Need advice!? Why do my Red Belly Piranhas keep dying all of a sudden?.

[Mike667]

hi guys,
Newbie here.
I need some help as to why my piranhas keep dying all of a sudden.

I had 5 rbps (2-3inches) in a 60 gallon aquarium
3 filters, 1 ehiem canister 2215 and 2 emperor 400s.

Did a 30 percent water change and on died a day after. A week later, another died. Did another water change and 2 days later another died, I am now down to 2. I have had them over a year, and all of a sudden they are dying on me?

I have always been using safe when doing water changes as well.

 

[tlindsey]

hi guys,
Newbie here.
I need some help as to why my piranhas keep dying all of a sudden.

I had 5 rbps (2-3inches) in a 60 gallon aquarium
3 filters, 1 ehiem canister 2215 and 2 emperor 400s.

Did a 30 percent water change and on died a day after. A week later, another died. Did another water change and 2 days later another died, I am now down to 2. I have had them over a year, and all of a sudden they are dying on me?

I have always been using safe when doing water changes as well.

Welcome aboard

What are the water parameters? Also what were you feeding the RBP's.

 

[Mike667]

Thank you fo the welcome. I did another water change today as another died. So I will measure them tomorrow and get an accurate reading. Or can I do it right away after a water change?
I have always been feeding them fresh/frozen tilapia, haddock or Basa. For some reason, they will not eat meat? Which I found strange? I fed them beef heart a couple of times, but they would not eat it at all?

 

[Mike667]

I did one now.
Nitrate 0 ppm
ph 6.0
Nitrite 0 ppm
Ammonia 8 ppm!

 

[tlindsey]

I did one now.
Nitrate 0 ppm
ph 6.0
Nitrite 0 ppm
Ammonia 8 ppm!

Your aquarium is not cycled you should have a nitrates atleast 5 ppm. Do a large wc to bring down the ammonia. Do not feed until you can get the ammonia level to 0 ppm.

 

[Mike667]

I will start a large water change right now.
Any reason the tank would not be cycled? If I had them over a year?

 

[tlindsey]

Thank you fo the welcome. I did another water change today as another died. So I will measure them tomorrow and get an accurate reading. Or can I do it right away after a water change?
I have always been feeding them fresh/frozen tilapia, haddock or Basa. For some reason, they will not eat meat? Which I found strange? I fed them beef heart a couple of times, but they would not eat it at all?

That's the best foods including pellets never feed meat.

 

[Mike667]

Which pellets would you recommend? And when I get the tank cycled, am I okay to get a couple more? Or just keep the two rbps?

 

[kno4te]

Your aquarium is not cycled you should have a nitrates atleast 5 ppm. Do a large wc to bring down the ammonia. Do not feed until you can get the ammonia level to 0 ppm.

+1 keep doing water changes daily and check ur water daily. Get some established bacteria from a friend. If not water changes and add some bacteria in bottle to catch up.

 

[Mike667]

When it’s cycled, are the 3 filters more than sufficient?