Why are my Aquarium Fish Still Dying?
Reasons for Deaths in a Fish Tank can be a Mystery
Jun 1, 2009
Some aquarium owners, after taking the time to properly establish and maintain a fish tank, and even after taking many precautions to prevent fish deaths, may still experience fish losses in their aquarium. The reasons for this may not always be obvious to the aquarium owner. Here we will look at some of the less common reasons for fish dying in a home aquarium.
Water Changes
Regular water changes are an important part of keeping an aquarium healthy. Changing too much water though, can do more harm than good. When water is removed from a fish tank, beneficial aquarium bacteria are taken with it. If too much water is removed, then too much beneficial bacteria is being removed as well, diminishing the capacity of the biological filtration the water uses to remove harmful waste created by fish.
Except in extreme cases, only about twenty to thirty percent of the water should be removed every three weeks or so. If more frequent water changes are being made, then less should be taken out. For example, if water is changed every week, then a fifteen percent change should be plenty.
Except in the utmost extreme case, the water in a fish tank should never be completely removed.
Filter Media
Carbon inserts in an aquarium filter need to be changed every month, but this is not the case for sponges. Millions of beneficial bacteria inhabit sponges, so changing the sponge and the carbon at the same time may kill off too many of these bacteria.
Stagger the changing of filtration media by a couple of weeks, meaning, change the carbon first, and change the sponge two weeks later.
If your filter does not have separate carbon and sponge filters, then you can add Bio Balls, or cylindrical ceramic tubes to your filter. These items maximize surface area in which beneficial aquarium bacteria can grow, therefore ensuring that there is always a healthy bacterial culture populating your aquarium.
Decorations
Only add ornaments to a fish tank that are intended for aquarium use. Items not intended for aquarium use may be releasing harmful chemicals into the water, killing the fish.
Stones or pieces of wood found outside make bad aquarium additions, as it can be hard to tell where they came from, what could be on them, and what they are leeching into your aquarium water.
Sea shells can be harmful to fresh water fish. As they decompose, they can alter the ph of the aquarium water, causing fresh water fish to die. Leave the shells on the beach.
Anything made out of metal is bad for a fish tank, as water conditioners are meant to neutralize tiny amounts of dissolved metals, not large pieces.
Testing
If fish continue to die, test the water. If you don't have a test kit, most stores that sell fish will test the water for you. Ph, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels can provide clues as to what could be killing fish.
Testing is especially important if the old fish stay alive, but new editions continue to die. What could be happening is that old fish have become acclimated to adverse water conditions over time, but new fish can not handle a sudden change in water quality. A drastically different water chemistry can cause a new fish to go into shock and die.
It is always wise to ask an aquarium fish retailer if the fish you are planning to buy needs any special conditions, such as a higher or lower ph value, a touch of aquarium salt, or no salt at all.
Loosing fish is always disappointing, but fish deaths can be prevented with careful attention to everything that is being done, or added to, an aquarium.
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