Comments on: What to Do When There’s a Dead Fish in Your Tank?

By: 10 Reasons Your Fish Keep Dying (& What To Do)

10 Reasons Your Fish Keep Dying (& What To Do) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:59:56 +0000

[…] Depending on your results, you might need to replace some of the tank’s water. Have a look at this guide for more […]

By: Athur

Athur — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:54:23 +0000

In reply to Athur. Now I have figured out how to clean the tank: first remove the dead fish from the tank, then check the filter system. I had to fully equip the tank with a filtration system. strong enough to keep the water clean from the waste produced by dead fish. Water testing is necessary because contaminated water can be the cause of engine stoppage. In addition, partial replacement of contaminated water is also the fastest way to remove contamination in the aquarium.

By: Athur

Athur — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 14:57:43 +0000

Thanks for the article. I am fairly new to the hobby of fish keeping. I was trying to keep a fish in an aquarium. But it doesn’t work well. My fish is dead. This contaminated the water in the tank and would most likely kill the other fish. What should I do?

By: Adele

Adele — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 12:50:46 +0000

Hi all! Advice needed please! I have a beautiful well established Vallisneria that was in a tank where
Fish deaths occurred – age related most likely but sadly didn’t notice until the fish had started decomposing (v large tank and v tiny fish!) I have another tank of healthy Rosy Barbs – how can I ensure the plant is safe to put in the other tank? I’m aware rosy barbs can be plant destructive – but seems a shame to throw away the vallis- any ideas? Also best way of thoroughly cleaning/sterilising sand substrate/tank to reuse?

Bit wary of introducing contamination to healthy tanks/fish!

Many thanks

By: Momchil

Momchil — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 10:03:51 +0000

In reply to Arthur Kraft III.

Hi Arthur,

Perhaps, ask your dad for his reasoning. He may be thinking that the fish would release tons of ammonia, and consequently start a solid Nitrogen cycle? The produced ammonia will result in the growth of ammonia-converting bacteria, so next time you put fish in the tank, they won’t be poisoned by their own waste because the bacteria will transform it into much less harmful Nitrate.

Makes sense?

Best,
Momchil

By: Arthur Kraft III

Arthur Kraft III — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:42:58 +0000

So we are opening a bait shop. My dad went out and bought a lot of minnows. They all died in a matter of hours. He says to leave the dead fish in there to help the tank. Yet every page i have read says remove them because they release ammonia in tank. Who is right?

By: Momchil

Momchil — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 16:24:33 +0000

In reply to Vic.

Hi,

I would recommend also turning the CO2 off for a couple of days. Carbon Dioxide in combination with a bacterial bloom may also be suffocating the fish. It’s worth trying.

A UV sterilizer will clear up the water almost immediately.

Good luck!

By: Vic

Vic — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:48:34 +0000

In reply to Momchil.

Hi Momchil, thanks! i waited it out for a few days and the water has clear up however another 3 of my Ember tetra is dead every other day and the funny thing is they look all okay the day before… My other fishes, school of 8 neon green tetra, 2 oto and 2 pygmy cory not affect so far. Have been testing the water and they are always 0, 0, 10.

My plant no longer pearling meaning the oxygen level is not as rich as before. My CO2 injecting is off 2 hours before lights off. Highly suspecting oxygen level over the night. My Lily pipe is creating alot of water agitation and i believe i should have enough gas exchange. I really thinking to go next step to get UV.

By: Momchil

Momchil — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:31:12 +0000

In reply to Vic.

Hi Vic!

You could wait it out, but do make sure to test ammonia and nitrite while doing so.

Milky water sure means a bacterial bloom, and what you find in your filter likely is an accumulation of bacterial biofilm.

If the water remains cloudy for more than 2 weeks, you could use a UV sterilizer to clear it in no time and get rid of the excess bacteria. The cloudiness is NOT caused by beneficial nitrifiers, but rather heterotrophic bacteria. You could read my article on cloudy aquarium water to learn more: https://aquanswers.com/cloudy-aquarium-water-why-clear/

Seachem Prime is a quick fix, but if you want to promote BB growth, you could use something like API QuickStart or Tetra SafeStart Plus. These are bottled bacteria cultures for aquariums.

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Momchil

By: Vic

Vic — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 01:23:25 +0000

Hi, it has been sometime since I post any questions here. Here one, recently I had to change my canister filter on my well established tank. I did not reuse the old smaller canister
media as I am starting another smaller planted tank. I thought the well established tank should have enough BB as it have alot of plants and I am not over stocking.

However after a couple of days, I woke up to slightly milky water and I did not find any dead fish and other fishes are behaving normal. I know it most probably bacteria bloom so I tested ammonia and it return 0. To be safe I added seachem prime to be safe.

When came back after lunch, I found one of my most hardly fish Ember tetra is dead and I remove it immediately. I did couple water change since 4 day ago this incident happen. I do not find any more dead fish and all is accounted for. I do find the water smelly and my filter keep spitting out white fungus. I also constantly test the water and it is all in the right level. I guess nothing I am do more until it stablelized.

Do you have any better suggestion?