HELP!! today i lost my black moor, the 5th fish i lost in ONE month. I found before that my nitrate and nitrate was VERY HIGH, and i bought Phos-X, the next day i also bought 2 new fish, to replace the other ones. One of them was the black moor that died today. The other one was a 5 inch goldfish. I noticed tat it has now been getting black spots. 2 days ago they were gray. But now the spots developed all over body, and some cover its entire fin. It is very black. He has clamped fins too. and his fins aree deteorating
Ammonia is zip to .25
Ph is 7.0-7.4
Nitrate??? (DONT HAVE)
Nitrite??? (dont have)

What do you think is wrong, please help me, he is moving, but with clamped fins. and hes turning balck

Until you find the cause of your problems please dont replace any fish that you lose.
The black will be ammonia burns that are healing.

We need to know the rest of the questions in the box above and taking a sample of water to your lfs for the other results.

Isnt phos x a phosphate remover?

In the meantime do a 50% water change and do you have any aquarium salt to hand?

My ammonia was always zip. The only thing that was high was nitrate, and nitrite and i found out only 2 weeks ago.. Phos-X removes phrosphate, Nitrate, and Nitrite. I cant add salt because i heard that if u use an ammonia remover catridge u shouldnt use salt because it "recharges" the cartidge and puits all ammonia back into tank. I put fish in quarentine now, but ill try to add salt too. His fins turned VERY VERY black. it never was black. It just appered within 3 days

If you put your fish in QT, be sure his water is pristine. That will mean performing 100% water changes on a daily basis.

Unless, of course, you have a qt tank that is 100% cycled.


I am not certain that the product Phos-X actually "removes" the nitrIte and the nitrAte. I did some research and can only find that the product 'binds' the nI and nA. Are there directions on it to remove and replace regularly?


You also mention an ammonia remover cartridge? What is the brand / type you are using?


It's possible you are having water quality problems. As sandy suggested, you should get your water checked asap.

Its in quarentine sisnce of today. I use hagen ammonia remover catridges. I had Phos-X for 2 weeks now. It should be removed every 2months.

I personally think that you're better off removing the Nitrites/Nitrates the old fashioned way-with regular weekly water testing/gravel vacs and water changing. I think that too many people depend too much on all these items to take care of their problems.I think you'd be much better off spending your money & getting the rest of your Param testing kits.That way,you know instantly what is going on.
By the way,how long has this tank been set up/How many fish /what size/and how large of tank are we talking here?

Someone else told me itz the UGF w/ the powerfilter. He said i should remove the ugf and that i will find allot, of ummmmm, excrete to put it in a good way. Fish died though Wont replce any because im going to leave for 2 monthz during summer, and i dont want any more to die wen im away. Thz for help.