1/3 tank die off need info on water changes

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I

ITHURTZ

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 11, 2007
1,846
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Antioch IL
Well I woke up to find 5 of my fish dead. Its a 6x2x2 tank (150gallons) so I hooked up the hose and drained and filled at the same time for 25min. Then I drained it to about 6" from the bottom and now currently filling it up. NOW the question is, should I do another 50% water change tonight just to make sure? I have prime next to me, (im on well water so no need to add) so should I dose the tank just to give them some extra protection or do another 50% tonight then dose?

Im not sure how my fish maybe being stressed out would cope with that. They all seem fine, but my cats I dont know how they would respond to all these sudden changes.
 
After water changes nitrite 0 and nitrates its yellow, I cant find the card but I am thinking under 5. I hope I didnt crash the tank doing this big water change.
 
No I didnt. 2 days ago it was 0 0 10. The oranda goldfish the past week was bloated on one side, I was told she was egg bound. So I am guessing she died in the night, and I didnt check on any of them until later this afternoon, so she could have been dead for a good 12+hrs. Which triggered other deaths as the water quality went south. My guess anyway
 
I would suggest checking the pH of the water.

I am suspecting 'old tank syndrome' here because it is very unusual for tinfoil barbs to die from a bit of nitrite like that. they are pretty tough fish.

BUT if the pH of the tank is slowly dropping, they can run into problems when it gets 6.0 and below.

it may have seemed like it was overnight, but it may have been a gradual drop that finally hit a critical level and boom. some fish begin to go south.

the other reason I am suspect is that one dead oranda overnight in a tank that size would not cause a sudden spike like that.

in a 10 gallon sure, but not a 180.

I think something else might the cause..

how often are you changing water?
 
I check the ph once in a while, and its always the same as the tap 8.0. What is old tank syndrome?

Ya I was surprised to see all my tins dead as Iv always read they were VERY hardy fish, and that my 2 little catfish which dont like tainted water as of right now are perfectly fine.


I change the water once a week, 50-70% depending how high the nitrates are. They never peak above 40 though. I dont see why the ph would be going down, the only thing I have changed from the other tanks is gravel to sand. Same rocks, driftwood, plants etc.... I guess Ill have to check it mid week and see the results perhaps..

Oh ya I forgot, Friday I did a quick water change as well, something like 25%
 
Ya I am always on top of my water changes. Even if the readings come out normal and I still feel un easy I do a water change in the middle of the week just so I can sleep at night in peace.
 
To compensate for "old tank syndrom" you can always try using mineral blocks sold in pets store (specifically for aquariums) or even an occasional vaction feeder which re-adds calcium to your water to help buffer the PH.

I've never seen an oranda get egg bound before. Reptiles get egg bound becasue there is no place sae to lay their eggs, but an egg scatter like a goldfish shouldn't care. It might have been constipated or had a swim bladder problem. Next time a fish might die, move it to an iso tank and do a salt bath. It might save him and then at least if it does die you won't go through this whole thing again.
 
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