Whats Goin on?

[LadyHatred]

I wish there was an "answer" but, I'm almost certain there is not.

Seems my fish world is crashing. And hard.

My oldest tank, my biggest tank and my smallest tank all seem to have issues! And the longer I wait, the worse it gets.

A short (ish) breakdown:

Oldest tank (6 months) keeps getting ilnesses I've never seen. Successfully treated ich, planeria (ugly little white wormy things) and diatom invasion. The one fish I suspected of having ich again developed popeye, from what I could tell, and didn't make it. This tank has also killed all of its inmates in one day.

My biggest tank (4 months) is...odd...to say the least. Tetras are vanishing or dieing. Diatoms -and- green algae have set up shop and don't look like they are going to leave anytime soon. Went through 3 heaters. One acts like a flame-thrower, one won't stay at any given temp setting and one wont heat at all.

My newest tank (3 to 4 weeks, cycled with old media and fish) has just killed my betta. The 5 or so fry in the red-neck breeder net* in there will most likely die as well.

This all sounds as though I am blaming the actual tanks for the issues they have. And I am! But I know it is all me. I just don't know why or how or what I am doing wrong. I know there is no simple answer and this all just might be a way for me to vent.

Does this happen to everyone? Or am I just not meant to keep fish?

*red-neck breeder net = popcicle sticks siliconed into a cube with nylon over all but the top lol

[Lady Hobbs]

Nearly all problems with fish can be eliminated if they have regular weekly water changes. I never do less than 50% and am almost shocked when I loose a fish. You should very, very seldom loose fish if they are cared for correctly.

[robnepper]

I have to agree. I only have problems when my waterchanges ( or other husbandry tasks) get sloppy.

[Taurus]

FWIW, with regular filter and tank maintenance along with water changes, parasites or disease have not been an issue with tanks. :22:

[Northernguy]

How do you refill you tanks after a w/c?
Are your buckets used for anything else?
Is there any aerosol sprays used in your house?
A lot of different things can kill fish!Just curious!

[Cameron]

Could it be Old Tank Syndrome from refilling with tap water and high levels of minerals and stuff??

[sid101]

If all your tanks are having problems as i see it there could be a couple of things that could be wrong.

Assuming you do water changes at least every other week and keep a close look at your parameters:

Could be enviromental both yours and the fish. check the water you are using to fill the tanks, im guesing tap water so ask your local store about the water quality were you live, there can also be a chemical thats being released arround your house or inside it that is getting into the tanks and causing problems. be aware of spray use in your house or pesticides used in your back yard or any backyard arround your place of living.

How old are your tanks? may be old tank sindrome.

[LadyHatred]

Well, seems as though there is some interest in sorting out my tank issues. You have no idea how good this makes me feel!

Water changes; Once a week. Religously. Longest I've let them go was near two weeks as I injured my shoulder and had absolutely no way of doing it.The very minimum of 30% is taken from each tank via gravel vac. I use buckets. Brand new(well, they were.), never used for anything but my tanks, washed out in hot water after every tank. I use API Stress Coat+ in every bucket of water I replace. Replacement water is well water. Tested the tap water uhmm...a month ago. As I recall, there was nothing striking about the test results. It does however, have an odd tint to it.

Filters; Swished around (no more squeezin till their squeeky clean!) in tank water taked during w/c. They're all AquaClear of different sizes. Running stock media; Sponge, Activated Carbon and Bio-something-or-other. They look like little bits of chalk.

TAURUS: What does FWIW mean? o.O

NORTHERNGUY: I use no aresol in my home or outside. If the need arises and I desire scent, I use oil warmers. Like uhmm....those ones that plug into an outlet.

TRIGUN10343: My tanks are quite new....their all cycled but still new; the oldest is 6 months. There could and probably is a higher concentration of minerals in my water as it is not treated. It is well water. ALL of the pipes were changed from copper to pvc around 8 years ago.

SID101: You have caught my attention with regards to pesticides. I know that I sprayed my lower deck with Round-Up this past weekend. This deck is quite a aways from my well and has not a snow ball's chance in Hell of getting into it. However, there are 3 houses above and kinda surounding my property. We all pretty much live on the side of a mountain. Perhaps if they too used some type of pesticide and it has drained off into my water-source.....how would I go about testing for this?

I think I have covered everything. Perhaps I should do 2 pwc's...dunno. I try my best with these tanks but, I fear my best may not be enough.

[Gemini]

Wow what a bunch of issues! Sorry to hear your having such problems!
Could anything get in your well? Do you speak to your neighbours - can you ask them about sprays? Is there anyone else in the house who may be spraying or anything?
FWIW means For what its worth

[Cameron]

FWIW is an acronym, For What It's Worth :11:

EDIT: Crap Gemini beat me...

[sid101]

Hmm your well water kinda caught my eye, there may be a certain amount of minerals,(or any other stuff) in it that even if not cause any harm to you may cause problems to your fish, i would sugest RO (reverse osmosis) water or mineral water for your water changes for a month or so and check if anything changes in your tanks. since you have a shoulder injury maybe it's time to buy a pump so it would be easier on you.

I would sugest to you to remove the activated carbon from your filters, if you have to medicate they absorb much of the medicine and hide odors and other symptoms that something is not well with the aquarium instead of fixing it so you end up with an aquarium that look well but it's rotting on the inside.

I really wish you can solve these issues you are having.