I Am Desperate And At A Total Loss For What To Do.

[Corrianda]

Tropical Fish Experts needed please.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I bought the tank, set it up (lovingly!!), did the whole water thing, left it to settle, added the right potion from the aquatics shop, after the right amount of time, the water is fine, the tempertaure is fine,so the thermometer says (bought one just in case after worrying about the heater light not being on and then was informed on here it goes on and off lol )

Bought two Black Phantoms ,Bryan & Sophie..on Saturday as the guy in (very well established) shop advised, says that i need to ''hardy'' fish to get it set up and ''matured'' bought them saturday at 11am..they were dead less than24 hours later.

Took a water sample and poor deceased fishies to the shop, he said can't see any damage to the fish and the water sample is fine. Gave us two more of the same breed which we called George and Lily.. took them home, this was on sunday morning, this morning the Lily ,the female was dead.

Went back today, with the fish and again some water, said water is fine and again, no visible damage to the fish.

Gave me some live bacteria potion to add to the tank to help it. I am on death watch now to see if the other one is ok.He says if he dies, to empty the water out and start again.George is looking very sad and i fear is about to die tonight.

Any experts advice very much appreciated please ..i feel awful as its my sons birthday present. They have a lovely tank and i did everything by the book. Right water, temp, food, not fed too much or too little, good filter system, the works! I feel very sad for them too..and guilty..even though i don't know whats wrong.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry bless them, but a cycle can take it toll on the hardiest of fish, as they have to go through the ammonia and nitrite process.
Add some salt one tablesppon to 5 gal with the tetra's and increase aeration.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=58

Don't empty the tank, its the cycle that there not coping with.

 

[black angel]

What size tank and which filter are you using?

 

[Corrianda]

What size tank and which filter are you using?

Its an ''Aquastart'' Tank..320..powerhead 320 filter all inclusive..28L tank...is only small tank.

Thanks for the replies, George has Just died.

 

[Tetras]

Sorry to hear about your fish, take a look at the beginner forum pinned topics and read up on fishless cycling, it might help you with understanding the process of the nitrogen cycle as well

 

[WILDER]

Sorry bless him, you might want to think of a fishless cycle where you use ammonia, as it heartbreaking watching them suffer.
R.I.P.

 

[black angel]

I wouldnt say black phantoms are a hardy fish.
Did he tell you if you had any ammonia or nitrites?
I would use flake food every day at the filter intake and let the tank cycle that way. You will need to buy ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph test kit to keep a daily eye on ammonia to begin with.

 

[Corrianda]

I wouldnt say black phantoms are a hardy fish.
Did he tell you if you had any ammonia or nitrites?
I would use flake food every day at the filter intake and let the tank cycle that way. You will need to buy ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph test kit to keep a daily eye on ammonia to begin with.

He said the water test came up fine. Can i buy all this stuff at the fish shop?

So...now i have an empty tank, having removed poor George. Do i empty it all clean it all and start with new water and start doing the adding amonia thing and testing thing? I am so new to this, i had coldwater fish about 4 years ago but never had any problems.

I have read the fishless cycling thing and looked for the link it says to follow on it but no link is apparent.Sorry to be a nuisance but can you give me simple instructions please. My sons so upset that the fish all died. Only got the tank a week ago and set it up and we are in this situation already.Men in fish shop haven't menitoned why they think its happening ''just one of those things'' but to me watching four fish die, and then their suggestion that i just put more fish in is just silly and cruel.

 

[WILDER]

Its up to you if you want to strip the tank down and totally start again.
You will need to go to boots, b&q, or a chemist for pure ammonia, even hardware stores do it, but make sure it is pure ammonia and that there no other chemical in it.
There one called jeyes ammonia.
Get you a link to fishless cycling.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[joloco]

in simple terms:
leave the tank set up as it is, either go an buy some ammonia solution from boots or go and buy some fish flakes, add a small pinch of the flakes (flakes might be easier as there's no science to it really) or correct amount of ammonia to the water every day (but this is very easy too) and basically wait.
get yourself the test kit wilder mentioned and test the water regularly - i did mine a couple of times a week whilst it was still cycling.
the ammonia level will shoot off the scale then possibly weeks later will drop to zero, then the nitrites and nitrates will follow.
don't add any more live things (except plants) until you get a zero reading from all three.
if you want to help the process along you can buy filter start solution and add it to your filter - you can buy this at the pet shop but i would suggest you go to a different one as i think you might be being strung along by the one you've been going to.

some people heat the water to about 80 degrees whilst the tank is cycling

give it some weeks - maybe a month or more and all will be fine

forgot to mention - once all at zero do a water change, your nitrate readings might go up again. if so test your tap water as this might be your local tap water and not a problem with the tank. you can adjust these levels in the tank (can be expensive) or just buy fish that like your local readings.

 

[Corrianda]

Thanks for the replies everyone, do i leave the filter on the whole time whilst doing all this? Probably a dumb question i know!

And when i have done all this, if i add all new water, wont that all be ruined?

 

[Tolak]

Yes, leave the filter running while cycling. What you are doing is growing bacteria in your filter media that convert the harmful fish waste to much less harmful substances. Your water holds little if any benificial bacteria, it's mainly in the filter media, and to a much lesser extent in your gravel or other substrate. Changing the water will not harm the bacteria you have been working to colonize, as long as the water is properly treated with a dechlorinator to remove chlorine & chloramine.

 

[WILDER]

Yes you leave the filter in as thats' where the bacteria colony has to build up in the sponges.
Never done a fishless cycle but once ammonia and nitrite are 0 and you have a high nitrate reading you are meant i think to do about a 50% water change of the tank.
Add fish gradually as to many members add to many fish to soon and the bacterial colony cant cope with them.

 

[Corrianda]

Thanks to everyone for all your advice, i wil start the process and update ...i soo want this to work..so does my poor son..who is very sad!

 

[xJake]

...but make sure it is pure ammonia and that there no other chemical in it...

To make sure it is pure ammonia shake the bottle and if it foams it's no good, but if it remains liquid (like if you shake pure water) then it is pure ammonia.