Instead of taking out all the fish, you might want to invest in a gravel vacuum..very easy to come by and they're cheap!! Sorry about your losses =(
all my bichirs died
- Thread starter doc_evil212
- Start date
bichirs are pretty hardy fish, its not advisable to move them to another tank when doing water changes, did you put chlorinated water in the 20 gals tank, if so did you place in antichlorine solution before putting in your bichirs?
Don't change your filters at all, just rinse them in water that you've taken out of the aquarium you're working with. If the filters have carbon in them just cut a small hole and dump the carbon out and put the filter back in, you have beneficial bacteria built up in the filter cartridge...
you don't even need to rinse the filter every 2 weeks let alone completely swap them or the media.
This kills all the beneficial bacteria that neutralizes harmful ammonia and nitrite.
You do know the concept behind a filter right? Bacteria thrives in the filter media as oxygenated water flows through it, which creates a nitirfication process, turning ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.
And it is never necessary to remove fish first, simply remove a 3rd of the water, and fill it back up with dechlorinated water.
Rinse the media only when the filter flow visibly drops, and do this in tankwater so as not to kill the bacteria.
And 7 bichirs would end up needing a much bigger tank than 20 gallons.
This kills all the beneficial bacteria that neutralizes harmful ammonia and nitrite.
You do know the concept behind a filter right? Bacteria thrives in the filter media as oxygenated water flows through it, which creates a nitirfication process, turning ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.
And it is never necessary to remove fish first, simply remove a 3rd of the water, and fill it back up with dechlorinated water.
Rinse the media only when the filter flow visibly drops, and do this in tankwater so as not to kill the bacteria.
And 7 bichirs would end up needing a much bigger tank than 20 gallons.
Sorry to hear about your loss. As has already been said, it could have been a number of things that did them in. Removing the fish and then placing them back can be pretty stressful on the fish.
alrighty then,,,then i guess everything that i did was wrong,,,,,damn,,,,i changed alittle more than 50 ,,,,and had transfered them to a 5, for a day,,,,,,and i left one of the old filter units and went out and bought a new one ,,,i started running the tank with two filters,,,one new and the other old,,,,i put in the tank a prefilter sponge along with a power jet head for movement of the water i must sat that the water is crystal,,,,,but still no fish yet,,,,i am trying with two mini blow fish,,,,trail and error,,,befoer i go into my 120 gallon tank,,,,,,,oooo and to who reads this,,,what the hell are agua clear 110's are those the floor filters,,,like the canisters ?,,,,,,but when the tank is ready then,ill purchas some nice ones,,,,and thanks everybody you've all benn a great help to me,,,,,thanks ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I have 11 bichirs of different sizes in different tanks at the moment. They are all very tough fishes, who accept the worst water without problems. Only dangerous thing is low water temperature. If it gets below 15C for longer periode, it can kill them. If I move them from one tank to another, even the tamest bichir will be completely angry, get shy and flee for the next year.
They do not tolerate that. They definitely hate it.
As mentioned above, a 20gallon tank for 7 bichirs, even small ones, is too small. I know, some people have the tendency, to put too many fish into empty tanks, with only few gravel, no plants and a strong filter. This is definitely wrong for bichirs. They need many hiding places, they love dense plants, they like old water and they don't mind dirty ground. In their natural habitat, they don't live in crystalclear mountain rivers. They live in muddy sidearms of big rivers. With muddy and dirty water.
Greatings
Thomas
They do not tolerate that. They definitely hate it.
As mentioned above, a 20gallon tank for 7 bichirs, even small ones, is too small. I know, some people have the tendency, to put too many fish into empty tanks, with only few gravel, no plants and a strong filter. This is definitely wrong for bichirs. They need many hiding places, they love dense plants, they like old water and they don't mind dirty ground. In their natural habitat, they don't live in crystalclear mountain rivers. They live in muddy sidearms of big rivers. With muddy and dirty water.
Greatings
Thomas
Sounds like you havn't got this worked out yet! keep at it and dont be put off, weve all been there! well most of us? and we are here to help 
So sorry to hear this sad news
Never remove youre fish to do a water change!
There's no need, fish jumping and hiding is always better than fish bieng netted and moved!
Never change more than 30% of your aquarium water unless you have a big problem and are advised to be a pro! Always get your fresh water dechloranated and up to temp, ad it as slow as you can stand to! Little and often maintains the best equilibrium.
Never clean your filters unless you notice a drop in thru flow in them. When you do clean them always give them just a little shake in removed aquarium water. all that muck your remove IS your filter! so leave some in! Your fish need it!
Bichers have a great ability of surviving most water conditions due to there ability to breath air from the surface, some species of bicher live in stagnant ponds in the wild so dont worry to much about not getting it right RE: filters and water changes. Keep a check using a amonia test kit etc... Just Dont throw them in lot's of cool tap water!
Keep at it you fishylover!
you will be fine and will have many healthy bicher to come 
