Fish Addict

3 days ago, I lost a kuhli loach. Then, today, I woke up to find my angel, swimming near the surface. When I looked at the tank a few hours later, it was dead and a platy was doing the same thing. Now, it's dead too. What do you think could have happened? I don't know why things would happen so suddenly, especially since it's a cycled tank. Also, right after I found the angel, I did a small water change. I really hope that I can fix this problem before any more fish die.

Lucy

I'm sorrry about your fish
Hard to say what happened, here's a few things you can look at:
Did you checked your ammonia nitrite nitrates and pH?
Could any contaminants entered the tank? Room spray, hand lotion, soap on your hands?
Whens the last time you changed out your carbon?
Is the food fresh?
Were they showing any other signs of illness, injury?

joy1125

have you checked the water readings? How long has the tank been cycled? Sometimes a newly cycled tank can't handle the bioload and goes into a mini cycle, presenting ammonia from out of the blue ! Test your water, and get back to us.

Fish Addict

I haven't tested the water yet, but the tank has been cycled for over a year, and I used the filter last month to cycle another tent, so I'd doubt it's lacking bacteria. Also, I just did a water change, so wouldn't that help?
And I don't think there'd be any contaminants, since there's a hood on the tank so no spray, and I haven't put my hands in there until the water change.
I think I changed out my filter cartridge about 3 weeks ago.
I'm not sure. It's a frozen brand, and each cube of frozen food comes sealed, so I'd imagine it's fresh.
And no, besides just staying at the surface and not moving much nothing has happened.

gmen4life

man sounds crazy to me

Lucy

Even an established tank can lose it's cycle. When things go wrong, water qualty is the first thing to rule out.
It would be a good idea to check it.

Fish Addict

How could it be bad enough so a water change couldn't help?

Lucy

Sometimes for reasons unknown the cycle gets out of whack. The water change couldn't hurt.
But until you check it you won't know.

aquarist48

The water change will help if you're having ammonia problems. As suggested check your water chemistry (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates). Cycles can surely crash at times. Are you doing regular water changes every week or so?

kimb

Sorry for your losses. If you can test your water and post the results, the more experienced keepers might be able to help you better. Good Luck.

Shawnie

oh no! im sorry for your losses

I agree with the others....test the water and go from there...sounds like it could be a mini cycle between taking out some media for another tank, then changing the cartridge recently, it very well could be water changes will help a ton but if they were exposed prior to the change, and if you havent tested in awhile, you wouldnt know the amount of their exposure..now that you did a water change, it could even be fine in the readings but again, by not testing before changing it, you wont know if thats what it was....but the signs certainly sound like ammonia ..I hope things get better!!