WHY IS MY CICHLID DIEING?

[BarroomHero]

nothing would have caused it to cycle again There was always fish in the tank

Did you add a large amount of fish at once? What size tank? What's the filtration? Whats the stocklist?

And are you sure it was nitrites 10ppm & nitrates 1ppm, not the other way around? That would tend to indicate that the tank is just starting to cycle. If it were the other way around it could indicate that there is insufficient filtration properly handle the bioload.

 

[T-Hbrand]

Like I said tank had been running for a long time I moved the existing 6 or seven fish to another tank and added 10 africans. That was december 8th. I know have 9 africans 8 are different spiceis I onesly dont know what there are specifically and 2 green terrors (Green terrors seem to be doing fine). Its an under ground filter just incase I dont know the right name the water is filtered through the gravel and blown back into the tank. so essentially all teh wast is trapped in the garavel. And the water stats I got were from the pet land guy who I dont trust (He didnt think there was such a thing as FW shrimp not that that matter about water changes ). I am going to make a vegtible concocktion with the medication in it. The one cichlid I was most worried about is actually swiming around now, he still looks like crap though. any way tell me what I'm doing wrong so I can make this work.

 

[BarroomHero]

Like I said tank had been running for a long time I moved the existing 6 or seven fish to another tank and added 10 africans. That was december 8th. I know have 9 africans 8 are different spiceis I onesly dont know what there are specifically and 2 green terrors (Green terrors seem to be doing fine). Its an under ground filter just incase I dont know the right name the water is filtered through the gravel and blown back into the tank. so essentially all teh wast is trapped in the garavel. And the water stats I got were from the pet land guy who I dont trust (He didnt think there was such a thing as FW shrimp not that that matter about water changes ). I am going to make a vegtible concocktion with the medication in it. The one cichlid I was most worried about is actually swiming around now, he still looks like crap though. any way tell me what I'm doing wrong so I can make this work.

I don't know much about under gravel filters, I have always been advised against them, especially with cichlids since they like to dig (I guess when the cichlids dig it uncovers the UGF plate causing it to not work properly). I also dont know that an under gravel filter is sufficient enough to handle the bio load of all the fish. This could be why your water parameters are all screwed up.

 

[T-Hbrand]

My brother had that prob with under ground filters and chichlids. I haven't though.
But you can put that stalk count down one. another one of the africans bit the dust. I think It was a peacock I'm not sure its name was Capt. Highliner

 

[BarroomHero]

My brother had that prob with under ground filters and chichlids. I haven't though.
But you can put that stalk count down one. another one of the africans bit the dust. I think It was a peacock I'm not sure its name was Capt. Highliner

Sorry to hear that. Well there is obviously some problem, the water parameters are pretty bad. My guess is that there isnt enough bio filtration to properly complete the nitrogen cycle, and that is why the nitrites and ammonia are so high.

 

[T-Hbrand]

I did a test with some test stuff lying around and I got that my ammonias were like 3 instead of 8 and my nitrates were less then 5. I'm gonna get that API test kit but I really do think that guy at pet land was wrong.

or maybee I just want him to be wrong? thats possible I suppose

 

[T-Hbrand]

well guys make that another one I found the one that I was most concerned about today dead. His name was Emilio Esteves. I noticed with him before he died It looked like his scales were falling off from white stuff around them. oh and I do also have 6 snails in the tank

 

[T-Hbrand]

thats when he was healthy

 

[freeskier]

your amonia should be 0. do water changes and get a better filter.

 

[knifegill]

The advantages of having a hang-on-back (HOB) filter are worth considering. The media is away from the fish and gravel and can be kept alive without having to worry about over-cleaning the gravel. When you are relying on your gravel to keep the nitrifyers alive, there is a delicate balance waiting to be upset by you or the fish. UGF's are effective and work fine for plenty of situations. But having a box filter of any kind almost guarantees your bacteria will survive, unless you medicate the tank or something.

You said something which indicates you may not understand the nitrogen cycle. You said that, since fish have stayed in the tank, the tank is still cycled. The truth is, an aquarium can be cycled with pure ammonia and no fish. The fish's nitrogenous wastes are what feed your beneficial bacteria, like the pure ammonia would if you were cycling from scratch. My point is, your tank is not cycled if you test positive for any ammonia. To leave the fish in that water is to poison them. Their gills are burning, their slime coats are peeling. Get them out of there or get that water out of there. Either one may save some fish. After this, though, none of those fish will live normal lives. Ammonia poisoning usually scars the gills, making breathing difficult.

I don't mean to scare you, I just want to make it clear that the fish cannot be in that water for another moment.

You say nitrAtes are 5. That is a little lower than normal, except in a heavily planted tank. As your Ammonia turns into nitrIte, then nitrAte, those nitrAte levels will rise sharply. That's where routine water changes come in. 30% weekly is the standard, but it varies by the metabolism of your tank.