Hi guys, I’ve been having issues with this tank since the summer and haven’t added any new fish since a couple months prior to the start of these issues. I feel awful and would love some help. I can’t euthanize another fish.
The tank was set up at the beginning of the year and slowly stocked with fish who were quarantined before being added. It is a 55 gallon planted tank with 1 angelfish, 1 bristle nose pleco, 6 cories, ~10 assorted tetra, 1 cherry shrimp, and 10-15 platy. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 40-80 (it’s due for a water change). The heater is set to 78 degrees and it has a filter. Water changed weekly/biweekly. I haven’t had any issues with the parameters since the tank has been set up.
The platy were the first fish to be added and the angelfish was the last (to eat any more babies). We started with 3 adult platy, two of which are dead now so most of the fish left are their babies. These two fish who died did not show any symptoms of being sick and died randomly. I don’t think their deaths had anything to do with the issue going on.
During the summer I had one neon tetra, a betta, and a platy all get skinny and die. The betta was first and I didn’t assume parasites. I quarantined and treated for a bacterial infection. When the neon tetra died I wasn’t too worried because neon tetra. When the platy started becoming skinny is when I really started to worry. I treated with PraziPro as instructed. I believe I lost a couple more platy but then the rest of the fish seemed fine. I thought the problem was solved.
In October I noticed some platy had clamped fins. I treated again with PraziPro, which didn’t seem to help. The platy were losing weight and didn’t have much of an appetite. I then tried using Metroplex in both the water and the food. I mixed it with Focus and Garlic guard. The fish who were eating ate the medicated food without a problem. I also treated the water hoping to help any fish that weren’t eating. I’ve been essentially feeding mostly medicated food since early November. I’ve had to euthanize 4 platy who weren’t going to make it. I couldn’t watch them essentially starve to death.
All of the platy who displayed symptoms have passed away, but now I’m noticing one new platy with clamped fins. I included a picture of her. She’s not clamping her fins because I walked up to the tank, but I’ve seen her alone with them clamped.
I can’t lose anymore fish, I feel terrible. I’ve had tanks for 20+ years and have never had this much difficulty figuring out what’s wrong. Aside from the one neon (and betta) that died, none of the other types of fish seem to be affected. Is it possible that they’re just born with some genetic issue? The two adult platy did not seem to die of this disease.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Posted by CeruleanKittyy
7 Comments
You should’t let your rank reach 50 of nitrate or above
Hey! Try treating for bacterial infection
Water change. Parameters are out of wack. With that many fish you should be doing weekly, not biweekly water changes.
Get more plants in there, they can absorb the excess nitrates. All other parameters look good, so I would bombard the tank with tons of plants right away.
What are you feeding them ?
If Nitrates are the cause, try adding some Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) to the tank by letting the roots grow in the water with the plants out of the water. It’s a low maintenance indoor plant that eats up excess nutrients. Floating plants tend to gobble Nitrates as well, such as Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum), Antler Fern (Ceratopteris pteridoides, grows fast and big) and the infamous Duckweed. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is another well – known plant for Nitrate control. Pick it up in a store if you can, I’ve ordered it a number of times online and, in my experience, it doesn’t travel well.
I had a similar issue with guppies once. Ended up being wasting sickness. Idk if those fish can get it but it was a pain. Lost 80% of the colony.