Another "away on vacation" threads and came home to this....why?

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we4wieners

we4wieners

Polypterus
MFK Member
Apr 21, 2010
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Atlantic City, N.J.
First I have a 90g and filtered by 2 Rena XP4's. Kept at 78' with no electricity issues in the water at all.
Stocked with:
3 Balzani Gymnogeos 1M 2F
4 Clown Loaches
2 BN Plec's
6 BA Tetras
20 mNeons
1 Short Bodied Texas
I was away for 4 days and my 18 yo son was feeding fish. I came home and looke at the tank...cloudy as all hell. He later told me he fed them everyday, which I think means alot of food everyday....still n o ammonia or nitrate readings. Checked parameters..ph-7, nitrites-0, nitrates-0, amm-0, temp 78'.
So, I did a 50%water change and found the texas and one of the female balzanis dead in the rocks. They were pretty decomposed. Could they have clouded the tank. Why did they die? The F Balzani was being bullied by the male alittle prior to going away. That could of been her demise, but why the SB texas. It was only 3" so pretty young and very timid. So, it wasnt any parameters, or so my tests tell me. Any ideas? I know it could still be a million things. Just wondering if anyone has heard of male balzani's getting a lil territorial. AN if two dea fish for 3 days would cloud a 90g tank like that?
 
Its an API color chart. It was definitely between 0 and 5ppm, without a doubt it was bright yellow.
 
Between 5 and 0 isn't zero. And i'd be willing to bet it wasn't shaked properly If it tested that low. With a tank stocked decently like yours sould be hard to keep <10 ppm, espicially when someone else is feeding for 4 days. Unless it is heavily plantes or has pothos or something similar to keep them down imo. I say retest and post pics
 
There's no way u have 0 ammonia nitrite and nitrate, maybe ur test kits expired, and yes big decaying fish would def cloud the water, pics?

Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
Been using API taest for 15 yrs and they have all been tested the same way and am very familiar with them. In fact, I also use them in my marine system for precursor parametric checks. I know they wont show me exact numbers. However, they will lead me to a clue. Yes, I do have plants. It is possible the test is no longer any good. Yes, my ammonia is ALWAYS at 0. I have never had ammonia readings in my tanks . If I have, they definitely were not traceable. As for "there is no way to have 0 ammonia and nitrites", cmon seriously! Planted tanks are zeroed across the board. . Either way, gonna grab another API No3 kit tonight. Ive never experienced losing a fish and it remaining in the tank.
 
we4wieners said:
Been using API taest for 15 yrs and they have all been tested the same way and am very familiar with them. In fact, I also use them in my marine system for precursor parametric checks. I know they wont show me exact numbers. However, they will lead me to a clue. Yes, I do have plants. It is possible the test is no longer any good. Yes, my ammonia is ALWAYS at 0. I have never had ammonia readings in my tanks . If I have, they definitely were not traceable. As for "there is no way to have 0 ammonia and nitrites", cmon seriously! Planted tanks are zeroed across the board. . Either way, gonna grab another API No3 kit tonight. Ive never experienced losing a fish and it remaining in the tank.
Click to expand...

I said no way to have 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates if u say ur tank is cycled, read up on the nitrogen cycle of a tank that should help.

Any tank that's cycled will show nitrates and a tank that doesn't ISN'T cycled, therefore a reasonable explanation for your recent deaths.

The fact that u rely on a marine test kit for ur fw tank explains a lot


Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
Ive been in the hobby for well over 15 years. Thanks for the info on the nitrogen cycle I never heard of that before. I will consider your advice to be the most valuable thanks F1 VET. Apparently there is a reading defficiency.........where was it written any individual relies on API for marine tests? Not sure if you could put together "PRESURSOR PARAMETRIC CHECKS". If necessary, I used Salifert then all Hanna testing equipment with current reagents. Well said though, point taken!
 
Just be glad you got off lightly, could have came home to everything dead. I did this with a marine fish only tank, came home to a tank filled with decomposing orange sludge that stank out the entire house. had to empty the tank entirely and disinfect it before converting it back to freshwater.
 
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