Too cold? What should I do now?

GrumpySmurf

I have a BYAP's courtyard system that is fully cycled and was doing great, until recently with the cold nights.

I have a 300w aquarium heater, which is running non-stop and chewing up too much energy.

2 weeks ago, 3 remaining 5 inch long Barra I had were found dead over 2 days.

This morning, I found 3 Siler Perch (9 inches) dying.

I will be adding 3 kg of salt now. But what next??

- Should I harvest the remaining 9 SP? If so, what fish should I put into the FT?
- Or should I just keep the heater running and hope the remaining SP survives through winter?

Food&Fish

Harvest the fish turn the heater off and get trout

Charlie

What are your water parameters?

Your perch should be fine but its possible they are dying from something to do with dead barra ...amm spike?

chillidude

Yep, as Charlie says, the SPs should be fine. What he didn't say (as he's being polite) is that trying to keep barra outside at this time of year is never going to work - these fish need water better that 24C !

Have you got a test kit ? You need one as if the SP's are dying, something else is killing them - it's not the temperature

Charlie

chillidude wrote:

What he didn't say (as he's being polite) is that trying to keep barra outside at this time of year is never going to work

GrumpySmurf

Guys, thanks for the quick replies. I am now eating a big slice of the humble pie...

As I have been keeping fish (Aquarium marine, tropicals, Mixed Africans, Tropheus Only etc) for over 10 years, I had felt very competent and confident. I was about to reply that there was no way I had a chemistry issue. I WAS WRONG!

Ammonia and Nitrite had spiked today. More than this fish pond had ever done.

My best guess Mistakes were;
#1: Hoping those few barras would survive as they had been strong
#2: 1 day late in removing a dead barra
#3: Continually feeding the fish pond as the weather cooled
#4: Most of all - being over confident!

I have now changed 50% of the water and will do so again tomorrow. Have also added salt. Hoping the remainder 8 SP (lost 1 more) survives as I can't see being successful in raising trout in time for the hotter season.

BNDYBEAR

The cold alone will not kill your silver perch however when temps are below their prefered limits the smallest problems will cause deaths

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