Pleco and frog both died not sure why.

**heyitsmeallen** · 01-09-2013, 04:20 PM

Im running a 50 gallon freshwater tropical setup

6- long fin zebra danios
6- albino cory cats
1- marble anglefish
1- pineapple sword tail
1- Albino rainbow shark
1-Bristle nose pleco added 2 days ago (dead)
1- African Dwarf frog added 2 days ago (dead)

water parameters are
PH- 7.4
A-0ppm
No2-0ppm
No3-10ppm

running a marineland duel bio wheel filter. I changed out the filters inside the same day as I added the fish. not the wheels but the carbon filters. And I added a cave to the tank(washed off) and moved things around some.

temp is at 74.
it looked like the pleco got stuck between a air hose and the wall and drowned.

not sure what happened to the frog. he was just laying on the bottom belly up.'

the weird thing is I got them from 2 different places..

the pleco came from my LFS and the frog from petsmart.

**ScottishFish** · 01-09-2013, 04:32 PM

How highs the 50G? Probably too high for it to swim up and down for air.

**Imma24** · 01-09-2013, 04:36 PM

Did you quarantine them first? Is it possible they were victims of aggression?

**heyitsmeallen** · 01-09-2013, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by andreahp

Did you quarantine them first? Is it possible they were victims of aggression?

I didnt Q them. MY Q tank is messed up. but I have never had a fish die I usually add seachams stability when I dont Q them.
he was the largest in the tank.. so i doubt he was a victim of aggressive behavior.

Originally Posted by ScottishFish

How highs the 50G? Probably too high for it to swim up and down for air.

its 20" I didnt even think of that..

He wasnt really active at all the whole 2 days he was in there.. so maybe he was stressed and died from being to scared to swim around and get air?

**Goes to 11!** · 01-09-2013, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by heyitsmeallen

I didnt Q them. MY Q tank is messed up.

'Messed up', What does that mean?

Any major parameter differences between the shops and you? Can you detail your acclimation process for us?

**Imma24** · 01-09-2013, 04:56 PM

I would agree with Scottishfish about the frog - don't forget those frogs are housed in very small tanks prior to being sold - they aren't fully aquatic - they are like cories in needing to grab air from the surface.

Unfortunately, nothing (including Stability) as far as I know takes the place of keeping a fish in a separate tank when initially brought home. It gives the fish an opportunity to "chill" and for you to make sure it's eating & adjusting. Also, I don't think it matters whether or not it's the largest in the tank, some fish don't care how large the newcomer is and will attack a newbie.

**Cermet** · 01-09-2013, 04:56 PM

More than likely an ammonia spike - esp. frogs are extremely senistive to even very small spikes. Your filter is underrated for that tank and the amount of stocking; just the two bio-wheels alone is too little and the amount of bacteria wasn't large enough to prevent a small spike. The charcoal in the holders is 100% worthless for bio-action and you need to remove the charcoal and stuff those things with fiber floss to add more bacteria growth area asap.

**heyitsmeallen** · 01-09-2013, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Cermet

More than likely an ammonia spike - esp. frogs are extremely senistive to even very small spikes. Your filter is underrated for that tank and the amount of stocking; just the two bio-wheels alone is too little and the amount of bacteria wasn't large enough to prevent a small spike. The charcoal in the holders is 100% worthless for bio-action and you need to remove the charcoal and stuff those things with fiber floss to add more bacteria growth area asap.

why does it say it has a max of an 80 gallon tank.
mine is alittle under 50.

**Limming** · 01-09-2013, 07:02 PM

Its normally best to have double the filtration for your tank size. The filters are rated higher then they really are good for and its best to have more filtration then the tank size.

**Cermet** · 01-09-2013, 07:05 PM

First off, a filter that says 80 gal means its at best good for a 40 gal tank and yours is a 50 gal ... that alone spells trouble. Next, your are using only part of the filter for bio-action which, by the way, is 99% of what a filter needs to be doing. Second, removing the cartridge removed some of the 'good bacteria' - not in the charcoal but on the 'bag' like material that helps to hold the charcoal.

Don't waste your money on those worthless cartridges but take an old one, cut the top to open it, dump out the charcoal, and then stuff it with fiber floss. This will hold a lot of critical bacteria that does all the cleaning for the tank and improve the filters ability to prevent ammonia spikes.