Hi everyone!

Just registered to the site - looking for some information/help! We've just bought a small 60l aquarium and had been getting on fine with the fish we had so far, 3 black neon tetras, 3 columbian redtail tetras, 3 glowlight tetras and 2 peppered catfish. We then added 4 male guppies, but 2 have died already and the other 2 are not eating and are just loitering behind the filter. We had some white spot recently but that seems to have disappeared after adding the treatment for it. We did up the temp to 26 degrees from 24 degrees as was advised on a website to help get rid of white spot - could this be the reason the guppies have died? The chemicals in the tank seem okay, and did a partial water change yesterday.

Has anyone got any ideas why they have died? Really confused about it!

What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings?

Forgive me about quoting the chemical nos - just tried to use the test sticks - my husband normally does it -

NO3 - about 25

NO2 = about 1

KH - about 6

Hope this is right!

If you just set up the aquarium w/a new filter and everything, your tank probably isn't cycled yet! Here's a good peice of info for you to read..Fish In cycling

Sugarbunny,

Hi and welcome to TFF!

Excellent work, finding the forum and trying to do the tests as asked! Unfortunately, you will need to take several actions to get up to speed.

You need to do an immediate water change of at least 50% of the water, replacing with tap water that has been dechlorinated and roughly (touch test) temperature matched to that in your tank. Then test again. I'm telling you this first because it is the most urgent and after an hour another such change may be needed in nitrite (and ammonia test if you have it) are not zero.

Meanwhile, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the strip tests are virtually useless. So the next most urgent thing is to run out and find a liquid based test kit at a big box pet store or at your local shop. I and many others use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit but there are other liquid-based test kits that are fine if they have the important tests: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH are most important, the first 2 being the most critical right now for you.

If you manage to get the kit, begin by testing your tap water and posting results here. Then test your tap water and post. Follow the directions carefully that come with the kit. Good luck!

~~waterdrop~~

The dip strips are expensive and can be soo inaccurate!!! You can buy an API freshwater test kit and get over 800 tests out of it(that's what mine says). Mine was, i think, about $15 to $20 U.S. and it tests Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH (low and high range PH)I use the high range for my african cichlids, but you can use the regular PH.

Anyways, it looks you could be having a nitrite spike! Does it test ammonia? Do water change. Ideally cycling w/fish in the tank the ammonia and nitrite readings should be around .25ppm or less. Ammonia burns them and nitrite suffocates them.

I suggest doing water changes daily to reduce levels and GET AN API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT!!! for more accurate measurments.
--edit==
another bit of advice...I don't know how it is over there, but some places in the US put chloramines in the water(which is a type of ammonia) also. It's a good idea to make sure your water conditioner takes care of chlorine AND chloramines! Some conditioners don't treat chloramines.

I wish you and your fish well!! Do like water drop said and test your tap water (after getting the API test kit) and posting the results!

This post has been edited by kj23502: Apr 6 2008, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the replies!

We had no idea the test strips were innaccurate - will hopefully go out tomorrow and get something better. Then this may give a better idea of what we're dealing with! Will then post up results. Will speak to husband about doing a further water change too.

Thanks again for the help!

Your welcome !! Glad to hear you'll get a API liquid test kit!! Your fish would thank you if they could!

thx kj, I've just been lazy and dropped back to saying "dechlorinate" sometimes when talking to UKers as they all seem to have chlorine and virtually never chloramination in their water authority districts (any UKers comments?) I think the intent among all of us is to recommend products (like Prime and Stress Coat etc.) that treat for both chlorination and chloramination - that is good practice I think.

~~waterdrop~~

Yep, I'm just trying to think of things that are useful to know! Other new people(and non-members who just drop by to read) may not know about chloramines also. I try to keep that in mind also. Thanks for replying to her also!! It's good that others answer too! It covers more bases that way! I didn't think of having her test her tap water right away...when I read your post I was thinking, "Duh, I knew that" but didn't think of it while I was typing!