random fish death

Question
QUESTION: Dear expert, I have had a fish tank for a few mounths now. I had a problem at first with new tank syndrome. A few fish died but I took care of the problem with cycling fluid. I regularly cycle my tank now and test the water with a home test kit. But in the bast few weeks fish have been passing away. One every few days or so. I don't understand what is killing them. The tank is a community tank and the deaths are not consistent with any one tipe. Any information on this would be very welcome.


ANSWER: Hi Adrien,
Most likely something in the water is killing them. Think very hard and do some investigating. Check for ammonia and nitrites and check your nitrates too. Have any chemicals at any time gotten into your tank? Anything from soap on your hands, aersol sprays, perhaps even incense. Did you make sure to add dechlorinator to your tank at every partial water change? How do you clean your tank?

I hope with these questions we can help narrow down the many possibilities of what may be wrong.

Best of luck!
Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When I change the water I use a half gallon vessel. The dechlorinator that I use, requires a cap full for every ten gallons so for every half gallon I just put in a few drops of dechlorinator. I wonder if I'm not puting enough in.

Answer
Hi!
That is always possible. Water companies are almost constantly changing the amount of chlorine and chloramines they put in the water. So I always tend to rather be safe than sorry. Also another thing having to do with your tap water, is its possible it could even have ammonia in it. This is because ammonia is bonded with chlorine to create chloramine. When water conditioners break the bond, the ammonia is left free in the water. So check for this too. The best solution for a problem like this would be to use a water conditioner that neutralizes ammonia as well as chlorine and chloramines.

Try putting more in definitely. ;)

I wish you the best!
Karen~