Fish Dying After Tank Change

[Jordan Hobbs]

I recently decided to redo my 10 gallon aquarium with an aquascape rather than my silk artificial plants. Since then, my fish have been lethargic, stressed, and dying. I have no water parameters that would suggest this would should happen so I am a bit confused. The tank held a few neon tetra, 3 cory cats, and a betta. 2 tertra have died mysteriously, one is about to die from dropsy, one cory cat died (just got pale and breathed heavy before dying, and now I moved my betta out to a bowl of fresh water for observation to see if its lethargy would lift thus proving it was a chemical of some sort in the tank. It died 24 hours later in the bowl.

I redid the entire hardscape and gravel. I used to have white filter sand but switched to eco-complete black capped with black aquatic sand. I placed some flagstones (did the vinegar test first and not showing any problem) and also a piece of cedar driftwood. It did not smell when I placed it in the tank and prior to me redoing the tank, the tank contained a different piece of cedar wood that I found the same day I found the one currently in my tank. The fish lived in the original setup with the cedar piece for over a year without any issue so I assumed using a piece that had been baking in the sun for a year would be even safer.

I also added staurogyne repens, narrow leaf java fern, windelov java fern, and java moss. I added a higher power light as well so now there is 1.8 Watts/Gal. The tetra still seem stressed, one cory is lethargic, one acts completely normal oh and my red cherry shrimp have all died over the course of a week and my nerite snail is lethargic too.

Ammonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate: 3ppm
pH: 8 (always been this high, just my well water)

Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

 

[John Whatmough]

Its difficult to determine but it would suggest a breakdown in your biological filtration or somethings got in the water, did you tapsafe your water and did your keep you filter media.

 

[Jordan Hobbs]

I am not sure what tap safe means? Is that treating the water with something like stress coat? Also, I unfortunately did not keep much media but I did not clean out the filter either so some bacteria stayed behind, I can already see it growing on the new media. I did keep the old water for a while afterward although I know in comparison it does not contain a lot of bacteria. What is confusing me is that after 5 days without a water change, I had Ammonia:0 and Nitrite:0 so I figured that the biofiltration was working properly. If these chemicals are not in the tank to harm the fish, what else could be?

 

[keithgh]

Jordan

Could be several concerns that happened during the change or since the change finding it might be very difficult. The only way we can do it is by asking questions.

The tank held a few neon tetra, 3 cory cats, and a betta. 2 tertra

Where were all the inhabitants during the change?
What ever you used was it perfectly safe?
Did you have the filter and heater running with them?
Is there any information on bag saying it would/could raise your pH for about 3-6 weeks?

the tank contained a different piece of cedar wood that I found the same day

Just because one piece is safe does not mean the other piece is.

I unfortunately did not keep much media but I did not clean out the filter either so some bacteria stayed behind, I can already see it growing on the new media. I did keep the old water for a while afterward although I know in comparison it does not contain a lot of bacteria.

I would have doubled dosed a good Bio Bacteria like Seachem Stability (I used it for many years).
You say "unfortunately did not keep much media." A massive mistake and would have caused a pH spike. Now you could have two reasons why it could Spike.

Are you saying you can the bacteria already growing on the new media. That is completely new to me are you positive it's not an Algae?

No water changes for 5 days after using a Substrate that could cause a Cycling concern?

Are you using any Carbon in your filter? If so remove it "Immediately" as its not required.

What to do now?
Test your water supply first. If safe to you use start the following
A 40/50% water change every second day for a week then reduce that to 35% twice weekly.
Double dose with Stability at every water change.
One method of reducing the inhabitants stress is reduce the light massively or turn it off until they start improving.

Plants I should not hurt them if at all.
Feeding only a very small amount every second day.

Another member might be able to give you more reasons and the remedy could also be different.
In your case I don't think there is only one fix it all.

