125 Gallon - Looking for Opinions

Gordinian
  • Thread Starter
  • #41
Alright you guys, I'm at a complete loss.

A little backstory just to make sure I've given all the details. This tank was originally set up at my mom's house with large cichlids. I sold the cichlids and the tank was empty besides the pleco. Filters were turned off for more than 24 hours during the process of moving the tank to my dads. Filter was set up again, same gravel, decorations, heaters, filters...etc used. From there I started adding fish. Before the last batch of fish was added the tank had been running at my dad's for about three weeks and contained 3 angels, 10 rummies, 12 cardinals, 6 cories, 2 kribensis, 1 pleco. The next batch of fish I added 8 cardinals, 3 cories, and 8 hatchetfish.

I mentioned in a previous post that some of the new fish started dying right off the bat. Well, over the past week or so, I've lost just about all of the fish. I still have 2 angels, 6 rummies, 2 kribs, 1 pleco, and 7 cories, but have lost all of the rest, including all cardinals and hatchets.

I have absolutely no idea what is going on. I've tested the water multiple times on multiple different days with both liquid tests and test strips. Results have come back 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate.

Yesterday I thought I had solved the problem. I got the tank off craigslist and it came with the heaters. They were Fluval brand, seemed a little old, and recently started to get some brown discoloration. I hadn't been monitoring the temperature on the tank (my mistake ) and didn't have a thermometer, however the water did feel a little warm. Figuring I had accidentally been cooking the fish, I bought two brand new heaters and a thermometer.

Well tonight my dad called me and told me that the temperature has been a constant 78F and fish were still dying. From what he told me, all of the fish are now hanging out near the surface of the tank and not looking too well. Yesterday (and really throughout the whole process) the fish were swimming about and appeared healthy. Could it be possible that they're still being affected by the old heat of the tank?

I honestly have no other ideas as to what could be going wrong and am getting so frustrated If anybody has any ideas, I'm all ears! Would really appreciate any advice on the situation.

ETA: Some other possible ideas I've had below. I feel like they probably aren't what's going on, but let me know what you think:

-There's one octopus decoration in the tank, brand new. Could there have been something on it to contaminate the tank somehow?

-My dad said when he turned the lights on this afternoon, all remaining fish were still alive. They didn't die overnight but started to during the day. He seems to think it might be something with the lights?

-Something in the water that I'm not testing for and should be?

-Aggression from kribensis, though I've never witnessed any and that wouldn't explain why the fish are lethargic at the surface
 
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AlyeskaGirl
  • #42
Gosh I am really sorry about the fish losses.

Do a water change and see if that will make the fish go down.

Do you have any surface movement?
 
BluMan1914
  • #43
I'm wondering if having the filter off for 24hrs, killed the BB, and the ammomia was raised and started killing the fish off, and some are still affected?
Just throwing that out there.
 
Gordinian
  • Thread Starter
  • #44
One canister filter is positioned on the right side of the tank and agitates the water on that side of the tank. I noticed (when the cichlids were still in the tank) that the left side seemed filmy so added a bubbler over there. So there shouldn't be problems with water movement :/

And BluMan, I did think about that with the bb, but then wouldn't I be seeing ammonia in my water tests?

For sure planning on heading over there tomorrow morning for a water change.
 
Abrancato
  • #45
You said that the prior heaters were old, you don't/didn't have an electrical leak did you? Also the new fish you got... it's possible they were sick.

And it sounds like you don't have a "grounds crew" as I like to call it. With the fish deaths and the plants in place were you able to find all deceased fish? This will also spike your ammonia lvls. Reason why I say this is because I've lost a cory, tetra, and oto cat. Don't ask me where they went other than as food.

Also how long did you wait to add your second batch of fish? You may have over taxed your bacteria.

Lastly is your pH in perimeters for your fish?

Edit: forgot to ask, what kind of tests are you using? Strips or dropper tests?
 

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