My fish tank got wiped out!

I have a 38 gallon fish tank with 2 silver dollar fish, 2 clown loaches, 3 kuhlI loaches, 1 common pleco, 2 giant danios, 1 Raphael Catfish, 1 lace catfish, 2 quary catfish, 1 betta fish, 4 skirt tetras, and 2 angel fish. I bought 14 neon tetras. All my neon tetras died, my pleco (got dropsy), 1 kuhlI loach, 2 quary catfish, 2 clown loaches, raphael catfish all died. My silver dollars have moth fungus, my 1 angel and skirt tetras have fin rot. My skirt tetras had ick. I have a gravel fish tank. I got melafix and tetra ickgaurd I wasted both medicines. I bought new hang on back filter and new heater. The heater killed the ick. I still have fin rot and mouth fungus. I added some API aquarium salt very little. Now what should I do?

 

You say you know about the nitrogen cycle - is your tank properly cycled? Have you done water tests recently to check your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?
Because your tank seems massively, massively overstocked. I have no doubt that caused a tank crash.
Due to the deaths your bioload is a lot lower, so if you fix the water quality (better than any medication at this point) you may still be able to save the rest. In other words, start doing daily 30% water changes and see if things get better. You can do even larger ones if you want.

Also even if your remaining fish survive, many of them will have to be rehomed. 38 gallons is too small for the silver dollars (by themselves!) and the common pleco (also by itself!). And the clown loaches as well. And probably a bunch of the catfish as well.

 

Well this tank just sounds like a whole heap of trouble. So sorry to add insult to injury but ur tank was grossly overstocked. That likely contributed to the rapid spread of multiple diseases. Not to mention incompatible fish (aggressive/schooling) If I were you I would transfer all living inhabitants to an emergency quarantine tank. Completely tear down and clean your main tank and restart.

 

Can you specify which fish were "incompatible fish (aggressive/schooling)"

The neon tetras I bought had fin rot and ick but I did not notice until it was too late

 

I have a 38 gallon fish tank with 2 silver dollar fish, 2 clown loaches, 3 kuhlI loaches, 1 common pleco, 2 giant danios, 1 Raphael Catfish, 1 lace catfish, 2 quary catfish, 1 betta fish, 4 skirt tetras, and 2 angel fish. I bought 14 neon tetras. All my neon tetras died, my pleco (got dropsy), 1 kuhlI loach, 2 quary catfish, 2 clown loaches, raphael catfish all died. My silver dollars have moth fungus, my 1 angel and skirt tetras have fin rot. My skirt tetras had ick. I have a gravel fish tank. I got melafix and tetra ickgaurd I wasted both medicines. I bought new hang on back filter and new heater. The heater killed the ick. I still have fin rot and mouth fungus. I added some API aquarium salt very little. Now what should I do?

Gabe, please fill out the fish disease template and tell us more about your setup.

What happens with overstocking is that it increases stress levels in the tank - which weakens the fish's immune systems and makes them more susceptible to disease or parasites.

So for example - a parasite or minor problem the fish would have lived with or recovered from all of a sudden explodes out of nowhere and takes out .

A handy resource for fooling around with hypothetical aquarium stocking is Aquarium Adviser's stocking calculator. It's not perfect but can get you in the ballpark.

 

Can you specify which fish were "incompatible fish (aggressive/schooling)"

Certain species such as danios, tetras, loaches, and silver dollars need to be in a group of least 6+. Also, bettas and angels don't usually get along.

 

urm. well.
2 silver dollar fish, 2 clown loaches, 3 kuhlI loaches, 1 common pleco, 2 giant danios, 1 Raphael Catfish, 1 lace catfish, 2 quary catfish, 1 betta fish, 4 skirt tetras, and 2 angel fish. I bought 14 neon tetras.

clowns are best kept in schools of 3-6 in tanks upwards of 100 gallons. giant dianos are also schooling fish growing up to 4 inches by themselves....so a 38 gallon could probably house maybe 4 of them alone. raphael catfish is max size of 8 inches. soooo. minimum of 30 for that alone. betta is normally a single fish for a tank unless housed in a large aquarium with smaller fish. angelfish are schooling and aggressive to others.

 

The problem was for many many years I was told my fish tank was 55 gallons until I went on the aquarium calculator

All my fish actually never had any aggression with each other they all minded their own business which surprised me so I just kept them all together

 

I have used Paraguard by Seachem to treat fin rot with good success. Melifix and API Fungus Cure is used by many. These kind of ailments usually stem from poor environment conditions... are you doing regular water changes, vacuuming your gravel and not overfeeding. Clean water is your best defence.

Important: I just saw your fish stocking in the other thread, you have too many fish... clown loaches and a common pleco don't belong in a 38 gallon. Your tank is not supporting the bio-load ( the beneficial bacteria needed) for that many fish, they poop a lot too. You also have the wrong type of fish together, many are not compatible... I think stress is causing your problems with the fish and they are getting sick. A hard fix if you don't have another large cycled tank and you can't rehome sick fish. You need to do your research before you stock like this unfortunately.

 

So lets say all the fish I have currently all make it. I would not be allowed to have any more fish after that?

because I was planning on getting a tiger oscar

 

Considering you have yet to control fish disease and are seeing dramatic die off. Any additions would be negligent and likely result in further death.

