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Help!  My Koi and Goldfish are All Dying Right This Minute!

This is, indeed, the scariest moment for a pond keeper.  Don't panic.  To save the fish that have survived thus far you need to have a clear head and do the following:

First Aid Steps:

  1. Test the Water for Ammonia, Nitrites and pH.
  2. Change Out Most of the Water and Don't Forget to Add De-Chlorinator if Necessary

Find the Cause:

Test the water's ammonia, nitrites and pH.  The pH should be between 7.0 and 8.0.  There should be no trace of ammonia or nitrites - that's nitrites with an "i", not nitrates with an "a".

Most the time when all the fish are dying at one time it is a problem with water quality.  If the pH is unusually low and it's early in the morning you may be experiencing a pH crash.  If ammonia or nitrites show a reading of over .5 ppm that is enough to kill the fish, especially if the water is warm.  If it's mid-day in summer and the fish are gasping for air it could be low dissolved oxygen.  If you have just treated the pond with any chemical it could be an overdose or the chemical treatment has zapped all the oxygen out of the water.  If this episode follows a heavy rain it could be something (maybe some sort of weed killer) has been washed into the pond.

There is an outside chance that a virus is killing the fish if all of them are suddenly dying.  Have you added new fish in the last few days?  Did you add fish while the water was cold and the water is just now heating up?  

Choose the ONE statement below that best fits the situation:

Items You Might Need:


Master Liquid
Drop Test Kit

 

   

© copyright, 2008, 2009 PondDoc.com.  Reproduction or use of any content on this website prohibited without written consent from PondDoc.com.  This advice is given free of charge and serves as information only to help you with determining the cause of fish health problems.  The content given is to be used as guidelines only.  By following the guidelines on our website you are agreeing that we will not be held responsible or liable for any losses.  We cannot diagnose your specific case.  We are simply forwarding the benefit of our extensive experience with koi and goldfish health.

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