I Need Some Help With Results....my Fish Are Dying

[Wanda hornsey]

I realy dont know what to do.

My tank is 130 Gallons (48" X28" x28")Temp 79'
A large internal filter and a Ehime external filter.

Last wednesday I came on here and wanted to just veryify my test results were correct and the cycle was complete the results looked like this for 4 straight days 2 tests a day

I did keep feeding my ammonia as I read in the many fishless cycle articles.

I did my water change on friday night planted my plants at the same time added the ammonia and the water treatment and brought the temp back up over night

Yesterday (saturday) I went out a got some guppies 3 dalmation mollies and 3 dwarf Gouramis. I acclimatised them in the bags then let them out gently the guppies seemed a little freaked out and all gathered at the top of the tank but the others all looked great straight away.

turned the lights out and left them to get on with it over night.

This morning the guppies were all swimming at the top of the tank not gasping for air just all swimming at the surface. fed them all a little flake food and they swam around and ate it quite happily.

Was a little concerened about the guppies behaviour so went back to very helpfull and knowledgable LFS ( Aquatics Warehouse) where we got the guppies and checked with the guy (owner) and he said it was probably just cos they were still a bit freaked out and they would calm down and start to move around (ie deeper in the tank) when they got more confident. added some stresszyme to the tank in case there stressed etc....

Went off to Betnal Green to Wholesale Aquatics to get the little plecos I wanted, had a chat there and he seemed to agree that was probably the problem, I got my 3 little plecos and came home. Aclimatise my new fish and then let them in. they seemed fine (and still do)

Daughter then calls me in and says she has seen dead fish...actually find 2 dead guppies. Hook them out and get back to cooking lunch an hour later hubby finds 2 more dead guppies and on of the dwarf Gouramis sitting at the bottom looking sorry for himself.

Getting very worried now and test the water
and it looks like this

So now what do I do

are they dying cos of the water the nitrites are now showing as above the Ammonia is fine...I am so worried that they are dying cos I have done somthing wrong.
Please give me some ideas on what I can do to remendy this and what I did wrong.
I now have lost 6 guppies and I am very concerned for the dwarf Gourami

 

[tttnjfttt]

DId you aclimate the fish? Meaning did you float their bags in the tank to adjust the temperature, then did you slowly add some tank water to the bag so they got used to your tank?

As for the water, I would do an immediate water change to bring down the nitrite levels. What is the nitrate level and the pH?

 

[WILDER]

Added to many fish even though you did a fishless cycle, i would agree and do a water change, guppys are not that hardy and dosn't take much for them to die, sorry.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

Ok so I can understand saying add 5 or 6 fish to a smaller tank but this is a big tank....500 litres how many fish should you add for a tank that size to start off

As I said before I did acclimatise the fish floating the bags for nearly an hour and adding small amounts of water etc before letting them free

Worried about water change as the water in the pipes here is freezing cold and this is the tank

its not easy too add water by the bucket full (its virtually over my head height) would adding the water by the bucket load freak them out more??

if I do a water change how much should I do given how many bucket loads I would have to tip back in and freak them out..... will try the water change if you guys think it will help.

If I can fix a hose to the kitchen mixer tap (thus getting warm water) how do I go about treating the water? or do I mix some water treatment in a couple of bucket loads and add that last???

Ph 7
Nitrates 30ish

 

[WILDER]

Sorry didn't realise it was a 130gal tank.

 

[tttnjfttt]

WHen i fill my tank with a python (similar to using a hose) i just add the dechlorinator straight to the tank.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

WHen i fill my tank with a python (similar to using a hose) i just add the dechlorinator straight to the tank.

Off to have a go as nobody else can suggest much else, Any idea how much? %?

 

[tttnjfttt]

general rule is no more than 25% at once.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

just done a 40 gallon change
to my little dead friends

lights out and letting them try and calm down

Any more sugestions greatfully recieved.

Oh and does anyone know what the Nitrite removing stuff is called

 

[Iann]

Hia Wanda, a bit late today but if you go to a home brew shop you can get a 25 liter bucket type barrel with a lid, i use two of these which gives me 50 liters of water that is always ready to go in the tank. I just let them get to room temperature add my stress coat stuff, then start to put the water in the tank using a 3 liter jug. i keep an eye on the tank temperature makin sure i'm not adding the water to quick.
If you want, you can also put a small tank heater in the home brew barrel and that gets the water to the right temp before adding water to the tank, you can fill a little quicker then.

I paid seven quid for each barrel, a lot cheaper than the aquarium shop barrels.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

Thanks for taking the time Cambee...in the end we emptied it by the bucket load (using a syphon with a popsock over the end ) and then filled it by the bucket load mixing the water till warm and adding the water stuff...then gently tipping it in ( no mean feat )
The home brew bucket ideas a great one but have teenager and German shepherd...vcan see a wet carpet in no time lol. Tomorrow I will make my diy Python...

Does anyone have any suggestions how often I should water change?? to help this problem I mean.

 

[WILDER]

Is there enough surface aeration as you need it on a cycling tank.have you added plecs if so you can't use salt that would of helped.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

Is there enough surface aeration as you need it on a cycling tank.have you added plecs if so you can't use salt that would of helped.

I would say plenty...a 3 foot bubble curtain at the back and the outlet (after being filtered) from the internal filters brakes the surface and bubbles down about 18" in a front corner...the surface of the tank is constantly moving gently too.

I have a UV filter on the tank does it make any difference if thats running or not?

 

[Wanda hornsey]

no more fish have died yet but the Dearf Gourami is still looking preety bad

Can anyone advise me how often I need to do water changes to try and solve this problem??

My husband is going to the nearest LFS first thing to get something to try and get rid of the nitrite...if anyone has any names of stuff it would help.

Many thanks for the help I have already recieved its very very much apprecated

 

[mandy82]

I personally don't believe nitrite removers do any good, also that's another chemical you're adding to your tank that you really shouldn't. Your best bet is to keep doing water changes. Your nitrites aren't too high anyway. Good luck!