HELP fish are dying!

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due to a house remodel I had to move 6 fish from a 29 gallon to a 10 gallon for 2 months..no problem...I set 29 back up..all fine..3 weeks later I added 7 new fish along with a petstore advise to add aquarium salt...now a week later I have lost 11 fish...1tsp to 5 gallons is what I was told....I have done a 40% water change 3 days ago and fish are still dying..PH is fine ..............HELP!!!!!

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 6:07 pm

What kind of fish? What about ammonia and nitrate levels?

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Ben wrote:: What kind of fish? What about ammonia and nitrate levels?

I have lost 2 black tetras,1 goldfish, 2 piscus cats,1 red eye tetra,a beta,2 red serpaes 2 other tetras,and a mollie...ammonia is fine....I dont have a nitrate tester...The fish that are dying start to almost look as if they are scalded..fins and tails get thin looking also

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 6:19 pm

Are the scales sticking out like a porcupin? If so it could be Dropsy? That is bad and very fatal to fish.

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Alton S wrote:: Are the scales sticking out like a porcupin? If so it could be Dropsy? That is bad and very fatal to fish.

NO...scales look fine

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Kris68 wrote:

Alton S wrote:: Are the scales sticking out like a porcupin? If so it could be Dropsy? That is bad and very fatal to fish.

NO...scales look fine

It seems this all started when I added the salt...not sure if that is what caused this or not

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 6:28 pm

Any unusual behavior? color, panting, bloat, anything?

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Alton S wrote:: Any unusual behavior? color, panting, bloat, anything?

They start looking sluggish..then like I said tails look thin and skin looks like its scalded..I have a goldfish now thats not going to make it through the night..hes got like a whitish film on him now hanging around bottom then comes up to top and back down... he wasnt like that yesterday...still have 4 zebra danios a algae eater, 2 cory cats and 2 mollies that look fine ...(for now)....

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Kris68 wrote:

Alton S wrote:: Any unusual behavior? color, panting, bloat, anything?

They start looking sluggish..then like I said tails look thin and skin looks like its scalded..I have a goldfish now thats not going to make it through the night..hes got like a whitish film on him now hanging around bottom then comes up to top and back down... he wasnt like that yesterday...still have 4 zebra danios a algae eater, 2 cory cats and 2 mollies that look fine ...(for now)....

as far as the water in looks..which I know you cant tell by looks.. its a bit more cloudy than it was..but again..that started after the salt.I have 1 red eye tetra still alive and hes also not looking good..hanging at top of tank with tailfins looking thin and scraggley...

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 6:50 pm

Could be Ich, But I doubt it. I would guess either a Bacteria or Fungal issue. You can treat with Primafix and Melafix and that will cover both. Sounds like your time is of essence, so do both at the same time. Follow the instructions and remove all carbon from filters. Raise temp to 82 to 84 degrees slowly, 1 or 2 degrees every 4 hours. Add I tsp salt per 10 gallons and after 50% water changes (Only add salt to equal amount of fresh water added) every other day prior to treating water.

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Alton S wrote:: Could be Ich, But I doubt it. I would guess either a Bacteria or Fungal issue. You can treat with Primafix and Melafix and that will cover both. Sounds like your time is of essence, so do both at the same time. Follow the instructions and remove all carbon from filters. Raise temp to 82 to 84 degrees slowly, 1 or 2 degrees every 4 hours. Add I tsp salt per 10 gallons and after 50% water changes (Only add salt to equal amount of fresh water added) every other day prior to treating water.

no..I dont think its ich either..all fish were healthy as can be a week ago...it seemed anyway..fungal? bacterial?...if I took a water sample could they tell by that? SO I take it you dont think it was the salt that caused this?

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 7:13 pm

I doubt they would be able to tell from a water sample. As for the salt, the dose sounds a bit strong but I don't think was the cause. My guess would be the fish you got from the LFS. Why using a guarentine tank for a few weeks is a good idea. Also anything you have used in that tank soak in Bleach water overnight to kill it. Otherwise you can reinfect your tanks again. This is buckets, nets, scrubbers.....Anything.

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Alton S wrote:: I doubt they would be able to tell from a water sample. As for the salt, the dose sounds a bit strong but I don't think was the cause. My guess would be the fish you got from the LFS. Why using a guarentine tank for a few weeks is a good idea. Also anything you have used in that tank soak in Bleach water overnight to kill it. Otherwise you can reinfect your tanks again. This is buckets, nets, scrubbers.....Anything.

when the house was getting redone and I had the fish in a 10 gallon for 2 1/2 months they did fine..I soaked the big tank in a solution of bleach water as it was sitting outside for 2 months...set it back up..everything was fine..water crystal clear ,happy fish no probs. the pet store people insisted I add the salt for the mollies and that it wouldnt hurt any of the other fish.and according to the directions on the salt it "says" 1 rounded TABLEspoon for every 5 gallons..I only did 1 TEAspoon....when fish started acting sick about a week later I did a 40% water change....they seemed to be liking the new water but after a day or so..more dead fish...This is KILLING ME!I will try what you advised..tomorrow I'll go get some things and keep my fingers crossed..I do appreciate your time.

