Added gravel and decoration and tetras are dying

[DKDC]

New to this forum, not new to fishes.

Had 5 neon tetras and 4 black tetras I think they are called. Upgraded to a bigger tank to accommodate more tetras. Put all the water from 7 gallon tank into 10 gallon three days ago and have slowly been adding more water this week. Yesterday added another bag of gravel and a decoration. This morning two neon tetras are dead and one or two more look to be joining them soon. Black tetras look normal. neon ones seem to be hyperventilating.

Tested water - nitrate and nitrites and ammonia ok - better than normal actually. No other things in bad zone. I did forget to rinse gravel before I put it in, but did rinse the decoration. I did not have the new filter running cause the water wasn't high enough yet to run it (dint want to add too much water too fast).

These guys have been doing well for about a year - no deaths. Can gravel and a decoration kill them? I know the neon tetras are fragile but .... I can add picture later

thanks

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Yes dirt in the new gravel can be contaminated and cause chemical poisoning or low oxygen levels in the water. You need to do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Get your filter into the tank asap.

Increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.

 

[DKDC]

do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.Get your filter into the tank asap.Increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.

Thanks

 

[DKDC]

Just for my information, doesn't changing water 75% each day for a week weaken the good bacteria? Necessary anyway apparently. I guess as long as the filter has a good amount of bacteria the water will be ok? I put the old filter which I had in the tank inside the new filter housing so it is being used along with the new filter.

And when is it safe to put more neon tetras in? After a week? The black tetras seem unaffected.

 

[DKDC]

And another question - tetras need at least 6 to feel at home, but my daughter wants to add some other fish too - any recommendations for one or two non tetras?

 

[Colin_T]

99% of beneficial filter bacteria lives in the filter or on the gravel and ornaments in the tank. Most of the things living in the water are harmful disease organisms like protozoans, fungus, viruses and bad bacteria. Doing a big regular water change helps to dilute the bad stuff but does not have any effect on the filter bacteria, as long as the new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Do not add any new fish until everyone in the tank has been good for at least 1 month.

If possible, quarantine any new fish for at least 2 weeks (preferably a month) before adding them to the main display tank. You can use the smaller old tank as a quarantine tank.

And another question - tetras need at least 6 to feel at home, but my daughter wants to add some other fish too - any recommendations for one or two non tetras?

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness) and pH of your water supply. This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

What fish do you have in the tank?
Can you post a small picture of the black tetras so we can confirm their identity?

 

[DKDC]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness) and pH of your water supply. This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

What fish do you have in the tank?
Can you post a small picture of the black tetras so we can confirm their identity?

10 gallon tank - 12wide x24long x ?High
Strips say water is fairly hard
Have four neon black tetras and one neon (blue) tetra
picture later

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I have to respectfully disagree @Colin_T , doing a 75% water change every day will weaken the bacteria. I would recommend a 50% water change every 2-3 days. That should equal out the tank, and help the fish!! You seem to have a lot of fishkeeping experience @Colin_T so I don’t mean to come across as rude!

 

[Chloe07]

Yesterday added another bag of gravel and a decoration. This morning two neon tetras are dead and one or two more look to be joining them soon. Black tetras look normal. neon ones seem to be hyperventilating

Hello DKDN
first, I'm sorry for your loss.
I have a sick betta right now, and I'm trying to find the reason of being sik all of the sudden, and I came across to your post.
My betta fish started to be sick the day after 100% water change (it is my first fish so didn't know that 100% can shock him)
I think he was in shock, then he became really sick...
It seems like my house tap water had some toxic even with the water conditioner, because I used to use R/O water. But it was more like there must be something else too because he is not improving even with partial water change!
then I remembered that I added new gravel that day when I did 100% water change.
Could you please tell me which gravel you added?
I originally had Imagitarium River Rock Shallow Creek Aquarium Gravel only.
then I replaced with Petco Aquarium Lavender Stone Gems Gravel Accents and Petco Surf Mix Gravel Accents. They are more glass / plastic looking gems.
My betta was having hard time breathing too....
Did you remove the new gravel?

 

[DKDC]

Could you please tell me which gravel you added?
Did you remove the new gravel?

Petco dark blue gravel - I have used before successfully but I forgot to rinse it really well this time. I didn't rinse it at all. I don't think it is a Petco problem, I didn't rinse it.

It is exactly the same as I already had in the tank so I can't really remove it without removing all the gravel - that would disrupt the good bacteria which would probably also kill the fish.

By the way I think our tap water is a little toxic even for humans, so I use only bottled "spring" water from a reputable company - Deer Park and Crystal Geyser.

(A friend who was pregnant keep feeling sick until she switched to only bottled water, add to that how hard the water is and how bad it tastes, and that every few years the city puts out a warning not to drink the water for a while - I drink only filtered or bottled water)

Sorry for your potential loss as well.

 

[DKDC]

I would recommend a 50% water change every 2-3 days. That should equal out the tank, and help the fish!!

How many water changes would you advise? thanks

 

[Colin_T]

red and blue gravel can be an issue in aquariums and in all aquarium poisonings caused by gravel, red and blue have been the culprit. They use chemicals to get the paint to stick to the gravel and in most cases it is fine. But sometimes the paint or chemical does not set/ cure properly and fish die.

Any coloured gravel with a smooth glossy surface should be used with caution.

Natural brown gravel is safest because it is not coloured.

----------------------
You can remove all the gravel and do daily water changes to keep the water clean. There should be some beneficial bacteria on plants, ornaments and the filter materials and case.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

How many water changes would you advise? thanks

I would recommend doing a 50% water change every 2-3 days, after this hole thing calmed down, then do you regular 50% water change/ gravel vac. I do agree with you @Colin_T , I have some in my ZD tank, and the pain is starting too were off!! I have brown natural colored gravel in my beta tank.

 

[Chloe07]

Petco dark blue gravel - I have used before successfully but I forgot to rinse it really well this time. I didn't rinse it at all. I don't think it is a Petco problem, I didn't rinse it.

It is exactly the same as I already had in the tank so I can't really remove it without removing all the gravel - that would disrupt the good bacteria which would probably also kill the fish.

By the way I think our tap water is a little toxic even for humans, so I use only bottled "spring" water from a reputable company - Deer Park and Crystal Geyser.

(A friend who was pregnant keep feeling sick until she switched to only bottled water, add to that how hard the water is and how bad it tastes, and that every few years the city puts out a warning not to drink the water for a while - I drink only filtered or bottled water)

Sorry for your potential loss as well.

I did wash the gravel but not at this point I'm almost certain that the new gravel, especially the plastic looking gem was doing more harm on top of the tap water.
My area has hard water too. It shows TDS 253 ppm. I hope you resolve the problem soon.