pilgrim

I have a 77 litre aquarium, all levels seem ok. I had/have Red eyed Tetras, Green Barbs, Tiger Barbs, Blue Barbs and a Red Tailed Black Shark. About 2 weeks ago some of my fish started to get what looked like tiny bubbles on them. I described it to my local shop and they diagnosed it as white spot. I bought the necc remedy and used it as per instructions. One by one most of my fish have died. The only ones that have stayed healthy are the Red eyed Tetras, they are more than healthy, they are flourishing. The Tiger Barbs were the last to die and lasted a lot longer than the others. The Tetras and the Tiger Barbs were the original inhabitants, it seems the fish introduced at a later date are the ones that have perished. Firstly they get these dots that look like small bubbles, then it seems their fins get tatty at the ends, then they get very thin. Just before they die most of them seem to want to constantly swim in the stream from the filter/pump. HELP PLEASE!!!

susitna-flower

HI PILGRIM, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Sorry you are having problems with your fish.

First thing I would like to know is what ARE the readings of you ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test? If you are not testing yourself, and your fish store tells you they are OK, it is not enough for you to really understand what is happening in your tank. Most folks here recommend the API Master test kit (liquid).

Second thing, white spot, or ick is killed with warm temperatures, most of the time you don't need to use medications. Some medications cause more stress on fish than they can take. Tetras often are listed on medications as having problems that require using the medication at 1/2 strength. The temperature treatment is to raise the aquarium water temperature to over 82F. or 28 C . Hold that temp. for a full 2 weeks, all the while doing 25% water change every day, to every other day. The warmer temperatures deplete oxygen in the water and it has to be refreshed.

I would suspect that your tank was overstocked, you didn't say how many of each fish you had, but it sounds like it very well could have been too much for a 20 gallon tank.

Ick can be described as looking like salt. If this is what they had, it sounds like they also developed fin rot, both of which can be brought on by the stress of poor water conditions.

What is your current water change schedule? If ammonia or nitrite are over 0 you should be changing 25-50% of the water every day...because your not through the nitrogen cycle. If nitrate is over 20 you need to be doing 50% water changes until your nitrate comes down...as well as gravel vacuuming weekly.
Good Luck, and keep us posted...

pilgrim

Thanks for the fast reply. I've upped the temp to 27c, the shop did indeed just tell me the three readings were ok, I will get the kit you recc and do the readings and post them. I had 6 Tetras about 2cm, 6 Tiger Barbs about 1.5cm, 6 Blue Barbs about 2cm, 3 Green Barbs about 1.5cm and a Red Tailed Black Shark about 4cm.

susitna-flower

Ok, this is the thing.....the recommendation for stocking a tank is 1" of ADULT size per gallon of water.....you count the babies as IF they were adult when you purchase them....this allows the bacteria needed to keep up with the nitrogen cycle to multiply with the fishes growth......and you will never be overstocked. You currently have 60 inches of fish in a 20 gallon tank! I know they aren't really 60 inches now.....but you get the idea...

A tank that is only 3 months old could still be in the process of cycling, which means there could be ammonia or nitrite issues. We will know with the readings.

ARE you doing water changes?

You only have the temp at 80.6, it has to go up OVER 82, so 28C is what you want to raise it too.....that is 82.4 which is enough to kill the ick. As I said you have to hold it there for 2 full weeks...changing the water and vacuuming gravel. The water changes will really make your fish feel good, will reduce stress and help they pull through this..

sirdarksol

Some excellent info here.

I would definitely not trust a fish store saying "your water is okay." They usually use the little test strips, and are pretty impatient with them, and often get incorrect readings.

Welcome to Fishlore.

pilgrim

Thanks all for the replies. I am doing 10% water changes every other day on the recc of the shop, sounds like this shop isnt to be trusted. I will buy the kit mentioned tomorrow and then alter my water change schedule accordingly. I only have 4 Tetras and 2 Tiger Barbs left now so will not be over stocked.

sirdarksol

Unfortunately, many fish stores don't give very good advice. It isn't always malicious (though I don't doubt that some unscrupulous merchants give bad advice so they can sell more fish when your fish die), but it's still bad.

Sorry you've lost so many fish. One thing you should watch for is any aggression on the part of the tigers. They can get agitated when there aren't enough of them in a tank, and this can lead to fin-nipping. Not a guarantee, but it's better to watch for it and be ready to separate them if it occurs.

Good luck and keep up with the questions if you have more.

pilgrim

Spent the last 10 days doing everything rec here, thanks all. Water looks better, no more deaths, in fact the fish I've got left (1 tiger barb and 4 red eyed tetras) have never looked as healthy. Bought the test kit that was rec and now have the following readings: ph 8.2; ammonia .25; nitrite 0 and nitrate 10. Does this look like its heading in the right direction?

COBettaCouple

It looks good, but I'm not sure if that ammonia is a spike or not, I'd test it every day or 2 for a few tests to chart where the ammonia is going.

pilgrim

I will do that, thanks

sirdarksol

Glad some of the fish have survived. I'm sure things will level off pretty soon.