Massive death toll.

[rocsorcs]

Well, I just lost 3 Clown loaches, an 8" Tiger Shovelnose, 15" Clown Knife, 10" Lima Shovelnose, and probably 20 feeders.


I took a sample of the tank water to the lfs, and was told that my ammonia was off of the chart.


I am in the process of gathering up the necessary items for a wet/dry system, now.


The only thing that was spared was a 9" Wide bar Dat.


I guess you learn something every day.

 

[Bsixxx]

damn man I'm so sorry to hear that

any reason to the cause?

 

[Loubard]

Very sorry to hear this! Luckely the dat survived.

 

[dragonfish]

That sucks. Sorry for your loss.

 

[odalisay]

Well, I just lost 3 Clown loaches, an 8" Tiger Shovelnose, 15" Clown Knife, 10" Lima Shovelnose, and probably 20 feeders.


I took a sample of the tank water to the lfs, and was told that my ammonia was off of the chart.


I am in the process of gathering up the necessary items for a wet/dry system, now.


The only thing that was spared was a 9" Wide bar Dat.


I guess you learn something every day.

Unfortunately this is how I learned about keeping my water params "tight". I guess we all learn the hard way.

 

[Morledzep]

yep, it's tough. that's why my hubby checks the water chemistry at least once a week. he knows i will never forgive him if one of my dudes die.

 

[rocsorcs]

damn man I'm so sorry to hear that

any reason to the cause?

The only thing that we can come up with is that the tank finally got overloaded.

I have been keeping fish for about 6 years, and haven't ever had a problem like this before, so I thought I was doing everything right.
WRONG !!!

When you don't ask for advice, and don't do any research, your fish die.
Maybe not today, but someday, you will have a little fishy holocaust, like I did.

Let me tell you what happened to my tank.
1. I have a tendency to not read directions if it's something I think I can put together without them.
2. Those "hollow" filters that come with your brand new Emperor 400, that you are supposed to fill with stuff to clean your water, yeah, I just threw them away and bought more filter pads to fill the space.
3. I have continuously kept predatory fish, that fill the tank with lots of waste.
4. I have only done 20% water changes once every week, and even then I forget to sometimes.

ALL of this has been going on for 6 years!!!

To be honest with you, I am suprised that any of the fish I have owned have even lived, much less grown to the sizes that they have.

I got alot of advice on the way to properly take care of my fish today. I hope that other people will lay their ego aside for alittle while, and ask questions about how to provide their fish with a situation that they will thrive in, not just survive.

The most horrible thing that has happened in my career of fishkeeping happened today, as I stood there and watched my shovelnose breath his last breath, and know that I couldn't do anything for him. But, on the other hand, the fish that I have left, and the fish that I will buy in the future will be taken care of by someone who has listened to people that know more than he does, and heeds their advice.

 

[toehead11183]

GET YOUR OWN TEST KIT!!!!!!

 

[ewurm]

GET YOUR OWN TEST KIT!!!!!!

I agree, water testing is a fundamental fish keeping duty, as is regular water changes and knowing how your biofilter works.

 

[HunterX]

That is just painful even to contemplate !! Often when you're pushing your luck with water quality one fish will die and his decaying body will set off a cascade effect with a total wipeout. I'm sorry the lesson was so painful my Friend.