Tank Cycled? Fish Death

125 gallon tank.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate barely 5
PH 8.2
Tank has been set up about 10 weeks. With my levels I thought I was cycled , however just added 8 tiger barbs from reputable LFS and they all died. I guess my first question is with my nitrates still being that low is it possible that my tank isn’t done cycling and would that cause the death of all barbs? Or is it my high PH? There are 6 Cory cats and 2 spotted Raphael’s that seem to be doing fine. Thanks!

 

pH isn't an issue if you acclimated the fish. Your nitrates don't have to be higher than five, but it couldn't hurt to hold off on fish for a while and slowly add species once your nitrates bump up. As long as you have 0 ammonia and nitrites and some nitrates, the tank is most likely cycled.

As for the barbs, did you quarantine before adding them? Not attacking if you didn't. I don't do it myself, but it can be risky. Did you notice any signs of disease when they died?

 

Ph isn't important for freshwater aquariums as long as you keep it constant. Ph starts to be dangerous when the levels go up and down. Another hint, get rid of the raphael cats while they are little. They get too big for your aquarium and no one will take them when they get big.

 

Thanks for the response penguin. I did not quarantine them but have a 20 gallon that I could set up and may start that in future. They did seem to show signs of disease shaking in corner of tank, not darting around like barbs typically do, staying in one spot,eventually looking a little pale, and eventually staying at the top of tank before their demise .

 

Ph isn't important for freshwater aquariums as long as you keep it constant. Ph starts to be dangerous when the levels go up and down. Another hint, get rid of the raphael cats while they are little. They get too big for your aquarium and no one will take them when they get big.

Thanks for the response. Oh really I had one before for about 5 years and never got bigger than about 5 1/2 inches always thought they were interesting to watch. How big do they get?

 

Ph isn't important for freshwater aquariums as long as you keep it constant. Ph starts to be dangerous when the levels go up and down. Another hint, get rid of the raphael cats while they are little. They get too big for your aquarium and no one will take them when they get big.

Thanks for the response penguin. I did not quarantine them but have a 20 gallon that I could set up and may start that in future. They did seem to show signs of disease shaking in corner of tank, not darting around like barbs typically do, staying in one spot,eventually looking a little pale, and eventually staying at the top of tank before their demise .

 

I miss spoke, I was reading too fast and read you had a 25 gallon tank. The raphael will be fine in the 125 gallon.

 

Keep an eye on the other fish for a few weeks and make sure nothing happens. Then you can start adding again

 

Keep an eye on the other fish for a few weeks and make sure nothing happens. Then you can start adding again

Any thoughts on it being a possible disease in my tank based on symptoms? I forgot to mention they all seemed to lose equilibrium as well, and maybe slight red/pink in gill area.

 

I'm not good with diseases. Maybe someone more experienced can help you with a diagnosis. You said parameters were good? Do you have any pictures you can post?

 

Any thoughts on it being a possible disease in my tank based on symptoms? I forgot to mention they all seemed to lose equilibrium as well, and maybe slight red/pink in gill area.

How long was it between the time you put in the new barbs and the time they started dying?

How long between the time that the first fish died and the last fish died?

If it all happened super fast, those fish were sick when you got them.

 

BTW 8.2Ph seems rather High.

I keep mine about 7.4

8.2 is about 7 times as alkaline as 7.4 is.

8.2 would be 10 times as alkaline as 7.2 and 100x as. alkaline in 6.2.

Or conversely . . .

6.2 is 100x as acidic as 8.2,
on the Ph scale.

 

I personally wouldn't mess too much with ph. A stable ph at 8.2 is far better than one that is constantly changing. Fish can adapt fairly well to stable ph, but won't adapt to ph swings.

Is your ph stable? Ph can sometimes swing around a bit in the early stages after cycling

 

. . . Ph can sometimes swing around a bit in the early stages after cycling

Or anytime you stick some new stuff in the tank. Ornaments, plants, food, driftwood . . .