TRAGEDY – HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN ??

[aquaremo]

also they proly died because they were all packed in a small arse tank

I agree the tank is not big enough for all those fishes.

But that can never be taken as a reason for their immediate deaths.

However, thanks.

I believe you taking out the stones and then adding sand affected the water's parameters a lot. It was alright to remove the stones, but adding the sand as a replacement while coming from a different tank introduced new bacteria. The sand was "conditioned" for the fish and set up of the 40g. It would be like adding too much fish at one time and the sudden change in bioload would cause the tank to "crash." Your idea might have worked if the fish wasn't present for the water to stabilize...


He was adding it into the 100g, not into the 40g. The fish were in the 100g.

Of course there is. Why do you think tanks need to be cycled? So that beneficial bacteria develops for the fish. Sure, the hardy fish may survive, but your fish are anything but.

Your tank MIGHT have been alright if your filter was running, since the media on your filter carries those beneficial bacteria as well. When the filter stopped with the new substrate on there, it was like the tank was being cycled again.

I suppose, you are perfectly right over here. Thanks a lot for my query.

My MISTAKE : I made the Bacteria in the tank to a very low level by 1.) taking out all the stones in there at once and 2.) switching off the filter.
I think I should have removed the stones slowly, not at one go, and I should have added the sand also when there was much bacteria in there.

However, never thought so much..

Nywy, even though lost my precious fishes, I always admired, learnt a very nice lesson from this that, BACTERIA are realllly important for their sustainance.
However, would take more care about this the next time I get an AROWANA.

Just one more query, does this substrate have anything at all to do with the pH of the Water, as my LFS says.

 

[Mr. Rain Cloud]

I agree the tank is not big enough for all those fishes.

But that can never be taken as a reason for their immediate deaths.

However, thanks.













I suppose, you are perfectly right over here. Thanks a lot for my query.

My MISTAKE : I made the Bacteria in the tank to a very low level by 1.) taking out all the stones in there at once and 2.) switching off the filter.
I think I should have removed the stones slowly, not at one go, and I should have added the sand also when there was much bacteria in there.

However, never thought so much..

Nywy, even though lost my precious fishes, I always admired, learnt a very nice lesson from this that, BACTERIA are realllly important for their sustainance.
However, would take more care about this the next time I get an AROWANA.

Just one more query, does this substrate have anything at all to do with the pH of the Water, as my LFS says.

I edited my last post, I think some of the new input should help you out in the future as well.

I believe that sand can cause a raise in pH. Where as peat lowers the pH.

I'm glad to help. Hopefully it doesn't happen to anyone again. Feel free to ask any questions. I've only been in the hobby for about half a year, but I'll help in any way I can if it's within my knowledge of course. If by chance I am wrong in my advice, feel free to correct my mistake

 

[aclockworkorange]

If by "sea sand" you mean aragonite sand, then that will definitely raise your ph/kh. Part of the issue could have been ph shock to your fish, and ammonia is more toxic at a higher ph so it was a 1-2 punch compounded with screwing up your cycle by the other stuff you did.

 

[aquaremo]

Of course there is. Why do you think tanks need to be cycled? So that beneficial bacteria develops for the fish. Sure, the hardy fish may survive, but your fish are anything but.

Your tank MIGHT have been alright if your filter was running, since the media on your filter carries those beneficial bacteria as well. When the filter stopped with the new substrate on there, it was like the tank was being cycled again(in addition to the outside/foreign bacteria from the other tank). Unfortunately, the internal filter wasn't sufficient enough for that big a tank.

It is more delicate than you think, if you make a big change, you drastically tip off the balance inside the tank.

P.S. I'm not sure if you know about having to stir the sand often, because if you don't stir it up, it builds up gas that is lethal to fish when released.

I edited my last post, I think some of the new input should help you out in the future as well.

I believe that sand can cause a raise in pH. Where as peat lowers the pH.

I'm glad to help. Hopefully it doesn't happen to anyone again. Feel free to ask any questions. I've only been in the hobby for about half a year, but I'll help in any way I can if it's within my knowledge of course. If by chance I am wrong in my advice, feel free to correct my mistake

Thanks for the updated info.

Anyway, you talk like an expert, not like a half year aquarist. I started this hobby much before, i.e. in 2008, its been 3 years now.
But this is the first time, I experienced something like this.
Never gone through a great loss as this.

Lets hope ny1 who plans to change their substrate in the aquarium reads this and gets aware of wot can happen.

nywy thanx man,,,, n keep it up.......

 

[Mr. Rain Cloud]

Thanks for the updated info.

Anyway, you talk like an expert, not like a half year aquarist. I started this hobby much before, i.e. in 2008, its been 3 years now.
But this is the first time, I experienced something like this.
Never gone through a great loss as this.

Lets hope ny1 who plans to change their substrate in the aquarium reads this and gets aware of wot can happen.

nywy thanx man,,,, n keep it up.......

Anytime, hopefully I'll see you post up your new set up as soon as you get back up on your feet.

This won't make you feel better, but it might comfort you a little http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-these-guys.&p=5270681&highlight=#post5270681

Good luck!

 

[jlnguyen74]

A couple of issues:
1) Sea sand raised pH. That could cause shock to arowana and blood parrot, and killed them. Funny thing about flowerhorn, some like high pH
2) You may cross contaminated when you moved sand from one tank to the other tank without washing off debris and waste. To make it worst, you shut down your filter. You took away filtration, while you increased contamination.
3) If you have not turned the filter back on, make sure wash it thoroughly. When you shut down filter for a long time, the bacteria may died off. If you run it, without removed the old water in the filter and wash it off, you may pollute your tank

also they proly died because they were all packed in a small arse tank

Save it! They've been in that tank, not just moved to that tank.

 

[smartlove_518]

just read your thread...i think before you add any fishes to that tank you have to wash the sand once more..i know what sand you are talking about..i have the same thing in my tanks and its perfectly fine..do not add fishes to your tank till your tank is not cycled properly since you have closed all your filters now i suppose..it was a good idea to give the flowerhorn back to the lfs..it was a nice specimen i must say..also get a black or blue Back ground dude, it looks better with the arowana in it..another piece of advice: try not to get fishes in which you have to put dividers because that tank is a little on the smaller side and putting dividers make it even smaller..try to get fishes that will be compatible with each other..

 

[aclockworkorange]

The issue isn't using aragonite sand, it's a SUDDEN change in ph/kh that can stress fish, which will happen if you introduce a large amount of it in a tank with a much lower ph/kh. I use aragonite in all my CA Cichlid tanks.

 

[smartlove_518]

The issue isn't using aragonite sand, it's a SUDDEN change in ph/kh that can stress fish, which will happen if you introduce a large amount of it in a tank with a much lower ph/kh. I use aragonite in all my CA Cichlid tanks.

yes you are right about the ph change...

 

[dzjr1188]

Unfortanly you will never know the full reason for the death of the fish. It could be anyone, compination, or all of what has been said. You could've screwed up your good bacteria when you hanged gravel. Gavel can hold alot of good bacteria or ALOT of waste if not cleaned enough. The tank isnt evn big enough for the arowana alone muchless the combination. And without know what kind of "sand" it is that can alter you PH very quickly, but that would be my last thought. My guess is its alittle bit of changing the rocks to sand and having to small of a tank. How long did you have each fish in that tank?