background Info....Ive had a 55 Gal Aquarium with just a 11" Pleco and 2" corydora for the last 2 years.
Bought 3 Yellow Labs (Electric yellow Cichlids) and have had them in the tank about two weeks. REading up on the new cichlids, i saw they liked lots of rocks and caves, but since I didnt have time to buy and find rocks, I bought small 3 " terracotta pot holders from Home Depot. I boiled the pots for about 5 minutes, removed the price tag stickers and glue residue. about a week ago, I noticed the fish swimming somewhat more erratically, more darting then natural swimming, but they seemed fine, still feeding appearing hungry and still chasing each other here and there.
I tested my water readings to make sure the terracota wasnt knocking levels out of wack. these were the readings I had for 2 days in a row last week and pretty similiar two days ago as well
Water hardness:
GH ppm (mg/L)(General hardness) 170-180
Kh (Carbonate Hardness) 40-50 ( last tested it seemed lower than this though)
Ph 7.0-7.5 range
Nitrite was at 0
Nitrate was about 20 ppm mg/L
Water temp range 76-78 degrees.
I turned on my aquarium and the fish looked fine this morning, just kind of wakign up, as they appear sluggish when the light first comes on.
I just got a call from my girlfriend and said one of the Chiclids is dead and the small corydora is dead. The Pleco has been swimming around more frequently, and taking gulps of air (but he's done this the whole three years Ive had them, just thought it was something he did.
I can't for the life figure out whats wrong...why would fish die so suddenly? Please help!!!
Bought 3 Yellow Labs (Electric yellow Cichlids) and have had them in the tank about two weeks. REading up on the new cichlids, i saw they liked lots of rocks and caves, but since I didnt have time to buy and find rocks, I bought small 3 " terracotta pot holders from Home Depot. I boiled the pots for about 5 minutes, removed the price tag stickers and glue residue. about a week ago, I noticed the fish swimming somewhat more erratically, more darting then natural swimming, but they seemed fine, still feeding appearing hungry and still chasing each other here and there.
I tested my water readings to make sure the terracota wasnt knocking levels out of wack. these were the readings I had for 2 days in a row last week and pretty similiar two days ago as well
Water hardness:
GH ppm (mg/L)(General hardness) 170-180
Kh (Carbonate Hardness) 40-50 ( last tested it seemed lower than this though)
Ph 7.0-7.5 range
Nitrite was at 0
Nitrate was about 20 ppm mg/L
Water temp range 76-78 degrees.
I turned on my aquarium and the fish looked fine this morning, just kind of wakign up, as they appear sluggish when the light first comes on.
I just got a call from my girlfriend and said one of the Chiclids is dead and the small corydora is dead. The Pleco has been swimming around more frequently, and taking gulps of air (but he's done this the whole three years Ive had them, just thought it was something he did.
I can't for the life figure out whats wrong...why would fish die so suddenly? Please help!!!