guppy fry deaths and cory gasping at water surface

[wolfie]

This morning we discovered our previously healthy fry had nearly all died. we assumed this was the unfortunate result of using a breeding trap and we have heard one similar story. However upon checking the tank this evening we have now discovered all our guppies hovering at water surface along with one of peppered cory lying on his side at the water surface. Our neons appear fine but pleco and other corys seem to be diving to the surface frequently. We have done water test and they seem to read fine?

ph 6.5 to 7
nitrite 0.3
ammonia 0.25
nitrate 5

checked filter, seems to be fine, numerous healthy plants and aeration via airstone.

juwel 96 tank

3 pepper corys
6 dwarf corys (recent addition)
7 neon tetras
1 ancistras (dwarf pleco)
3 male guppies
6 female guppies
4 or 5 fry (was about 50)

been up and running since 20/5/03

other info...

been treating for gill flukes using waterlife's sterazin treatment (notice flashing by the guppies on leaves/gravel)

noticed what seems to be a film on the water surface and the water slighty cloudier?

no visible signs of disease.

snails in the tank not going to the water surface so concluded that not oxygen starvation.

water changes 10 to 15% every 3 or 4 days since fry arrived 11/07/03

any help greatly recieved!!!!

[FroggyFox]

Hmm...your nitrites and ammonia aren't at 0?? I wonder why that is?

Gasping at the surface would usually be a problem with the 02...but it sounds like you have that under control.

Are there any little kids around? it almost sounds like something got into the tank? Have you sprayed any cleaners or air freshners around?

[valdok]

dead fish put nitrite and ammonia in the water... perhaps that could be the cause of the spikes.

[lizwinz]

cloudy water might be bacterial bloom

gasping at the surface can mean low O2, bad water conditions, or like froggy said toxins that found their way into your tank

your ammonia and nitrite should be 0...but they dont seem high enough to cause that kind of stress

is everyone in the tank accounted for? are the meds safe for snails/ more sensitive fish like cories? dead fish/snails can pollute the tank pretty quickly

sorry to hear things arent going well, keep us posted

--liz

[revfred]

I'd place my bet on bad water conditions. I agree the Am and nitrite readings don't seem they would cause that much problem. Are you running CO2? Might try a 50% water change. For sure check for "bodies" that might be polluting the water. If you are done with the water fluke tx, use some new charcoal to remove the medication. Keep us posted.

[wolfie]

thanks for all the replies, unfortunally lost almost all the fish

down to 1 guppy and fry..1 pleco and three corys

juwel 96 = 96 litre...but more like approx 80 litres

temp is 78/25.5 hard to lower the temp cos the hot weather over here

used bactozym which is supposed to help the production of the help bacteria

just done a 30 % water change even tho the levels test out ok and place the carbon back in...(even had the oxygen tested..was ok?)

filter is the internal that comes with the juwel 96 and have now placed a biofoam filter in the other corner which is circlulating the water now

airstone times three placed in last night

took the water into lfs for a test and advice...

they said the levels were fine? and treat with fungus, finrot and bacteria treatment??? (haven't)

been a steep learning curve for both of us here and unfortunally the fish have paid the price

going to strip down the tank and start afresh? good idea or bad?


thanks again for all the advice

[wolfie]

just been checking replies from another forum...looks like may have over cleaned the filter pads too much and killed off the bacteria!!!!

was replacing the white foam pads every other week and the carbon pad 6 weekly but was washing the other blue pads in the tank change water bucket every other week when the recommended is coarse sponge 6-12 weeks and fine blue 3 - 6 months

killing by kindness??? is it worse than killing by neglect??

well at least have some answer to the problem and losses just wish the fish hadn't been the ones to suffer

[wolfie]

all the tests read zero now and the survivors are back to normal habit/feeding (haven't placed any food in for them tho apart from some for the fry when we can get near him/her)

not running co2 but had healthy plants which have some transfered to another tank

hopefully thro the worse now

[tetra girl]

I think it was the constantly replacing of the foam and washing that has done it. Stick to the recommendations and hopefully you will notice an improvement in your fish. I would add some cycle immediatley to get your bacteria up and running as soon as poss.
Good luck

[beaver8888]

nitirts are very high thats my guess