Keith

 

[Jordan Hobbs]

When I changed the tank, I moved the fish to a plastic storage container. I thoroughly rinsed the container before moving them to it I moved the aquarium water completely over with them. The process of redoing the tank took about 3 hours. They did not have the heater as my room was still 75 degrees which is where I keep the tank anyways. And no, I did not see any info about pH raising as a result. I have since found that it actually is my water that is the issue where the pH raises although it is gradual. My fish should be used to this however as I always use my tap water.

As to the piece of wood being unsafe... true... I hope that is not the case. What is odd to me is that I have one cory acting completely normal, no stress, eating like crazy. But the rest of the fish are lethargic and dying... The Tetra seem to be a tad better now although that one that had dropsy finally died. They still seem nervous and prefer to stay under or very near the driftwood and near the bottom of the tank.

I read that people often throw away their filter floss or media when they see it is covered in brown and that they should not because this is often bacteria growing in the media. I could be misinformed but it made sense to me since there is very little light in the filter for algae to do terribly well. This was always the case prior to me getting a new light so I used to have zero algae but the floss always turned brown after a while.

I had no idea that the substrate could cause any issue, I am still not sure that it is. It is very highly rated by many aquarists.

I do not have any carbon in my filter.

Should I consider doing a blackout? It may kill 2 birds with one stone? Killing the algae (or setting it back) and also distressing the fish some. I read where people just isolate light from the tank for 3 days. Is that something that could help?

 

[keithgh]

Jordon

Did you have the filter working in the plastic container?

Filters use many different mediums. If your filter has filter floss its totally different as you can replace a very small amount as its passed its UBD. Every time I did a filter cleaning I always double dosed with Seachem Stability and never had a problem. I must admit I always had Under Gravel Filters in my tanks which had a good working bacteria.

I have since found that it actually is my water that is the issue where the pH raises although it is gradual.

No matter what you do that must be fixed first.

My fish should be used to this however as I always use my tap water.

There is no guarantee your water supply is the same every day it is possible it changes over the year.

I had no idea that the substrate could cause any issue, I am still not sure that it is. It is very highly rated by many aquarists.

Some of the better Substrates can cause big pH rises at the beginning of being in a tank. Its easily fixed just big water changes in the Cycling process

Keith

 

[marisaroti]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum. I hope this is the right way to ask for advice.
I just started a new aquascape set up, I started small with a 30x20x25 cm tank size (13.2 litre). I set up my plants, and then after the first week, I added shrimp, neon tetras, and 3 guppy fishes.

I have did the acclimation and dripping method to adjust the water parameter before putting them in my tank. Within the two hours, one of the guppies died.
Afterward, the guppies seemed happy for the past 2 days. They seemed active and eat normally. However, this morning, I found one of my guppy died and stuck in the filter pipe. Which is confusing, because yesterday he seemed really fine.

My question is, what may caused the death of my guppy? Would it be that they carried some disease (which should be concerning, since they are all together in the tank), or would it be caused by bad water condition?
What should I do either way?

Thank you!

My tank condition right now

The only one guppy left

 

[marisaroti]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum. I hope this is the right way to ask for advice.
I just started a new aquascape set up, I started small with a 30x20x25 cm tank size (13.2 litre). I set up my plants, and then after the first week, I added shrimp, neon tetras, and 3 guppy fishes.

I have did the acclimation and dripping method to adjust the water parameter before putting them in my tank. Within the two hours, one of the guppies died.
Afterward, the guppies seemed happy for the past 2 days. They seemed active and eat normally. However, this morning, I found one of my guppy died and stuck in the filter pipe. Which is confusing, because yesterday he seemed really fine.

My question is, what may caused the death of my guppy? Would it be that they carried some disease (which should be concerning, since they are all together in the tank), or would it be caused by bad water condition?
What should I do either way?

Thank you!

View attachment 14022
My tank condition right now


View attachment 14023
The only one guppy left

Forgot to mention, the second guppy died after I did small water change (10% - 20%), because the tank are filthy with fish food, I thought it needs a little water change.