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Kris68 wrote:

Alton S wrote:: I doubt they would be able to tell from a water sample. As for the salt, the dose sounds a bit strong but I don't think was the cause. My guess would be the fish you got from the LFS. Why using a guarentine tank for a few weeks is a good idea. Also anything you have used in that tank soak in Bleach water overnight to kill it. Otherwise you can reinfect your tanks again. This is buckets, nets, scrubbers.....Anything.

when the house was getting redone and I had the fish in a 10 gallon for 2 1/2 months they did fine..I soaked the big tank in a solution of bleach water as it was sitting outside for 2 months...set it back up..everything was fine..water crystal clear ,happy fish no probs. the pet store people insisted I add the salt for the mollies and that it wouldnt hurt any of the other fish.and according to the directions on the salt it "says" 1 rounded TABLEspoon for every 5 gallons..I only did 1 TEAspoon....when fish started acting sick about a week later I did a 40% water change....they seemed to be liking the new water but after a day or so..more dead fish...This is KILLING ME!I will try what you advised..tomorrow I'll go get some things and keep my fingers crossed..I do appreciate your time.

and 1 thing I left out to..even goldfish that looks like hes about dead still has a appetite...they still eat up until a matter of hours before they die

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 7:47 pm

A trick I use to cycle a tank faster is add TLC and Plant food an hour later. This promotes the Algea growth way faster. Just be careful to not over do it or you will have an algea bloom. When the water gets a white haze look it is a bacteria bloom and frequent water changes and TLC with plant food will get the algea going to cycle your tank. I also will clean an existing tank's glass of algea and pull 10 gallons out to start a new tank. Gives it a little boost start I think.

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Alton S wrote:: A trick I use to cycle a tank faster is add TLC and Plant food an hour later. This promotes the Algea growth way faster. Just be careful to not over do it or you will have an algea bloom. When the water gets a white haze look it is a bacteria bloom and frequent water changes and TLC with plant food will get the algea going to cycle your tank. I also will clean an existing tank's glass of algea and pull 10 gallons out to start a new tank. Gives it a little boost start I think.

so if it IS a bacterial thing going on that will help too?because the tank deff. has a white haze look. I'll take a water sample in tomorrow and make sure its nothing with that part then I'll treat for bacteria I guess

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 8:20 pm

Usually double up your filtering and water changes twice a week will cure the bacteria. A bacteria bloom will not harm the fish unless it is left go with out water changes. Also H2O2 (Hydrogen Proxide) at 1 ml/10 gallon will kill bacteria too.

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 8:22 pm

Oh forgot to mention H2O2 will not hurt eggs or fry either. I use it when I tumble eggs to keep fungal and bacteria in check on the eggs.

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Alton S wrote:: Oh forgot to mention H2O2 will not hurt eggs or fry either. I use it when I tumble eggs to keep fungal and bacteria in check on the eggs.

just regular hydrogen peroxide? Is that something I could try tonight before I get to the store tomorrow or what?

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 8:30 pm

If your going to use the Primafix and the Melafix I would not put too many chemicals in the tank at one time. I prefer to not use anything unless I have no choice. If you want to try something tonight do a 90% water change and add a lil extra water conditioner. Your fish will like that.

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Alton S wrote:: If your going to use the Primafix and the Melafix I would not put too many chemicals in the tank at one time. I prefer to not use anything unless I have no choice. If you want to try something tonight do a 90% water change and add a lil extra water conditioner. Your fish will like that.

Wow..a 90%....not gonna be able to do all that tonight..I guess I'll just wait til the morning and head to the fish store and go from there

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 8:35 pm

Just a thought, How strong did you have the colorox when you cleaned the tank? Did you rinse it out really good afterwards?

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Alton S wrote:: Just a thought, How strong did you have the colorox when you cleaned the tank? Did you rinse it out really good afterwards?

not real strong..like 3 parts bleach to 10 part water...and i rinsed and rinsed and rinsed

Subject: Re: HELP fish are dying! 6/21/2011, 8:40 pm

Just thought it might have been too strong. But soounds like you did good there to me. How big of a tank is this?

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Alton S wrote:: Just thought it might have been too strong. But soounds like you did good there to me. How big of a tank is this?

a 29

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