 

because I was planning on getting a tiger oscar

Tiger oscars cannot live comfortably in a 38 gallon. They need a minimum tank size of at least 75 gallons.

 

yes I understand

 

All my fish actually never had any aggression with each other they all minded their own business which surprised me so I just kept them all together

The problem was for many many years I was told my fish tank was 55 gallons until I went on the aquarium calculator

Unfortunately 55 gallons is still nowhere near enough to support this kind of bioload. And aggression/incompatibility problems are not always solved by just adding more water volume (though it may help).
The fact that this worked until now is just dumb luck. This kind of explosive outcome was pretty much unavoidable with that kind of stock.
Incompatible fish don't simply die when you try them out in a tank. They usually work for a while. And then in 90% of cases end up dead due to physical injury, or stress lowers their immune system so an illness sweeps through the tank and wipes it out. Which is what happened here. Which specific pathogen did that does not matter, and medications that may work under normal circumstances won't be able to solve that problem because the source of stress (bad environment) is still there.

So lets say all the fish I have currently all make it. I would not be allowed to have any more fish after that?

It is not just about bioload, some of the fish you still have (in particular the silver dollars) just cannot live in a 38 gallon tank, especially with tank mates.

 

I am going to wait 2 years with the silver dollars before I move them

Your Oscar aquarium should provide at least 30 gallons of space (about 114 liters) per Oscar, plus any space needed for any other fish. -from fishtankguide.net

??? So now I am confused

 

Your Oscar aquarium should provide at least 30 gallons of space (about 114 liters) per Oscar, plus any space needed for any other fish. -from fishtankguide.net

Okay, I don't where you got that information, but this is false. While you can keep a juvenile oscar in a 30, keep in mind that the fish will grow. An oscar can grow a length of least 14".

 

Can you list what fish you have left and post a photo of your tank and fish? Also all your water parameters so we can get a good handle on what were working with?

 

When did oscars even come into the picture....lol just keep ur current fish and treat them as best as you can.

 

I have 2 angelfish, 2 giant danios, 1 kuhlI loach, 1 golden kuhlI loach, 1 lace catfish, 4 skirt tetras, 2 silver dollars,

 

I am going to wait 2 years with the silver dollars before I move them

I don't think we getting through to you. Your fish are getting ill because you are keeping them in improper conditions. If you don't change the situation they are being kept in, they will continue to die on you. Those silver dollars are unlikely to last two years.

As for

Your Oscar aquarium should provide at least 30 gallons of space (about 114 liters) per Oscar, plus any space needed for any other fish. -from fishtankguide.net

If you google, most sites will quote a 55 gallon minimum. Doing extensive research instead of going by the lowest minimum you can find helps in not ending up with dead fish.
(55 gallons)
Astronotus ocellatus – Oscar (Lobotes ocellatus, Astronotus orbiculatus) (5ft length minimum)
Even wikihow dictates 55 gallons How to Care for an Oscar

Plus what did you have planned for the "any space needed for any other fish." part? Your tank is already full.

 

According to aquaadvisor(which tends to be very conservative) your tank is 365% overstocked.

Fishtankguide.net is full of balogney apparently.

 

According to aquaadvisor(which tends to be very conservative) your tank is 365% overstocked.

No. subtract the dead. its only like 178% ima get banned for this

 

I took picture from a chromebook I know picture is bad

 

Do you have a way to test your water parameters Gabe? This is a good start to getting things under control.
Thanks for trying to take photo's we will have to do the best we can with them..

 

I'm starting to feel like this thread is trolling. If not, please excuse my rude comment.

 

my 1.2 foot long pleco, 2 clown loaches, 14 neon tetras, 2 max size quarry catfish, 1 raphael catfish,

 

I agree with you it does sound like I am trolling but I not and I can only check water parameters in my local pet store

The aquarium was used when I bought it from a family member and the pleco was bought with the fish tank and I was told that it was 55 gallons

 

Unfortunately, the aquarium does not expand with fish added.

 

Ok slow down. You have a 38-gallon tank with what fish still alive?

 

sadly

 

Gabe, what fish are still alive?

 

I have 2 angelfish, 2 giant danios, 1 kuhlI loach, 1 golden kuhlI loach, 1 lace catfish, 4 skirt tetras, 2 silver dollars,

 

Ok. How big are the silver dollars and angels? About how long, from nose to caudal fin?

 

You had a foot long Common Pleco in a 38 gallon...my dear that is abuse. We want to help you, but you have to change the way you keep fish starting right now! We want you to be successful and have healthy striving fish. Of course the person who sold you the Pleco is also at fault. Please read and research before you buy.

 

I agree. For now, let's help Gabe keep his current fish alive. Sorry, but I doubt many(if any) will survive this ordeal.

 

1 angel 2.5 inches other 1 inch, SD 4 inches and other 3 inches

 

Good. They are still small. What condition is the pleco in?

 

oh aquanerd14 your helpfulness keeps my soul alive

 

I bought I columbian shark but it was too late before I found out it need brackish water

 

Gabe, stay on topic man. That is unfortunate about the shark, but right now I need to know what condition the pleco is in.