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Hi, I have a 180 litre tank. tank is at 22 degrees celcius and usually sits at 6.8 ph although I haven't tested it since I returned. Apart from these, I can't give parameters right now because I just got home from a holiday away and only have a few minutes to post this between tired children and tired me.

I posted once before but either forgot to check the box to be notified of threads or something messed up so I couldn't follow up on feedback. Some thought I might have tuberculosis.

All danios and barbs have been wiped out ... in order ... first it was barbs (three varieties) and then giant danios and then zebra danios. I had started to wonder if the two rosy tetras, 4 peppered catfish and one eel tailed catfish were immune, but I got home to Colin my eeltailed cat' very very dead and the other cat's aren't nearly as active as usual.

The thing I am wondering if there is something that can affect fish and plants alike? No matter what I do the plants are slowly rotting away with 'grass' plants and what I believe is Java fern being most resilient but NOT immune. I think whatever this is - t.b. or otherwise, came in on some plants I bought, but the plants weren't stored with fish.

Does this ring any bells for anyone? I can provide parameters later if requested.

Ali

Water parameters will have to be posted including nitrate values so guessing can be limited...

Also, test your tap water for nitrates.

--garyroland.

In addition to what Gary posted, how long were you gone? Was someone else feeding them?

If one fish expired in the tank shortly after you left, it likely created an ammonia spike, which in turn starts to wipe out more fish and cause more ammonia.

When I went away for almost 3 months I had a friend feeding my fish. I returned to find all the fish were (kind of) ok, but virtually every plant was dead. Since then I have lost 3 fish (2 gold barbs and a rosy barb). They just never seemed to fully recover their health.

It seems that while I was away my friend didn't really do any gravel vacs or water changes, or if he did they were rather half-hearted (or perhaps just unskilled - my fault). The fish were alive but not thriving, and I believe the subsequent deaths were a result of this.

Rotting vegetation and stagnant water are horrible conditions for fish to live in, so all I can suggest is paying very close attention to water quality and hygiene for a while. Even if you've been able to let things slide in the past, make sure you are meticulous with your tank maintenance until everything settles down.

By the way, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your fish. For a hobby that's meant to provide a relaxing aquatic environment, it sure can be stressful sometimes. *sigh*

Hiya.

for some reason I am not getting alerted to replies to my posts... anyway.

I wont post the parameters I had since I have been workingon the tank and they don't apply anymore. When I get done with my messing about I will test again.

I wasn't gone long enough to need anyone to do water changes or vac's, and the fish deaths had started before I went.

The fish that died while I was away was scaleless and since then i have found white spot. I went to the lfs and bought the remedy I used to use when I had the problem years ago and commenced treatment.

I have removed all the plants, much to my fishes distress (so i am thinking some plastic plants might help them), I need to get rid of anything possibly contributing to the problem I think.

The lfs (inexperienced) said they had heard from many different sources that this time of year and the type of weather we are having was causing lots of problems for many fish owners...

I'll come back with parameters when I can. I have a school teacher husband and our long break is over christmas, so for some reason that means I have more workload than when he is at school!

Thanks, i really appreciate your help. When I was single and childless, my fish tank was a palace because I had lots of time to spend on it. Now I don't have nearly as much time and I swear that I have ten times the trouble that I had before!!!!