day 1 of breeding siamese...

I going to try a new culture to see how I get on I think

Go for it. Takes practice!

It certainly does lol

what temp is your main tank debs

76 why?

Just wondered as if it was higher it could have accelerated the disease that's all

Ah see your point. No not that high really. Fry tank way higher but not main tank

That's good just trying to rule everything out

Could the difference be the filter? Know mine is different than yours do could it be that? Sand substrate maybe?

Really don't know I am totally at a loss as you are doing the same as us and we haven't had any more losses fingers crossed that is, did you try turning up the filtration on the filter and the air pump?

sand has got nothing to do with it are you definately sure you do not have carbon or charcoal in your external filter as that would reduce the treatment action that is all i can think of as i did have in my external but i took that out before i medicated the tank worth a check
ps its not the round black plastic bio balls that come with the tank they are fine it could be a black carbon sponge they come with external filters if there is one in there you will need to take it out out google your filter model and it will tell you if there was one with it or it will say on the box if you still have it as that is probably it

The filter is def ceramic ball type and is able for 300l
Tank is 175l


Both filter & airstones running at max. Lowered water level a bit as helps filter add more air than if running underwater
Am out of ideas now.
Planting maybe? Can't see it but that & the bog wood is only thing not looked at. & sand. Can replace it surely that would cause more stress to fish.
2 air stones filter on full. 2x light bulbs diff types.
I have molly fry in there. So far not one loss on them. They barely 1cm in size and thriving.

Filter is on so high I have sand build up all over even on heater! Plants have a coating of it!
Can see it floating on the water. Sure I need it on this high?!?

No you don't need it on that high what is the name and model of your external filter?

Fluval aqua stop 305??
Got the manual but covers 4 models

Do you have any sponges in it? what do you have in the three trays inside if you know off hand?

No idea to be honest. Slim chance could have carbon in but guy we bought off said not. Trying to google but not much out there I understand

You may have carbon in it you should really check as this would be neutralising your treatment?

erm this really might sound stupid but how would i know?
this is the first time i had an external filter and i left it to my technically minded hubby to set up and has worked great no probs.
what am i looking for?
not a clue with external filters but i think you are right and this could be the issue.

You need to open the filter up and it has three trays inside one will have the balls in pardon the pun and the other two should have either carbon or hex nodes and it would also have sponges in, the carbon would look like a little bag of black stuff or a black sponge

If you need any help just let us know and we will go through it stage by stage with you

so do i just need to replace the carbon? and then put back in after treatment succeeds? do i use the old or use a new one?
they guy we bought off said it had ceramic balls and we didnt need to do anything other than replace balls in approx 2yrs time.
concerned now as he said nothing about carbon etc.have asked hubby and he sounds lost too so likely to need help with this.
knew i should have stuck with what i knw ie internal filter!
my own stupid fault for not checking i guess.
help will be much appreciated as we have never dealt with external filter yet.
thanks xxx

You don't need to replace it if it has carbon in there is no point in putting the treatments in as it will just neutralise the treatment, when your husband set up the filter did he just put in the ceramic balls or can he remember if he put anything else in?

Carbon should look like this

Whatever you do don't replace all the ceramic balls at once as these hold your bacteria and if you replace all of them you will end up with new tank syndrome and have to start from scratch.

When we got it it was fresh from another tank set up. Guy said don't leave too long as its good to go. There was no reason to take it apart.
From what we have learnt we are going to take it apart tomorrow
Any carbon filter will be removed and hopefully we will be able to set back up again without filter

An kicking myself at mo as never occurred to either of us that had carbon in. New to external filters & seller said we had nothing to deal with as balls would run for years.
Looks likely carbon been neutralising medication,
My fault fish still dying as should have researched ext filters more. Left it to hubby who is not fishy sort.
Am a fool for that
thanks for the help guys. sorry mistake is all mine x

Apparently the filter comes with three boxes of carbon little brick things sorry best thing I can think of trying to explain it, so it will probably actually have carbon in it if you haven't taken it apart if you get stuck tomorrow taking it apart and putting it back together let me know and we will walk you through it and once it's taken out start the treatment again from scratch if that is what the problem is.