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I've had a few people say recently that they have been losing a lot of fish after water changes in the past few weeks. One shop even said they lost 5 tanks in very short order after one change. Just wondering if other people are having any similar problems with deaths or diseases.

There have been discussion on other postings and in the chat room about the water in AU right now. It seems that because of the phase 3 water restriction you are on, there more chlorine and maybe a bacterial infection even. There was a concern that very shortly you will be moving to phase 4 and who knows what will happen.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

It has also happened in our area of Victoria it was traced to a very possible bacteria problem all the tanks concerned went through a rather large Mini Cycle overnight.

This is one of the reasons I always add a live bacteria at every water change.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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I had not made any connection, but I did recently lose my beautiful female nigerian red. She stopped eating for no reason & I was too slow to medicate & lost her. Then her husband didn't seem his usual self, so I didn't hesitate to medicate & he seems to have fully recovered.

I always add Cycle (beneficial bacteria) at my 50% weekly water change, so maybe that helps. I've added a UV to one tank and plan to add them to my other tanks as well.

If the cause is due to the drought & phase 3 water restrictions, I hope the awful rains NSW is experiencing has at least the benefit of improving our water quality. I heard on tonight's late news that for the 1st time in ten years, the Nepean dam has overflowed into Warragamba dam. Even so, we have a long way to go till were over this drought, but this might be the start.

Cheers
TW

Man, I had no idea things were so difficult down there for you all. Is this a common occurence where you're from? Well, I pray that this improves!

No, I wouldn't call it common, but for the last several years we haven't received our usual amount of rain. Or if we have, it has not been over the catchment area. As at last Thursday, Sydney's main dam was only filled to 36.9% of capacity.

These are Phase 3 water restrictions for Sydney http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/WaterRestrictions/. In a direct contrast, the past week has seen torrential rain & flooding to various parts of NSW and tragically there was even some loss of life. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21912680-1702,00.html


But ScottF, this is still a great place to live and I think this is just part of a cycle. This article seems to think we might be able to hope for the end of this stage of the cycle soon http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21900719-5007200,00.html


Cheers
TW

We've been going through a bit of a dry patch here in Ohio, USA, but nothing like a drought. There have been some minor water restrictions south of where I live but nothing too crazy. I hope that this cycle ends quickly for you al!

its quite common for there to be increased chlorine in the water during the summers regardless of the drought condition, ofcourse its now winter and so there shouldnt have been an increase or decrease in that regard, so i think that maybe there is some other chemical in there causing bacterial loss and a cycle, or perhaps some factor that can stress the fish more directly.

This recent rain would have stirred things up pretty dramatically. I'm just waiting for the big old chlorine dump.

A lot of the betta breeders have taken to aging their water in storage containers and barrels as changing with tapwater (which in some cases needs 3x the quantity of dechlorinator)is almost guaranteeing illness. It seems to work pretty well.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Sounds very like what I have been doing for the least 15+ years. I always store the water in 15lt plastic water containers. With the dechlorinator I put in 10-15ml in each container. Storing has a duel purpose it removes the chlorine and also kills any WS. As well as that I also add to the fish tank a measured amount of Sera Nitrivec this give me a boost of the good bacteria.

Some of the nasties coming through the tap water have actually been killing the bacteria in filters and the tank causing a mini cycle and some thing is also altering the PH.
And we drink the stuff as well as cook with it.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

i thought maybe it was me but i did lose one of my albino cories for no reason whatsoever.. was fine one day ..water change..floating the next. That following morning after that i woke to find one of my danios dead.

---

Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

Hi,
This seems to be a growing problem that folks "Down Under"
have mentioned. In some cases they (the water company)
are adding stronger mixes of Chloramine, and
other chemicals.
In other cases the water contains bacteria and
disease that attacks the fish.

To resolve the problem, I'd store sufficient water for
a water change, a few days ahead of the change. Use
an air stone for circulation, and check with the water
company about what chemicals they are using and adjust
the dosage of water conditioner upward for the increased
chloramine. I would also add a water pump and a UV filter
(sterilizer) to the vat. Set the pump on the floor, and
draw the water out through the UV filter and return it to
the vat. Because the water is clean and clear, you would
not need to filter it before passing it through the UV
filter.
Draw from the bottom and return to the top, or
vice versa so that the filtered water and the air stone
keep the water in storage, active.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

i have noticed increased algae growth in my planted tank but nothing else.....

On our TV news it showed a lot of what looked like brown Algae growing in Sydneys water supply apprently they are going to use some thing to kill that.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

It was probably the bloom associated with the cryptosporidium and giardia outbreak from a few years back if it was broadcast last night. Apparently there are higher than normal levels in the storage dams again, but they aren't getting through the treatment process.

This most likely means that the chlorine levels are going to jump again like they did in 1998. Double or triple that dechlorinator!

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett