New sump now fish are sick!

[JRUnyon21]

I used GE Silicone II. 100 % silicone & no antibacterial ingredients that I could see. I was pretty sure on other threads this had been used for aquariums by other people with no problems. I did use the black but again others have used this with no problem. I agree the sump is the only change I've made so something in the new sump is causing it. I am currently doing a 60% water change to see if this will help. Thanks for your ideas.

If you used Bathroom and Kitchen Silicone it has antifungal additives in it. This may be the problem. If you used Window and Door then the Silicone is not the problem.

How old are your water param tests? Could be giving you false readings. Just a thought.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

a 60 percent change may cause as much trouble as solve, do several smaller changes, one in the morning before work one after, 30-40 percent.

 

[knifegill]

Is there still enough aeration going on?

 

[Grover]

If you used Bathroom and Kitchen Silicone it has antifungal additives in it. This may be the problem. If you used Window and Door then the Silicone is not the problem.

It is the Window and Door type.

How old are your water param tests? Could be giving you false readings. Just a thought.

My test kits are fairly new. Less than a year old.

 

[Grover]

a 60 percent change may cause as much trouble as solve, do several smaller changes, one in the morning before work one after, 30-40 percent.

Will do. Thanks.

 

[Grover]

Is there still enough aeration going on?

A little less than before but still lots of surface agitation. The fish don't seem to be labouring to breathe. They are lying on the bottom or clamping their fins tight to their bodies. Also long, stringy white poop. On the plus side so far no casualties but not looking any better this morning. No worse though. Will continue smaller water changes and hope to flush contaminate (if that is the problem) from the water.

 

[geronimo69]

a 60 percent change may cause as much trouble as solve, do several smaller changes, one in the morning before work one after, 30-40 percent.

Why? I say do a 75% change. I don't know why people think big WCs are bad. I do 60-70% weekly on my 55 gal planted tank. The beneficial bacteria in our tanks are on the surface of things (media, gravel, rocks, decorations) and not in the water column. As long as temp and PH are the same, a big water change does only GOOD for your tank and its inhabitants.

As for the aeration comment, I think you're fine. The sump should have plenty of oxygen exchange for this tank.

 

[Jc1119]

Why? I say do a 75% change. I don't know why people think big WCs are bad. I do 60-70% weekly on my 55 gal planted tank. The beneficial bacteria in our tanks are on the surface of things (media, gravel, rocks, decorations) and not in the water column. As long as temp and PH are the same, a big water change does only GOOD for your tank and its inhabitants.

As for the aeration comment, I think you're fine. The sump should have plenty of oxygen exchange for this tank.

I was about to say the same thing. If fish are lying on the bottom they need as much clean water as you can give them. I' ve had similar situations and always performed large scale 75-80%, changes and never lost a fish. If ammonia and nitrate are reading zero, then it's something else in your water and I suspect it has something to do with the silicone used. Gotta get it out.

Pay close attention to the stringy white poop. Could be an internal parasite and is just coincidentally happening at the same time of your sump change. My money is on the silicone, but you may have more than one issue. Medicated food with praziquantel has always worked for me.

 

[Grover]

Thanks guys. Glad to hear you think large water changes are ok. I keep a barrel in my utility room with aged water so the chlorine is gone and temperature is always room temp. This way I can change any percentage easily. I have a pump in it which I use to refill my tank after vacuuming with a Python. The silicone I used was the Window and Door type so it should be ok. 100% silicone and no antifungal stuff. Ever seen problems using new cpvc fittings? No glue used. They are just for structural purposes.

 

[Jc1119]

The poop issue has me thinking it's something else altogether. New fittings should be fine. I'd continue with the wc's and try to get medicated food. Most infections are best treated from the inside out and unless you know for sure what the issue is, dumping meds into the water can overstess already stressed fish and you might not be be treating the right thing. Wc, food and monitor would be what I would do. Good luck!