2 fish dead, dont know whats wrong

[BigNiner19]

I just set up my 20 Gallon tank. Used distilled water from walmart and then used PH addittive by Wardley and the PH level is right around 7.0+. May be slightly higher than 7.0....

The water seems to maybe be slightly cloudy but im not really sure...i dont think that is much of the problem. I think im having an ammonia breakout...some of the fish scratch themsevles on rocks and the reason the two fish have died almost looks like they ust ran out of breath...so maybe all the fish are having some breathing problems. What is the best way to handle this situation

The fish i have are 2 Firemouths, 1 Yellow Lab, and 2 Mixed Aficans

Thanks

Cory

 

[breezer40]

Firstly do you mean R.O water and not distilled?

Can you please give us some information such as Have you cycled the tank and if so what are your Ammonia, Nirate and Nitrite readings.
Also can you provide details of what size tank and the filtration etc. How long has the tank been set up and how long have you had these fish?

One thing I am really worried about is the fish you have. Africans like hard water and high PH 7.8 min, so the worst thing you can give them is R.O water. Secondly a firemouth is not an african and shouldn't be in the same tank as their requirements are very different.

 

[BigNiner19]

I just had the water checked...PH level is around 7.4 and the ammonia test came out fine...as well as nitrates. I was recommened "Stress Coat" by API So I just added 20 ML of that stuff.

I have a regent power filter on the 20 gal tank and the tank is very new only been running for a little over a week. The water used was just straight distilled water in the jugs at walmart. The fish store said my water is fine...i dont know. Im hoping maybe its just the start up issues that most tanks have when they first get started. Hopefully soon everything will settle down. Anyone else have any recommendations im all ears.

Cory

 

[OohFeeshy]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

It very much sounds like you didn't cycle. Read the above. You really don't need to use distilled water, or the pH additive stuff. You don't have good fish at all for the tank, cichlids are aggressive, and the ones you picked get too big for a 20g. As said above, Africans need hard, alkaline water.... definately not distilled