What Can I Fix/improve? Loss Of 4 New Fish That Never Adjusted + 1 Now Struggling.

Some never perked up after acclimation, wouldn't eat, isolated themselves, and died. The remaining fish except one seem okay - they're coloring up, eating, playing and swimming together, etc. - so I'm hoping it's not a communicable issue.

Water parameters are good so I'm debating other possibilities like water contamination, transition shock, harmful fungus, undesirable water flow, sick from LFS, etc. I'm basically considering everything in case there's something else I should be doing. Below are the details.

• 10g, fishless cycled, beginning water parameters were 0-0-20 and tank could process 3-4 ppm ammonia in <12 hours.
  
• Water parameters (tested daily) are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5, pH 7.5, GH 7, KH 6, temp 77-78 F. The only change has been decreasing nitrate and perhaps a slight rise in KH. Tank has lots of plants, some root tabs, and gets Seachem Flourish Comprehensive 2-3 drops/day. Tap water is dechlorinated with Seachem Prime and has an initial pH of 8.2 before off-gassing. All fish were drip acclimated for 90-120 mins.
  
• Aquaclear30 filter is now running pretty low; it was set near high in the beginning. I also had a 90 gph canister running on low until yesterday when I found a second dead fish behind it so I removed it just in case. I kept about half its media.

• Day 1: Added 6 embers. 4 schooled tightly and seemed strong, 1 seemed iffy, 1 isolated in a corner and was unresponsive.
  
• Day 2: 6 embers alive but 2 isolating and not eating.
• Day 3: 4 embers alive but skittish, 2 embers dead. Added 8 embers and 6 chilis.
• Day 4: 12 embers and 5 chilis alive, 1 chilI dead. Removed canister filter, reduced HOB flow, raised water level.
  
• Day 5 (today): 12 embers and 4 chilis alive, 1 chilI missing (dead).
  • 1 chilI moved to isolation container due to surface breathing and weak swimming. Pale color. Not sure what to do with him (???)
    
  • Remaining 3 chilis in tank look okay and have developed deep red color.

I see no obvious physical signs of illness but perhaps I don't know what to look for. I thought I saw small white patches (ich?) on one of the embers before he died but couldn't confirm and see nothing on the remaining fish.

If anyone has ideas I welcome them. I just hope the the death wave is over. It's been heartbreaking doing morning counts and coming up short.

P.S. My nerite's been on the submersible heater all day. Perhaps he's trying to off himself too. ops:

 

12 embers and 4 chilies seems like overstocking, but your filtration is good. All you need is that aquaclear 30. They were probably internally injured.

 

Any more feedback, Fishlore folks? I'm out of ideas on what to try next except for just waiting.

I hope this is okay and not a liability to the other fish (?). I sewed an isolation net using plastic craft mesh for the weak chilI rasbora so he could stay in the tank where parameters are controlled. He might be able to squeeze through the holes if he's determined, he's so tiny. I keep thinking he's dead but then he moves around. Of course, if his ailment is contagious this is a bad move. Thoughts? It's this or a bowl right now.

Thanks, Shak's Cichlids. They're so small (and the tank easily handles their bioload) so I'm not worried about overstocking. I suspect they'd actually be a bit happier with a larger crowd, especially the chilis, but that's a consideration for another time.

 

I don't have any answers but send sympathy. Sorry for your losses. I'm not at all and expert but if your water quality is consistently good, sounds like maybe they werent entirely healthy to start?

 

I don't have any answers but send sympathy. Sorry for your losses. I'm not at all and expert but if your water quality is consistently good, sounds like maybe they werent entirely healthy to start?

Thanks. I appreciate it. Every morning I do the "death count" and I dread it. It feels awful.

I know some weren't strong from the beginning. I debated removing them but had hoped they'd gain strength and adjust. The LFS said it's the first time they bought chilis from that particular breeder so that could be a liability too. I just hate the idea that I did something wrong that's harmed them, and I want to correct the error ASAP if it exists or could extend to the remaining fish.

 

Any more feedback, Fishlore folks? I'm out of ideas on what to try next except for just waiting.

I hope this is okay and not a liability to the other fish (?). I sewed an isolation net using plastic craft mesh for the weak chilI rasbora so he could stay in the tank where parameters are controlled. He might be able to squeeze through the holes if he's determined, he's so tiny. I keep thinking he's dead but then he moves around. Of course, if his ailment is contagious this is a bad move. Thoughts? It's this or a bowl right now.

Thanks, Shak's Cichlids. They're so small (and the tank easily handles their bioload) so I'm not worried about overstocking. I suspect they'd actually be a bit happier with a larger crowd, especially the chilis, but that's a consideration for another time.

Thank you! Ok I actually didn't know what chilies were so if they are that small, then you are ok. Also rasboras like relatively dI'm lighting as they live in quiet pools and streams under the rainforest canopy.

 

When I get a new fish I only let the bag float in my tank for 20 mns and then get the fish out and put them in the tank. Since I started using this technique I haven't lost any fish through acclimation. What you want to do is get the fish out of the bag as quick as possible once you open it due to ammonia spike.

 

How did you acclimate them ?

 

When I acclimate, I always put a drop of Prime in the bag to get rid of any ammonia build-up, but I buy from online dealers. Honestly, if OP was buying from a local shop, there shouldn't have been much ammonia in there.

It sounds like you did everything right, OP. Have you bought from this LFS before? They may just have bad stock. Some fish may not survive, regardless of how well you've acclimated them.

 

Also rasboras like relatively dI'm lighting as they live in quiet pools and streams under the rainforest canopy.

I did notice that both varieties appeared more secure with some top cover so I uprooted my chain sword and let it float until I replaced it with water sprite. I'd hoped it would reduce their stress.

When I get a new fish I only let the bag float in my tank for 20 mns and then get the fish out and put them in the tank. Since I started using this technique I haven't lost any fish through acclimation. What you want to do is get the fish out of the bag as quick as possible once you open it due to ammonia spike.

How did you acclimate them ?

I drip acclimated the first batch for 2 hours and the second batch for 90 mins in a 2 gallon bucket, keeping the room as dark and quiet as possible. There was a 0.4 pH gap between my water and the LFS water so I did it slowly, removing half the water when the volume doubled.

Honestly, if OP was buying from a local shop, there shouldn't have been much ammonia in there.

It sounds like you did everything right, OP. Have you bought from this LFS before? They may just have bad stock. Some fish may not survive, regardless of how well you've acclimated them.

The LFS is an hour's drive away but they were in huge bags of water so I don't think ammonia could have spiked in that time. I like the idea of adding a drop of Prime though and will do it next time. I haven't bought from this LFS before so I can't speak to their quality...