I lost 2 clowns last night :(

[fenton06]

I had 5 clown loachs and a parrot cichlid in a 20H. Last night one of my loaches was laying on the gravel and swimming really erratically. I didn't know what to do and I came back a few minutes later and he as stuck on the filter intake not breathing. I was a little disappointed but nothing I could do at that point. Well i went to bed and woke up to my biggest one laying upside down not breathing. They both had full belleid and looked fine!

I did a 25% WC yesterDAY but I wouldn't think that is what is causing the problem. I also have one more clown loach who looks like he hasn't been eating although he is so I don;t know what is the deal there. Does this sound like internal parasites? If so, how can I remove them quickly before any of my other loaches die!

 

[Hao]

sorry for ur loss dunno if its parasite

 

[Mr Pleco]

What was your AMM and PH reading before and after the WC? How long in between WC's..?....City water or well water? ....did you let the water stand for 24 hrs prior or did you do a python style WC.?.. what was the PH of the water your using for a WC....?

 

[fenton06]

pH is 8.2, I go from faucet to tank with a dechlorinator. I tested the water and had an ammonia & nitrite reading so I must be going through a mini cycle I also treated with a half strength dose of jungle parasite clear. I'm going to do a 50% WC tomorrow and treat will a full strength dose. Hopefully the parasites are then gone and my thin one starts eating again!

 

[Mr Pleco]

pH is 8.2, I go from faucet to tank with a dechlorinator. I tested the water and had an ammonia & nitrite reading so I must be going through a mini cycle I also treated with a half strength dose of jungle parasite clear. I'm going to do a 50% WC tomorrow and treat will a full strength dose. Hopefully the parasites are then gone and my thin one starts eating again!

PH is 8.2 from the tap or tank? normally as the tank ages the ph drops, depending on waste, co2, GH and KH levels. the goal should be a stable value..

"Ammonium, NH4+, is less toxic, and is in greater abundance in low pH water.
Ammonia, NH3 is more toxic, and is found in increasing quantity as the pH rises"

"clown loaches are very sensitive towards poor water quality and are usually the first fish that get ill or die if the water quality drops"

 

[fenton06]

Well... did a 505 WC and dosed the full amount... We'll see what happens! I'm planning on a large WC in 2 days... probably between 60-75%

 

[JakeH]

So...is there a big difference in pH between your tank & tap? I have a problem with that & have to dose each WC with "pH Down" before adding it to avoid a big pH swing.
Any idea why you are having a mini-cycle?

 

[ewurm]

Are the loaches skinny?

 

[fenton06]

One of my loaches was skinny but now he's eating and looking a lot better. Everyone made it so WC tonight and a big sign of relief

The pH from the tap is 8.2, I dechlorinate it and then put it in the tank. The mini cycle I think is from one day I decided to wash one of my filters *In old tank water* And I think all the BB fell off... so no more cleaning the filters!

 

[classic-chassis]

I don't know if i'm right, but i watched my big parrot cichlid attack my clown loaches until they died. Other posters are suggesting this might not be the main cause, but watching a BIG parrot ram a little loach for about 2 min while it was stuck in the corner of the tank was enough evidence for me.