Help My Guppies Are Dying

[gregswimm]

From all the advice I've ever seen here, water changes need to be done to get the ammonia level down
Ammonia at 2-4 is going to kill the fish if water changes aren't done to get it down

You need to rely on your filter to clean out the ammonia, not water changes. If you don't give the bacteria a chance to do it, the colony may shrink and it will never grow to the size it needs to be to support the fish load.

 

[Fishy friend2]

if we are talking like from 4ppm to 1 ppm then it might become a problem but if its minus 1 ppm or lower then it cant be a problem

 

[Rummynose]

From all the advice I've ever seen here, water changes need to be done to get the ammonia level down
Ammonia at 2-4 is going to kill the fish if water changes aren't done to get it down

You need to rely on your filter to clean out the ammonia, not water changes. If you don't give the bacteria a chance to do it, the colony may shrink and it will never grow to the size it needs to be to support the fish load.

You are misinformed! The bacteria can always adjust to the demand! That's why we can add new fish to an established tank, we just have to watch out for any harmful ammonia spikes! We watch out for the harmful ammonia spikes so we can change the water to reduce the toxins in the water to prevent the fish from suffering or getting sick!

 

[phocoena]

The bacteria can always adjust to the demand! That's why we can add new fish to an established tank, we just have to watch out for any harmful ammonia spikes! We watch out for the harmful ammonia spikes so we can change the water to reduce the toxins in the water to prevent the fish from suffering or getting sick!

+1

 

[Fishy friend2]

From all the advice I've ever seen here, water changes need to be done to get the ammonia level down
Ammonia at 2-4 is going to kill the fish if water changes aren't done to get it down

You need to rely on your filter to clean out the ammonia, not water changes. If you don't give the bacteria a chance to do it, the colony may shrink and it will never grow to the size it needs to be to support the fish load.

really? thats like saying you need to rely on your filter for weekly water changes.

try to think it through and comprehend that it isnt doing its job if the ammonia is that high in the first place and its supposedly "cycled" smart one. to grow a bacteria colony that large will take a while meaning that the fish are being placed in those conditions for prolonged periods of times that can be easily prevented leaving them with shortened life spans, irritated gills, and long periods of inactivity. so next time. think before you post
if you change the water, the fish will still be producing ammonia. there fore there will still be a supply of ammonia for the colony to feed on

 

[gregswimm]

if we are talking like from 4ppm to 1 ppm then it might become a problem but if its minus 1 ppm or lower then it cant be a problem

Water changes can cause temperature shock to the fish, causing stress and lowering their ability to fight illness and tolerate impurities in the water. Let the filter do its job or it never will. If the ammonia gets over 4ppm do a 10% (maximum) water change. Also don't clean your filter, if the flow is suffering use only tank water, no chemicals what so ever and scrub the impeller with an old toothbrush. If you have room in your filter, you can consider adding bio balls (don't add too many as this can affect the flow). Also, let your algae build up on the glass, this can work as an ammonia sponge (you can clean it once ammonia falls within the normal range).

 

[Fishy friend2]

Temperature shock can easily be prevented by the people who are smart and check the water before they add it into the tank, also i would like to point out that in the wild when it pours, that the rain isnt the same temperature as it is in the ecosystem that it effects. when new, slightly colder water is introduced into the tank Ive noticed that many species of fish that I have previously owned will begin to exhibit natural, spawning behaviors. so it a differential change in the water temperature can also be a smart idea as it can be beneficial to some fish

So, whats your point in the temperature shock thing when a high level of ammonia can have similar effects on a fish in that negative way.
the OP's best option is to do water changes

 

[gregswimm]

really? thats like saying you need to rely on your filter for weekly water changes.

try to think it through and comprehend that it isnt doing its job if the ammonia is that high in the first place and its supposedly "cycled" smart one. to grow a bacteria colony that large will take a while meaning that the fish are being placed in those conditions for prolonged periods of times that can be easily prevented leaving them with shortened life spans, irritated gills, and long periods of inactivity. so next time. think before you post
if you change the water, the fish will still be producing ammonia. there fore there will still be a supply of ammonia for the colony to feed on

You can have a cycled tank and get an ammonia spike, say for instance you add a bunch of new fish to the tank. This can over load the filter, causing an ammonia spike. In my un-planted 29 gal I do 2 water changes a year, haven't lost a fish in 2.5 years.

My question to op is: in the last month, what changes have you made to your tank? How old is your tank? How many fish do you have? and Can you send a picture of your setup and possibly some pics of the dead fish.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Yes, but the ammonia spike can easily be prevented in any easy way, like adding small fish, small amount of fish, and if you dont follow these rules, then you should do a WATER CHANGE, and not let there be a high, harful amount of ammonia content in the tank.

 

[Rummynose]

really? thats like saying you need to rely on your filter for weekly water changes.

try to think it through and comprehend that it isnt doing its job if the ammonia is that high in the first place and its supposedly "cycled" smart one. to grow a bacteria colony that large will take a while meaning that the fish are being placed in those conditions for prolonged periods of times that can be easily prevented leaving them with shortened life spans, irritated gills, and long periods of inactivity. so next time. think before you post
if you change the water, the fish will still be producing ammonia. there fore there will still be a supply of ammonia for the colony to feed on

You can have a cycled tank and get an ammonia spike, say for instance you add a bunch of new fish to the tank. This can over load the filter, causing an ammonia spike. In my un-planted 29 gal I do 2 water changes a year, haven't lost a fish in 2.5 years.

My question to op is: in the last month, what changes have you made to your tank? How old is your tank? How many fish do you have? and Can you send a picture of your setup and possibly some pics of the dead fish.

The OP already gave the information on the first page! What you are doing with your tanks and are suggesting a new person to this hobby to do is against all that is being advised on this forum and on many others.

I am beginning to think you are a troll!

 

[Fishy friend2]

.Hmmm, makes me wonder

 

[phocoena]

Is starting to think the same as Rummynose.

Everywhere the advice would be the same. Everywhere else on the internet the advice would be the same, to get the ammonia level down as quickly as possible.

Plus being cold vs toxic water. I know what I'd prefer for my fish, and I know what my fish would prefer. They showed me that themselves.

 

[Fishy friend2]

.

 

[gregswimm]

If I was trolling I would have told OP that bleach neutralizes ammonia....

PS: it doesn't!

 

[Fishy friend2]

SO, the real info is that you should do water changes to help with ammonia