It was going so well

[colinchaffers]

I have had my fish and tank 3+ months now, I have 12 discus of various ages from two different sources. I don't have any bio filters yet, but will get some. The routine that seems to work for my fish is as follows:

1. daily debris removal (2 buckets of water)
2. 30% water change every other day, and check change first filter stage change if necessary
3. weekly deep clean tank (30% change) and all filters cleaned

So far the fish have been healthy and tank looks bright and clean

Feeding is in two ways. 1. Tetra food, which they love 2. a composite of pig hearts, shrimps and garlic, they also loved this too.

About a week ago they stopped liking the composite food, at first they just took longer to eat it and then they rejected altogether.

I few days ago I thought I try some fresh shrimps (which I feed live to my Flowerhorn)

The next day my biggest fish 4 - 5 cm was dead and the tank was cloudy. This fish was the less stressed, meaning he always was the last to hide and the first out after a water change. All the other 12 fish are fine and eating well.

So my thoughts are:

1. Could he died of old age? not likely I think
2. Could the shrimps have killed him? maybe
3. Was something bad in the tank due to the composite food which he ate?
4. Something else?

Any comments would be most welcome

Kind regards

Colin

[Second Hand Pat]

Have you checked your water parameters; ammonia and nitrite? The cloudy water would be a concern for me.
Pat

[colinchaffers]

No I did not, the water was very clear the night before, it was only in the morning it was cloudy or less clear, the other 12 fish looked good, lively and healthy. I had completed a 30% change the day before. Everything is now back to normal by two 30% over two days, but after the first day it was very clear and the other fish happy, it was only the one that died.

[Phillydubs]

Was good left in the tank ? Do you siphon out after. Do you chop and clean the shrimp for them??

How old was the food you made? Was it stored properly and kept fresh ??

[Willie]

The fact of the matter is that discus will die through nothing we have done. Quite often, it's the nicest one.

Your fish look colorful and have their fins fully extended. Your tank looks clean. I think you're doing okay. The only thing I would suggest is that you up the water changes so the young fish can reach their full genetic potential.

Willie

[Kyla]

The fish do appear healthy... but did you say you don't have a filter on the tank?

[Ryan925]

The fish do appear healthy... but did you say you don't have a filter on the tank?

That's what I'm wondering. No bio and 30% every other day?

[Willie]

I see bioballs and floss in the first picture, Willie

[Ryan925]

I see bioballs and floss in the first picture, Willie

The OP says "I don't have any bio filter" hence the question

[colinchaffers]

The debris is removed every day by siphon. I did not chop and clean them as they were quite small and I thought this is what they would be used to in the Amazon (maybe incorrectly). They were mainly fresh (alive) the day before I added them, but I did not freeze them overnight, which was a mistake. Also, although most were alive when I bought them the dead ones might have been around a while. many thanks

[colinchaffers]

Sorry my mistake, I have a bio fliter, but no bio-media its this I need to add, many thanks

[colinchaffers]

Many Thanks all, my learning here is as follows:

1. I need to get more scientific and benchmark the nitrate and other levels in my tank, need to buy some sample strips
2. 30% water change every other day, maybe stretching the water quality, so I will do a 30% every day when I can
3. Need to make sure fresh food is kept safely (make sure its frozen if its not used the same day)
4. Generally doing a good job

[Ryan925]

What size is your tank?

Your anubias look great btw

[colinchaffers]

Its 150 gallons, many thanks

[colinchaffers]

Cheers Wille, that's positive advice

with kind regards

Colin