characin tank dead! need help desperately

[xander]

my friend has a characin coomm in a 5x2x2 tank, the fish are mostly 2 yrs old.

gatf-12"
vatf-12"
armatusx2-12"
crystal tetrax2-10"?
tatauia-8"

okay here's what happened.
-bad batch of feeders, all died with cloudy eyes
-did water change
-3 weeks no feeding, no casulties
-then out of no where, all the tetras skin start flaking at the head, gills n tail
-then last week the 2 crystals died
-3 days ago one armatus(the smaller one) died
-recently the tat died
-last armatus looks to be in bad shape.
-just did 80% WC, ammonia is 0
-ATF's are fine.

anyone know what's going on?

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Wow sounds really bad, i dont really have a clue, BUMP for someone that does.

 

[chonhzilla]

Wow what a loss, hope someone can figure this out fast. good luck!

 

[Flash]

Tell him to add salt. Tbsp per 5 gallons.

 

[DB junkie]

Temp? I'de run temp to 86-87 degrees F. Lots of salt. I'de start with 1lb/100 gallons. LOTS of air (bubbles)

I've kept Hydros for years and have never used anything but salt on them......

Is Nitrite 0 too? NOT Nitrate....that's irrelevant right now.

What is the waterchange schedule like?

 

[West1]

That sucks!

Just going off the top..... could he have bad media in his filters (Example-old carbon)?

any gravel? (does he clean the gravel with every water change?)

I have no clue but trying to touch the basics that we (I mean me) overlook at times.......

I agree with salt... and maybe turn off the lights

 

[DB junkie]

We need more info.......Substrate, filters, TEMP, PICS would definetly help.

I allready told you what I'de do if it was mine...... Besides the fact that I'de be doing daily waterchanges.

But I have no clue what you using for filters, what maintainance is like on the tank.....

 

[vamptrev]

unhealthy water conditions. something is wrong. IMO

if all the fish were healthy and there was nothing wrong w the water, all the vamps would be able to fight the diseases from the feeders. IMO

 

[channarox]

unhealthy water conditions. something is wrong. IMO

if all the fish were healthy and there was nothing wrong w the water, all the vamps would be able to fight the diseases from the feeders. IMO

totally agreed.
he has no substrate right?
i'd say continue doing water changes and add salt.
also bump up the temp.
hope that armatus stays alive.
its awesome.
too bad about the other one.

 

[xander]

he did all that but i guess it was all too late. the last armatus passed away last night. remeasuring them, it was

vittatus-15"
goliath-15"
armatus-15.5"
armatus-17"