Smitty137

My tank is cycled the ammonia and nitrites are 0 and nitrates are very low. My pH is a little high due to our city water but my LFS's ph is the same as mine. About 7.6. My temp is running about 74-76 degrees. I have a 26 gallon bow front. I had 4 harlequin rasboras and 6 black neons. They were doing great for about a week and then in the last couple of days they just started dropping dead. One day they're fine and then, poof! Dead fish. I've found several bodies caught in my filter and today I actually had to unplug the filter to free caught and dying fish. I know its rare for healthy fish to die in filters. I've been doning 25% water changes once a week and vacuuming the gravel. I'm down to three neons and I'm totally heartbroken and frustrated. I've kept tanks off and on my whole life I've never had problems like this. Someone please help!

aquarist48

Good morning and Welcome to Fish Lore. Hate to hear you're having problems and fish loss. You said your tank is cycled and readings are normal. pH is fine. Have you tested the water since you added the fish? I can only guess that you're going through a mini cycle of sorts and ammonia has risen. Double check your test results and keep us posted. I'm sure you'll get more responses soon.

Smitty137

Thanks. Yeah, I tested everything when they all started dying. Those are the readings I posted. I'm going to put some nylon or sponge media over the filter intake and keep testing the water. I hope my last three little guys make it.
Its sounds like you have a lovely setup

aquarist48

Good morning. Covering your intake tubes with a sponge is a good idea. I have sponges on mine as well. When buying small fish it's hard to tell how old they are when you purchase them. Just keep an eye on your chemistry as you said. I hope the rest are still doing well

saqib

the readings as you said are recent so maybe there is something else that you might be missing..did you add anything to the décor..maybe some toxins are leaking into your water..that's something one of my collegues went through..he added his sons action figure into the aquarium and it started creating a havoc where in the meanwhile all stats showed no problems.

Smitty137

As of now the 3 neons are in good condition. The water chemistry is still good. All of my decor was purchased @ my LFS and is intended for aquarium use. I covered my intake and all seems to be well. Thanks to everyone for the help!

Smitty137

Okay, so the plot thickens. In the last two days I've lost two more neons. The water chemistry was still the same. When I was vacuuming the gravel I notice a ton of black dust coming up out of my gravel(I have black gravel) So, I took everything down and rinsed and rinsed. I hope this solves my problem but I still have one little neon left and I'm concerned that I killed the bacteria in my tank( I didn't rinse the filter). Should I add some safe start? I'm getting pretty frustrated with this tank. Thanks for any advice.

Blethly

Hi,
sorry you've lost so many of your fishies. about your bacteria as long as your filter hasen't been rinsed you should be fine. even if you did rinse it as long as it was in the old tank water and not under the tap you should be good. the bacteria grow on more then just the filter material anyway. adding the safe start wouldn't hurt tho. it will neutralize any ammonia that may develope if you do have a mini cycle. i hope rinsing your gravel again will solve things. good luck!

MizRamzi

Ditto with all the above. Also you could just be getting a bad strain of fish. It happens, I know. I went through the same thing with Neons. Out of the last 15 I've boughten (from 2 different LFS) over a couple of months I have only 2 left. They are doing well.
I've taken to buying my fishes from breeders at Aquabid.com Recently I aquired 6 Endlers, 6 furcata Rainbows, 8 red crystal shrimp and 6 Trap door snails. 1 of the female Endlers came preggy and has since given birth This was 3/4 weeks ago. All arrived alive, healthy, and are still doing wonderfully. I guess what I'm saying is that it can be hit and miss at our LFS. They go through so much by the time they arrive. Go window shopping first. Watch their fish for a while. Look for sickness in the tanks. Ask when they get their shipments. Get to know them.
I wish you the best and your fishes too

Smitty137

Thanks to everyone. The last neon is doing great. We've dubbed him "spunky".