fisshy
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Background
I have a 30 gallon freshwater tank with a Whisper 90 filter fake plants 1.5" aquarium gravel and 4 (now 3) mature african cyclids and a spotted catfish. The tank is 1.5 yrs old and we do a 20% water change every 1-2 weeks. I use amquel, Novaaqua and aquarium salt in recommended amounts to neutralize Clorimines in the water and replace electrolytes. I also wash out the bio filter weekly in declorinized water.
Since I have established the tank I have never had a cycle problem. My Ammonia and Nitrite Levels have always been 0. Infact they were they were so stable I stopped checking them (yes I realize I would have saved the dead fish if I had been checking.) Bottom line we noticed a slow down in food consumption over the last couple of days and came back today to find one fish dead on the bottom, one having swim bladder problems (it kept floating head up to the top then swimming back down). I immediately took out the test kit and found Ammonia off the scale and Nitrite slightly elevated.
I transferred the sick fish to a hospital tank and did a 50% water change and added Amquel to bindup more of the ammonia. The amquel seems to be interfering with the ammonia test so I don't know how the tank is doing now.
The dead fish showed bleeding in the scales.
The sick fish is showing ratty fins. But seems to be swimming better after an hour in fresh water.
Question:
What could have killed my nitro bacteria?
What do I need to do to re-establish the Cycle with out further death.
What do I need to do to help the remaining fish recover.
Thanks!!