Chemical problems

[bluepacific]

From what I've read on this forum, it appears a lot of people (myself included) have had their fish die by the addition of certain chemical items.

Me personally, would like to ask for help on this. I think people's past experiences with certain additives can help us learn and therefore save some of our fish!

Recently I added "cycle" and "waste control" based on a recommendation from one of the guys at the shop I go to. He explained to me why, and I mentioned that I had the aquarium water tested prior to buying any fish and found that everything was 100% fine. He said that this would add enzymes or bacteria to my water which weren't there yet. He said by adding one, the ammonia would go way up, but if you added the other, it would balance out the ammonia and not cause a problem.
I also bought an insert for my filter that is supposed to remove ammonia and put that in as well.
The directions on the bottles for the cycle and waste control said to use once each week, but the man at the shop said to use it DAILY for one week.
I added it ONCE ONLY and that same day I had also gotten a molly that was terrorizing a few fish in my tank. One I know for sure, because I saw him eating his tail, but I noticed my guppies had changed colour a bit (after the chemicals were added) and all 3 of them died... as well as a platty, and one other balloon molly.
Was it the chemicals? They were added about 5 days ago and not since... and each day one fish died off. Today I moved the molly in with my betta, Omelette in the 10 gallon where he couldn't harrass anything that couldn't stand up to him.
Now I'm going to monitor what happens.

If anyone has used any of these chemicals or has had experiences with these balloon mollies terrorizing other fish, could you let me know? My two other balloon mollies (and even the one that died) were all nice, peaceful fish. This black one though, was right mean.

Thanks for your help!


Hmm, in hindsight, maybe I should have this moved into the Tropical Fish Emergencies section??

 

[Tanked]

I don't know about waste control but I have had great results with cycle. It really jump started the tank cycling. used weekly not daily

 

[playfulalliecat]

I have never used waste control but have used StressZyme which I would think is similar to cycle. I truly do not think any of these are of any real use. I have my doubts about bacteria being enclosed in a bottle and surviving to do its job in a new tank. Bacterias like all living things need food and air of some type to breathe. Anyway, I think cycling a tank is best done by using gravel, filter sponge, water, etc from existing set up or if that isn't possible with a feeder goldfish or feeder guppy. You don't pay a lot for them and the tank will be cycled naturally in that. IMO natural rather than chemical is best in fish keeping. Too many chemicals can be dangerous as too many of us have learned the hard way.

 

[Jamnog]

i cant help thinking that the guys in shops all over the world are doing a number on allot of us poor fish keepers. i started keeping fish when i was about 12 or 13 i kept them till i was about 17 then i had a gap untill now but i learned enough from magazine articals and friends who kept fish to know that the chemicals are not needed unless there is a given problem say the water in your aria is hard or you nitice that your fish die. mine dont tend to die without good reason i allmost allways know why they die its mostly because of disease that a fish has braught in or because of some shock. bullieing e.t.c. allthough water chemistry is important esp when choosing fish its not that important more probably for the sorts of fish that are difficult