dead. Returned to my LFS with a water sample, their tests
showed the water was good, and refunded my money (even though that's
not what I was after).


Waited another 2 weeks, did a 100% water change (RO water again),
rinsed the gravel. Waited 2 days, tested the water - perfect. Added 6

neon tetras this time (they were on sale), spent 2.5 hours acclimating.

SAME THING - Couple darted around madly, rest hid, all dead within 24
hours. Same deal, returned to LFS with water sample, tested perfect
there too.


Both my wife and I, for no other reason than it's the only thing we can

think of other than someone breaking in and poisoning the water, want
to blame the power filter. Could it be electrocuting the fish? Could
the current be too much for them? It's small, and it has a flow
control which is turned down slightly....


Anyone else have any ideas on why I keep murdering innocent fish?

[Roger Sleet]

In article om>,
(P. Salad) wrote:

> *From:* "P. Salad" >
> *Date:* 7 Mar 2006 21:53:34 -0800
>
> I posted this in alt.aquaria...but thought I'd try here since they were
> threatening physical violence against one-another...
>
> 6.6 Gallon fresh water tank, small power filter, small air stone,
> couple fake plants, and a cool castle. Everything including the tank
> and gravel was rinsed thoroughly before use.
>
> temp is constant 74, ph is 6.9, nitrite is not detectable, amonia is
> extremely low.
>
>
> All water changes are done with RO water purchased from my LFS. I also
>
> add the recommended amount of NutraFin Aqua Plus Tap Water Conditioner
> (could THIS be the problem?).
>
>
> Housed a few feeder fish for a few weeks, doing weekly water changes.
> One morning, all were dead - no signs of any sickness. Yay.
>
>
> I let the tank run empty for 2 more weeks, did a 75% water change and
> vaccumed the gravel, waited a few days, tested the water (perfect on
> the tests I ran), and then added 4 neon tetras.
>
>
> Spent 1.5 hours acclimating the tetras. As soon as they hit the water,
>
> two hid under the castle, two started darting around madly. By morning
>
> all were dead. Returned to my LFS with a water sample, their tests
> showed the water was good, and refunded my money (even though that's
> not what I was after).
>
>
> Waited another 2 weeks, did a 100% water change (RO water again),
> rinsed the gravel. Waited 2 days, tested the water - perfect. Added 6
>
> neon tetras this time (they were on sale), spent 2.5 hours acclimating.
>
> SAME THING - Couple darted around madly, rest hid, all dead within 24
> hours. Same deal, returned to LFS with water sample, tested perfect
> there too.
>
>
> Both my wife and I, for no other reason than it's the only thing we can
>
> think of other than someone breaking in and poisoning the water, want
> to blame the power filter. Could it be electrocuting the fish? Could
> the current be too much for them? It's small, and it has a flow
> control which is turned down slightly....
>
>
> Anyone else have any ideas on why I keep murdering innocent fish?
>
>

Are you running on pure RO water? You should be adding some minerals or
mixing with tap water, pure RO water will put a massive osmotic load on
the fish and may kill by shock or cause kidney failure.

You say you are adding tap water conditioner. This is a waste of time as
the main purpose is to neutralise Chlorine and Chloramines, of which there
are none in RO water.

In fact if you are keeping normal community fish then you are wasting your
money on RO water. They are quite happy in normal tap water +
conditioner.

Roger Sleet
Roger's Aquatic Pages http://www.sleet.plus.com

[P. Salad]

I had previously only had salt water tanks, where that wasn't a problem
because I was adding the salt - I didn't even think of it.

Thanks so much for your help.
-
Mike