Hello!
This is my first post. I apologize in advance for the length of it!
Just looking to try to determine what happened...
About 4 months ago (Jan/2015), I set up a tank w/ 3 dwarf gouramis. By mid-May, all 3 had taken ill and died within a week of each other.
Fish may have had slight bulges on the side (subtle), but not significant enough for me to be sure.
SYMPTOMS COMMON TO ALL 3: lethargy / labored attempts to swim
UNIQUE SYMPTOMS-
1st Fish: Increased reclusiveness / laying at tank bottom
2nd Fish: Hovering above bottom, but enough strength for bouyancy
3rd Fish: Constant surface oxygen intake
ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES-
1. Bacteria Starter Used a Couple Hrs Before Fish Introduced 4 months prior
2. Aqueon Quietflow 30 Filter w/ Reverse Flow UGF/AquaClear Powerhead and lift tube
3. Tetra Whisper Air Pump (for 20-gal) w/ Air Stone
4. Heater NOT WORKING, tank around 74-76 degrees (thought it was a bad thermometer!)
5. Ammonia at 2.00 (but frequent water changes done & detoxifier used every time) / Ph- Greater than 7.60, Nitrite 0.00, Nitrate 100.00 (or thereabouts). Never tested for Ph/Nitrite/Nitrate until this started happening.
6. Custom Rock Decor Made from Aquarium Shelving (Penn Plax "Tank Terraces"), Krylon Fusion, Natural Stone, and Clear Polyurethane spray paint products (as I saw recommended on aquarium forums as being non-toxic)
7. At No Point, Were Any Fish Floating at the Top
Not sure if this was iridovirus, swim bladder disease, or GENERALLY POOR FISH-KEEPING on my part. I tried so hard, and was so attentive to this tank, but maybe my lack of experience in keeping anything but gold fish got the best of me Everything just suddenly went to hell.
If anyone sees any red flags here, feel free to chime in.
Thank you guys so much!!
This is my first post. I apologize in advance for the length of it!
Just looking to try to determine what happened...
About 4 months ago (Jan/2015), I set up a tank w/ 3 dwarf gouramis. By mid-May, all 3 had taken ill and died within a week of each other.
Fish may have had slight bulges on the side (subtle), but not significant enough for me to be sure.
SYMPTOMS COMMON TO ALL 3: lethargy / labored attempts to swim
UNIQUE SYMPTOMS-
1st Fish: Increased reclusiveness / laying at tank bottom
2nd Fish: Hovering above bottom, but enough strength for bouyancy
3rd Fish: Constant surface oxygen intake
ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES-
1. Bacteria Starter Used a Couple Hrs Before Fish Introduced 4 months prior
2. Aqueon Quietflow 30 Filter w/ Reverse Flow UGF/AquaClear Powerhead and lift tube
3. Tetra Whisper Air Pump (for 20-gal) w/ Air Stone
4. Heater NOT WORKING, tank around 74-76 degrees (thought it was a bad thermometer!)
5. Ammonia at 2.00 (but frequent water changes done & detoxifier used every time) / Ph- Greater than 7.60, Nitrite 0.00, Nitrate 100.00 (or thereabouts). Never tested for Ph/Nitrite/Nitrate until this started happening.
6. Custom Rock Decor Made from Aquarium Shelving (Penn Plax "Tank Terraces"), Krylon Fusion, Natural Stone, and Clear Polyurethane spray paint products (as I saw recommended on aquarium forums as being non-toxic)
7. At No Point, Were Any Fish Floating at the Top
Not sure if this was iridovirus, swim bladder disease, or GENERALLY POOR FISH-KEEPING on my part. I tried so hard, and was so attentive to this tank, but maybe my lack of experience in keeping anything but gold fish got the best of me Everything just suddenly went to hell.
If anyone sees any red flags here, feel free to chime in.
Thank you guys so much!!