What Went Wrong?

[lola]

So I followed all the directions for fishless cycling and all went well. I put fish in and everything was great for the first four days. Day five, ammonia went up to .5 so I did a 20% water change and added some amquel. Day six, was basically a repeat of the day before, except now the fish start to look stressed. Day seven, I do a 20% change and go to work. By the time I get home, I've lost all 5 (4 neons and a bristle nose pleco in a 10 gallon) of my fish within 8 hours.

What went wrong?

 

[sykogngsta]

How long did you cycle it for? Amybe they died becuase you added too many fish at once..especially for a new tank.

 

[Ripley]

Maybe an overdose on any chemicals you put into the tank? Also I would start off with fewer fish, maybe just a couple of neons for now. If you are a bit leary about that idea, you should try a cheaper fish just to make sure your tank is good to go. I have used zebra danios in the past.

 

[ALEXF]

How exactly did you at them? I have read that if you do not gradually adjust them to the tank temp. That it can shock them due to the temp change and kill them as well.

 

[lola]

How long did you cycle it for? Amybe they died becuase you added too many fish at once..especially for a new tank.

I think the cycle took about 3 1/2 or 4 weeks. I added them all at once because the fishlss cycle sticky says you can add the whole bio-load after a successful cycle. I did slowly acclimate the fish to the tank water by adding it to the LFS bags and I did not put the water from the LFS in the tank. I know neons are kind of finicky so I'm not totally surpirsed about them, but the pleco seems odd.

 

[Ripley]

I still think the cause maybe adding too many fish at once. But its not your fault by no means, if thats what it said on the label thats all you can do. I'm not a huge fan of fishless cycles, I like adding fish right from the start. As I said before, try some cheaper fish to make sure your tank is ok.

 

[Amunet]

We added almost our entire stock of fish to our 28 gallon tank after it was done cycling and never had a problem with the readings.

Were you sure the cycling was done? How soon after the tank was done cycling did you add the fish? Did you make sure to do a large water change before you added the fish?

 

[lola]

We added almost our entire stock of fish to our 28 gallon tank after it was done cycling and never had a problem with the readings.

Were you sure the cycling was done? How soon after the tank was done cycling did you add the fish? Did you make sure to do a large water change before you added the fish?

I thought the cycling was done, maybe i was wrong. I added the fish 2 days after cycle "finished." I did a water change about 80% before I put the fish in. I want to try again, but I'm not sure what to do differently as I cannot figure out what went wrong the first time.

 

[Faythee]

Plecos and Neons are both sensitive. I would add say 2-3 Danios, which are very hardy, and let the tank mature more before adding anymore fish. Say for about 2 weeks and keep testing the water to be sure it is not still fluctuating.