Same Isssue Been a while What Now?

luv2fish35 · 11-01-2009, 05:56 PM

Hi guys..
I've not been on in awhile because things had started to settle down with my new tank thanks for all your support and info. But now suddenly my fish are starting to dye again. They aren't showing any signs to me of distress just finding them dead. i've found two of my neon Tetras in the intake of my filter and two mollies just on the bottom of my tank... my guppy finally looks like she gave birth but I only saw one baby and now haven't even seen that one anymore all my other molly babies are gone too. What do you think is going on? I've backed off of my water changes some but i just did one two days ago partial i took a reading and the amonia reading is still saying harmful 1.0-3.0 and the p.h is 8.5 nitratre 0.0 nitrite 0.0 very soft water kh 180 so what is my next step.....

homebunnyj · 11-01-2009, 06:42 PM

Your tank is not cycled. You have ammonia and no nitrates. You are doing something to kill off your bacterial colony.

Do you dechlorinate your water before adding it to the tank?

Do you totally replace filter media or just swish it out? If swishing, do you swish it in used tank water or dechlorinated water, or do you swish it in tap water that has not been treated?

Have you medicated your tank? That can kill the bacteria.

Has your filter media got dried out in some way recently?

Are you scrubbing your tank spotless? scrubbing out the filter box, scrubbing the gravel, the sides of the tank?

You have to do enough of a water change to get the ammonia down below 1.0 to preserve your fish's chances of living. Don't wait.

JRB__ · 11-02-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebunnyj

Your tank is not cycled. You have ammonia and no nitrates. You are doing something to kill off your bacterial colony.............
You have to do enough of a water change to get the ammonia down below 1.0 to preserve your fish's chances of living. Don't wait.

In case you missed that.. Your tank IS NOT!! cycled....still.
I totally agree with Judy and everything she suggested, you MUST be doing something to kill off your beneficial bacteria.
From this point forward you need to think of tap water as a major POISON that should NOT be put into your tank or used on any of your tanks equipment and substrate without first being treated.
Untreated tap water will INSTANTLY undo the entire process of cycling..

Water Change, Water Change & Water Change and Fast if you want your fish to survive.
Note* don't completely empty the tank of water however as this will prolong the process.

Newman · 11-02-2009, 06:22 PM

50% to 60% water changes should be alright. please follow all the above info, and i also agree with your tank not being cycled yet.

luv2fish35 · 11-02-2009, 06:51 PM

yes I have been treating my tap water with a dechlorinator before adding it and i have been cleaning my filter in the tank water only no I havent been medicating my water lately. Maybe I'm not adding enough dechlorinator to the new water? could that be it? I put one cap into a five gallon bucket? I lost another fish tonight

epond83 · 11-02-2009, 06:55 PM

What kind of dechlorinator are you using? they all have different amounts you are suppose to use. Have you tested your tap water to see what you are adding to the tank?

Newman · 11-02-2009, 07:17 PM

each dechlorinator has directions ._.
normally its one to three drops per gallon of water. dose accordingly.

luv2fish35 · 11-02-2009, 07:34 PM

Its called Start Right by Jungle and it says use One cap full to 10 gallons of water so I use about half a capful to a five gallon bucket....Just did another about 50 percent water change and found a very dead decaying neon tetra under some rocks and now my pleco fish is acting very strange guys he is floating and keeps going to the top of the tank and kind of lays on his side I think he's dying...Is he? This is the first that he has acted like this what should I do?

Newman · 11-02-2009, 07:39 PM

Sounds bad, and im sorry you and your fish are having such a bad esperience

hows the temperature fluctuations during and after water changes? try not to put cold or hot water in the tank, as that can shock the fish.

luv2fish35 · 11-02-2009, 08:29 PM

which part sounds bad the brand? or my pleco? I let my water set for a couple days prior to changing out so the temp is room temp and the same as the tank temp so I don't think it is that much of a difference....

11-01-2009, 05:56 PM	#1
luv2fish35 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 47	Same Isssue Been a while What Now? Hi guys.. I've not been on in awhile because things had started to settle down with my new tank thanks for all your support and info. But now suddenly my fish are starting to dye again. They aren't showing any signs to me of distress just finding them dead. i've found two of my neon Tetras in the intake of my filter and two mollies just on the bottom of my tank... my guppy finally looks like she gave birth but I only saw one baby and now haven't even seen that one anymore all my other molly babies are gone too. What do you think is going on? I've backed off of my water changes some but i just did one two days ago partial i took a reading and the amonia reading is still saying harmful 1.0-3.0 and the p.h is 8.5 nitratre 0.0 nitrite 0.0 very soft water kh 180 so what is my next step.....

11-01-2009, 06:42 PM	#2
homebunnyj Super Fish Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,299	Your tank is not cycled. You have ammonia and no nitrates. You are doing something to kill off your bacterial colony. Do you dechlorinate your water before adding it to the tank? Do you totally replace filter media or just swish it out? If swishing, do you swish it in used tank water or dechlorinated water, or do you swish it in tap water that has not been treated? Have you medicated your tank? That can kill the bacteria. Has your filter media got dried out in some way recently? Are you scrubbing your tank spotless? scrubbing out the filter box, scrubbing the gravel, the sides of the tank? You have to do enough of a water change to get the ammonia down below 1.0 to preserve your fish's chances of living. Don't wait. __________________ Judy Down to 3 tanks... from 7!! 29g: 3 goldfish (temporary)... thinking of convicts instead 55g: 12 glowlight tetras, 3 yoyo loaches (planning for another school of tetras, some more yoyo's, and maybe a pair of rams... any suggestions?) 2g: 3 guppies waiting for a bigger home and a few more buddies

11-02-2009, 06:22 PM	#4
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	50% to 60% water changes should be alright. please follow all the above info, and i also agree with your tank not being cycled yet. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

11-02-2009, 07:17 PM	#7
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	each dechlorinator has directions ._. normally its one to three drops per gallon of water. dose accordingly. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 11-02-2009 at 07:38 PM..

11-02-2009, 07:39 PM	#9
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,796	Sounds bad, and im sorry you and your fish are having such a bad esperience hows the temperature fluctuations during and after water changes? try not to put cold or hot water in the tank, as that can shock the fish. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

11-02-2009, 06:51 PM	#5
luv2fish35 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 47	yes I have been treating my tap water with a dechlorinator before adding it and i have been cleaning my filter in the tank water only no I havent been medicating my water lately. Maybe I'm not adding enough dechlorinator to the new water? could that be it? I put one cap into a five gallon bucket? I lost another fish tonight

11-02-2009, 06:55 PM	#6
epond83 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 470	What kind of dechlorinator are you using? they all have different amounts you are suppose to use. Have you tested your tap water to see what you are adding to the tank?

11-02-2009, 07:34 PM	#8
luv2fish35 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 47	Its called Start Right by Jungle and it says use One cap full to 10 gallons of water so I use about half a capful to a five gallon bucket....Just did another about 50 percent water change and found a very dead decaying neon tetra under some rocks and now my pleco fish is acting very strange guys he is floating and keeps going to the top of the tank and kind of lays on his side I think he's dying...Is he? This is the first that he has acted like this what should I do?

11-02-2009, 08:29 PM	#10
luv2fish35 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 47	which part sounds bad the brand? or my pleco? I let my water set for a couple days prior to changing out so the temp is room temp and the same as the tank temp so I don't think it is that much of a difference....