Dead fish in the aquarium? It's probably the new tank syndrome
Fish fatalities in a tank that is less than two months old are usually attributed to the new tank syndrome; the explanation is often generic and the losses may be the result of several factors. However, majority of the fish tank owners who encounter dead fish in their tank blame the disorder for this issue.
The causes of new tank syndrome
While the actual cause of death may vary from poisoning to stocking problems, improper water conditions or disease, the root causes of all these issues are:
Excessive ammonia in the water which is the result of an ineffective biological filter
Poor tank maintenance and care.
Why does the level of ammonia in the water get dangerously high?
A new biological filter is not capable of handling the waste from the fishes; this means that there is no disposal system in the tank and the fishes are swimming in contaminated water which can be stressful. The risk of new tank syndrome can eliminated by proper tank cycling. Through this process, you allow bacterial cultures to populate the biological filter, preparing them to handle the waste from the fishes in the tank. These bacteria process the ammonia into nitrate which is simply purged out with every water change.
The impact of elevated levels of ammonia on the health of the fishes
The higher the level of ammonia in the water the lower will be the oxygen levels, this makes it harder for the fish to breathe and can even cause blindness.
The resultant stress makes the fishes susceptible to scores of other ailments.
The issue is compounded by over feeding which is not unusual for a new fish tank owner; however, this adds to the water contamination.
Simple tips to prevent the new tank syndrome
Understand that cycling can help; the process takes 6 to 8 weeks in which time the bacterial culture in the biological filter is ready to process the waste.
Keep the population in the tank to a bare minimum till the aquarium is cycled; this will help you to ensure the well being of your pets.
Depending on the level of ammonia in the water and the bacteria in the filter, extra water changes may be needed to get rid of the excess waste.
Keeping fish is no different from any other pet; it takes hard work and diligence to enjoy the company of these lovely creatures. So, make sure that you understand what the task entails before purchasing the fish
Be diligent and very careful with tank maintenance.
Do not over-feed the fishes. If the food is not gobbled up within two minutes of putting it in the water, you are giving them too much to eat.
These tips are deceptively simple yet they are remarkably effective in eliminating the risk of new tank syndrome
Chemicals will not come to your rescue here
A lot of people believe that adding chemicals to the tank will solve their problems; actually, this just compounds the issue as the harsh chemicals negatively impact the bacterial colonies in the filter. Chemical compounds deplete the water of ammonia which is food to the microorganisms in the filter; they starve and die which renders the cycling process futile.
So, never use ammonia removers in the water; once used, it will take several months for the proper tank conditioning to return. A lot of pet shops also recommend the addition of bacteria boosters which are supposed to miraculously increase the potency of the biological filter. However, this technique is highly unreliable.
The simplest and the safest way to cycle a tank and create a healthy environment for your fish is to do things the natural way. Just be patient and keep up with the extra water changes and very soon the tank will be perfect for your new pets.