3 Fish Died

[Ninjouzata]

Oops, just realized I forgot to put the link in

 There!

How did you cycle the tank? Have you read THIS? How long was the carbon in the tank before you added the medication? I wonder if it took out the meds and so they havn't had a chance to work yet.
 
Of course we want to make sure your fish get through the treatment first but I do think you should know your tank is not suitable longterm for the silver dollars, bala sharks, pictus, and kissing gourami so I would re-home these when everything is better.
 
Which medication are you using? Do you have any pictures of the fishies?

 

 

[gh74]

Am thinking of just giving up on all this,nothing just seems to be working for me or happening,nightmare all this carryon.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Do not give up too easily, its worth finding out whats happening in your tank and then trying to solve the problem.
 
Fishkeeping is one of the most rewarding hobbies to take up on and sometimes in getting started mistakes are made, but its a learning process all the time.
 
By the sounds of thing, am not too sure if your tank is actually cycled or not.

 

[gh74]

I never had the problems like this when i kept tropicals 25 years ago,and back then i never tested water etc and never had any problems,except with aggressive fish that was it.

 

[Ch4rlie]

A lot of things have changed over the last decade or two thats for sure.
 
Not as simple as these days anymore am afraid.
 
So, basically you'll need to read the cycling article and see if you can understand how the tank process works and see what happens in regards to bacterias processing the ammonia and nitrites which is basically what the fish and stocking produces then the bacteria converts that into nitrate, and then we do water changes to lower the nitrate levels.
 
Ammonia, nitrite and nitrates are all toxic to fish in that order, nitrate being least toxic.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/
 
And in order to know whats happening in your tank you will need a liquid based water test kit that measures ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, API FW Master test Kit does the job adequately and not bad value for money.
 
Then take it from there, one step at a time is easiest.

 

[fluttermoth]

Fishkeeping was easier years ago. My personal hypothesis is that there weas a significant amount of nitrifying bacteria in our water supply that negated the need for cycling. Nowadays our water is 'too' clean and cycling and proper water care has become essential.

If these fish went through the cycling process, that may well have compromised their longevity.

Did you do anything at all to cycle the tank and, if so, what?

How big and how often are your water changes?

How do you maintain your filter?

 

[gh74]

i have the master test kit,your rite there that its changed over the years,i really need to get my bigger tank set up,and move the slightly larger fish in to it,i would like to have the blue rams in it aswell but i know they can be a bit aggressive,i would really love different coloured fish in the second tank once set up,but its is finding a good supplier of really great coloured fish as in unique colours etc

I would do a %30 approx wc1-2 times a week then the following week do a %50-70 wc,i maintain the filter when it is needing cleaned etc i would clean it in a bucket of tank water,as i learned the hard way by washing it just under the tap

 

[fluttermoth]

Blue rams aren't that aggressive, for cichlids. They are very exacting when it come to water though; if your water isn't soft, acidic, low in nitrates and kept relatively warm (much warmer than most other tropicals would be happy to live at), they won't do well; even then they might not live for long. They're my absolute favourite fish, and where I live I have perfect water for them, and I still can't keep them alive for more than a few moths. I've given up on them now

I think it's the overuse of hormones, to get them to breed and colour up at an unnaturally young age, that's the problem

 

[gh74]

Oh thats a shame especially if you have perfect water for them,but i agree with the hormone treatment that they give fish is all wrong it might produce great colours and all that but its reducing the live span,so maybe a few we rams might be ok if i have hardy fish in with them etc,i am trying to plan out this bigger tank,would love to do a poly background on it but it takes ages to do,and i like something to be done there and then lol no patience

 

[gh74]

Right i have just tested the nitrate at the tap and have shook the bottles til my arm is numb and at the tap its reading ZERO,so this is why my reading in the tank is ZERO,so is this still suspicious etc