Help please...

googs13 · 04-22-2008, 10:36 AM

Hi all...

I will give some quick background, then tell you my problem. My tank has been up and running for about a year and a half. It's a 55 gallon, community tank.

I have about 24 fish in there now, including a clown loach, a pleco, some danios, platys, Tetra's, two rainbows, etc. I also have 4 glass shrimp that I call my cleaning crew.

Now...I have not lost a fish in over 7 months, but this week has been an absolute disaster. I have lost a fish for 5 straight days now. I did a 50% water change on Saturday and it has not gotten any better. I run two filters, my temp is about 78.

I tested my water, here are my numbers:

GH-120- I know my water is very hard
KH - 0
PH - 6.5
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 140

I know my nitrates are absurdly high, but they always are. I think it's my water in my town. Reading some here today, I want to test my water out of my tap tonight.

Like I said, I have not lost a fish in a long, long time and all of a sudden, this week has been a mess...I do a water change every week, I vacuum really well, I keep the tank spotless.

I did change the carbon in my Aqua Clear filter, but I do that like once every 2 months all the time and it has never changed anything.

Did I do something wrong? Please help, I am clueless as to what has happened here.

andysutt · 04-22-2008, 12:45 PM

Would you happen to have a set of numbers previous to the water change?

Did you forget to dechlorinate the water on accident maybe?

Anyone been around the tank that may have spilt something in it, or added anything?

The fish are a year and a half old, or were they in another tank previous to this tank? Could consider old age, but not at 5 fish in 5 days... something else has to be up.

You haven't added any new fish or decorations lately have you?

Any long term power outages lately?

The reason I ask all of these questions as they all could factor into play in your case.

googs13 · 04-22-2008, 01:52 PM

the only thing I have added recently is two more live plants...I have about 7 live plants, the rest are fake.

I did chlorinate the water, at first I thought I forgot, but I remember doing it...I am anal about that. My water in my town sucks, so I am very afraid of not doing that.

No long term power outages...the temperature has been very consistent...

Would doing a water change and changing the carbon in my filter have something to do with it? Did I take too much good bacteria out of my tank?

andysutt · 04-22-2008, 02:21 PM

It shouldn't have taken to much out of it.

You chlorinated it? I hope you meant dechlorinated

Loman · 04-22-2008, 02:27 PM

googs13 i doubt changing the carbon would be of any real impact. Do you do that routinely with no prior problem? I would as you mention test the source water for Nitrate. That number is way way too high. Just looking at the numbers I would think you have not done sufficent water changes to lower the nitrate level. If the source water is reasoable then we can discuss several options to get it lowered and potentially find the source of the nitrates.

I hope you meant de-chlorinate the water

. Even if you took straight tap water the chlorine is usually gased out fairly quickly, certainly within 24 hours. I would also like to know the level of ammonia (I expect it will be zero but you should confirm). I would look for what changed. It could be as suggested something added to the tank, a disease, etc. It could even be something wild like an electric wire breaking and leaking voltage into the tank (effectively electricuting the fish

) Lastly was it all the same type fish that died or a varity of breeeds.

tropical1 · 04-22-2008, 06:26 PM

do you have a test for your ammonia level? if you nitrate is that high i would hate to see the ammonia level.

Loman · 04-22-2008, 10:57 PM

I do not follow your logic tropical. The nitrogen cycle is ammonia gets converted to nitrIte which gets converted to NitrAte. In some cases you develop an anerobic process which converts nitrAte to nitrogen but the more common method of keeping nitrates under control is periodic regular maintenance. Given that the nitrItes are zero I susepect that the cycle is still very much in tact and that it is either a prolonged accumulation of nitrAtes or there is something such as a dirty sponge that is producing high levels of nitrAte. The test is needed to be sure but why do you suspect it to be high?

googs13 · 04-23-2008, 10:06 AM

Ok....first...yes, I meant dechlorinate...LOL...sorry, typo.

Okay...my ammonia level is 0, I did a 25% water change last night...I tested again, the nitrates were down to 80 this morning.

I am really good about my water changes, that's the weird thing...I do it every single Saturday morning...

It has been all different species that have died...one wide skirt tetra, a platy, a guppy, a rainbow, it doesn't seem to be specific to one type of fish. As of last night, everyone seemed good, but I sit here at work and worry that when I go home, more will have died. I have gone two days now without a loss, but I am still very concerned.

Loman · 04-23-2008, 10:22 AM

This is a real puzzle. No visible signs on the dead fish correct? Can you think of any recent changes?

googs13 · 04-23-2008, 11:01 AM

it is a real puzzle...like I said originally, I haven't lost a fish in so long. No, I have inspected each fish and I am not seeing any noticeable signs of anything odd.

Is it okay to do another water change tonight?