Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone,
I'm a newby to this forum,although I've had my aquaponics setup for nearly 2 years now.
It is basic,consisting of a 1000L pond dug out and lined with rubber under a standard.
All has been going well until my 20 silver perch went off their feed about a month ago.
I assumed it was the cold weather,although last year they slowed down but still ate something.
Anyway disaster! I lost the lot over the last 3 days.They were all covered in a white mucous-like slime and their eyes were white.After the first few went I added 3kg cooking salt to the system,but it made no difference.
Has anyone any ideas on what it was that killed them and what could have caused it?
Cheers
One strike

Cooking salt contain anti-caking agents and should not be used in AP.

Pool or sea salt should be used.

Bugger ...

There are a number of conditions which cause fish eyes to go white, or be covered in a white film but one which covers the eyes AND the whole body is a new one for me?

Before doing anything drastic like sterilising your entire system, grab a water sample and get it tested to try and find out what you were dealing with, so then you'll know the best way to attack the precise problem. I'm not too sure who deals with this sort of testing today as it's been along time since I've needed these services, but try Envirolab in Myaree, ARL (Analytical Research Labs) in Welshpool or maybe Connie Martin (the Aquarium Doctor, she's actually a nurse!) in South Perth.

Many of the white-eye/cloudy-eye conditions are caused by parasites, so if this happens again, in addition to the salt I'd also be conducting regular and thorough water changes to see if you can "flush" them out of the system. If things don't make a noticeable improvement in a day or two, you might then have to get kick-ass and introduce something like Melafix (some people have issues with this sort of product, so read some of the threads including http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12813 and make your own decision).

With regard to keeping the plants going until you get things sorted out, when you need to provide ammonia, just add 20mL of Charlie Carp to the 1000L of water to keep the bacteria ticking over their processes.


Scott

Welcome to the forum One Strike and sorry to hear of your losses. Can you think of anything that may have changed recently that brought this on? A system around the 2 year mark would be very stable.

At two years the silvers would have been a good size so maybe a fish overload considering the colder months.
Salting to 1ppt is always a good idea if the fish are entering a stressful time and for silvers, winter is it
Sorry to hear of your loss after so long looking after them

Edit: must test salt levels tomorrow

agree

Hi everyone and many thanks for your sympathy and advice.Yes it was a bit sad to lose them after 2 years.
The only recent change to the system was the addition of a couple of trout I bought from Woodvale Fish and Lily Farm a month or so ago.It did coincide with my silvers going off their feed and swimming around close to the surface (they have always hidden on the bottom of the pond ),but as I said I put this down to the cold weather we've been having in Perth.Perhaps the addition of the trout triggered some reaction?
In fact the trout died first before the larger silvers started to go.
Anyway I will test the water and see where that leads.Also thanks Scott,I will add 20ml Charlie Carp and rest the system till the spring.

Would like to know the outcome of any testing you might do. I've lost most of my trout from there too.

Well the trout probably stressed the silvers and this would lead to them getting diseased. I wouldnt put trout with any other fish because of this, but most natives will live happily together

Ahh, so the trout may have had a disease when you got them

This could be a possibility, we have heard a few negative fish reports lately.

Edgewateraqua -I will post the outcome of any tests etc.
Mantis. - maybe the two little trout stressed out my big silvers,but they didn't seem to interact at all.
Earthbound - can you elaborate on 'negative fish reports'?

There is some discussion of other trout deaths from that supplier on the link below. If I've done it right.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12813&hilit=woodvale&start=30 I

Thanks for that.Sorry for late reply;not much reception in the Kimberly.
Yes the case did sound alarmingly similar to mine.
I have ordered an API water test kit and will test the sample I kept plus do a new test and see what gives.
It is a bit of a coincidence that both of us had healthy populations of silvers and lost them with same symptoms just after getting trout from Woodvale.But as one chap pointed out,wouldn't the Woodvale fish die off too if they were diseased?Its all a mystery at this stage but perhaps the water tests will throw some light on matters.

Sometimes, fish can act as a host for diseases which do not affect them, but infect other populations with which they come in contact. If your SP were stressed/immunally deficient, then it's not hard for them to contract a disease/parasite from another host such as a trout which could have picked up the disease/parasite.

Do a browse of the forum and look for how many people use quarantine tanks to add new fish stock to existing fish stock, to reduce the risk of new infections being introduced into established systems.


Scott