Tank of doom :-(

On Thu, 06 Apr 2006 23:53:14 +0100, Black Shuck
wrote:

Having some serious problems with fish deaths at the moment, and really
running out of ideas on how to stop the deaths.

Problems started a couple of weeks ago, when I had a couple of golden
mollys die the same day. My immediate reaction was to do a partial
water change, (30%ish), and cleaned the pump filter using tank water (I
never use untreated tap water).

As a precaution, I have been putting a general purpose antibiotic,
Myxazin for the last week, and after each partial water change, I have
added some cycle (Nutrafin)

Anyway, since then, the fish have been going on a regularish basis. By
the end of last week, another 3 mollies had gone. I did a Nitrite test,
and it looked pretty reasonable (0.3 or thereabous). Since then, I have
lost all 5 neon tetras.

Yesterday, I did another partial water change (30%), and put some cycle
in.

None of the deaths, I have seen the run-up, but today, I found one of
the fish (tangarine tetra) having trouble keeping balance, swimming all
over the place, finally resting in the plants. A poke would send it off
into a untrolled frenzy. I took the fish out, and put it in a seperate
tank. A few hours later, another one exhibited the same problem, I
moved that to a seperate tank also. Both fish have now met their
maker...

Anyone have any other suggestions. Uptil the fish die, they all seem
healty enough, eating and swimming fine, with none of the obvious
symptoms..

Need help before the remaining 8 or so established fish go the same way
as the others... Whats interesting, is that these fish seem to be dying
in order of "newness", followed by type.


Well since the last post, another has gone. I have taken the very radical
step of moving all the still healthy looking fish to a temporary tank
(well large plastic 40L box), with 50% of the water from the old and 50%
treated tap water. put the heater and exiting pump filter from the tank
in there with it.

This was suggested by a fish keeper mate at work, as the last ditch
emergency course of action, which I feel I have gotten to. Will clean the
main tank ASAP, replace the gravel with sand (was going to do this
eventually anyway, and re-introduce the fish (if they are still alive by
then).

Any tips, comments, advice greatly apreciated.

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