Last weekend I added two new guppies to my 10gal with a 40% water changed before I added them. The next morning that two new guppies die and a few days later all my fish die. What could be the cause of this? My fish were living well for about 1 month or so. The tank has been running for about 2 months. Today I checked my water stats and they are as follows.....pH 7.0...Ammonia showed no color the test was clear white im assuming that it's zero eventhough on the charts it states that yellow is zero.....and zero in both nitrite and nitrate. What could be the cause of this? The last time I tested my water which was about 2 weeks ago I had both nitrite and nitrate present in the water.
All Dead :(
- Thread starter nam9684
- Start date
The cause could be something broght in by the new fish. This is the main reason to quarentine new fish.
It's odd that you have no nitrates. If the tank was towards the end of cycling, which it sounds like it was 2 weeks ago with nitrites & nitrates present, you should have some nitrates present. This could be caused by forgetting to dechlor & doing a really large water change, 80% or better. With a 40% water change you should have some nitrates, unless it is heavily planted & really understocked.
It's odd that you have no nitrates. If the tank was towards the end of cycling, which it sounds like it was 2 weeks ago with nitrites & nitrates present, you should have some nitrates present. This could be caused by forgetting to dechlor & doing a really large water change, 80% or better. With a 40% water change you should have some nitrates, unless it is heavily planted & really understocked.
I had 2 guppies and 2 mollies in the tank along with 2 live plants and a few baby snails that appear out of nowhere last week. I did forget to add dechlor after doing the water change so that could be the cause of it. What could I do to start over?
Sounds like the chlorine & chloramine may have killed off your nitrifying bacteria. If the tank is empty, a fishless cycle would probably be a good idea. You need pure ammonia for this, the cheap stuff with no soap or other additives.
If the snails are still alive & you want to keep them, you could do a traditional cycle with fish. A couple of small guppys, along with frequent water changes will work for this.
If the snails are still alive & you want to keep them, you could do a traditional cycle with fish. A couple of small guppys, along with frequent water changes will work for this.
fatguppy
Fish Crazy
Don't understand your ammonia reading - sounds like you have either a faulty kit or you didn't do the test properly. Ammonia readings should be yellow if zero no matter what. And I agree that a nitrAte reading of 0 is odd too. Our tap water shows a nitrAte reading of 10 so anything around this is fine for us.
Guppies, in my experience, are not very robust anymore. I have had, over a period of about 2 years maybe 10 guppies - none of them lasted any length of time - maybe 2 -3 months at the most. I have finally given up and although they are without doubt really colourful - they are not worth it in my hunble opinion.
It is such a shame for you and I am sorry but maybe as suggested you start again with a fishless cycle and once cycled perhaps try some tetras which are also pretty but seem a little more robust. Also don't forget your water conditioner. We always use the stuff with aloe vera in it as it is also a way to destress the fish. It is a little more expensive that the straight stuff to remove chlorine but not as expensive as constantly having to replace fish.
Good luck with the next lot
Guppies, in my experience, are not very robust anymore. I have had, over a period of about 2 years maybe 10 guppies - none of them lasted any length of time - maybe 2 -3 months at the most. I have finally given up and although they are without doubt really colourful - they are not worth it in my hunble opinion.
It is such a shame for you and I am sorry but maybe as suggested you start again with a fishless cycle and once cycled perhaps try some tetras which are also pretty but seem a little more robust. Also don't forget your water conditioner. We always use the stuff with aloe vera in it as it is also a way to destress the fish. It is a little more expensive that the straight stuff to remove chlorine but not as expensive as constantly having to replace fish.
Good luck with the next lot
I checked my water stats again today and it remains the same. pH 7.0, ammonia (white reading) assumining its zero, Nitrite and Nitrate 0. I also checked the nitrAte of my tap water and it came out to be zero. And I also forgot to mention that when I did the water change some salt was added to the tank as its better for the mollies and guppies. Should I do a 80% water change or 100% water and start over? My next fish are probably going to be 2 goldfish.
And also....I have a bunch of snails that appear out of nowhere, I threw away 5 baby snails the other day and today 6 more appeared today. Should I leave these guys in there so that the tank would cycle quicker or just take them out?
And also....I have a bunch of snails that appear out of nowhere, I threw away 5 baby snails the other day and today 6 more appeared today. Should I leave these guys in there so that the tank would cycle quicker or just take them out?
jonny-5
Fish Addict
i agree with fat guppy,ive tryed guppys loads of times now and they never seem to last more than 6 months,i know they only live till approx 2 years or so anyway....so maybe the ones i(& everybody else) was buying were older fishes than we thought they were ?!? Maybe not the problem with your tank but certainly worth bearing in mind,mine get stressed with different types of dechlorinators 
i currently use Nutrafin Aqua plus for your info
i currently use Nutrafin Aqua plus for your info
Please don't buy goldfish for a 10gal, the first goldfish alone needs a 20gal then 10gal for every other one added, they are massive waste producers and need big filters to cope with there waste.
Shoaling fish are pretty hardy, like black neons.
If you do want to keep guppys i would try to find a breeder of them, as shop bought ones are usually ill when buying them, there is no go in them, plus alot of them from the lfs are carrying internal parasites.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=43980
Shoaling fish are pretty hardy, like black neons.
If you do want to keep guppys i would try to find a breeder of them, as shop bought ones are usually ill when buying them, there is no go in them, plus alot of them from the lfs are carrying internal parasites.
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=43980
Can I just ask what test kit you are using?? In my opinion,the best test kits are the liquid variety(various makes).
Also, where do you live?.....In London,where we live the nitrates never get below 50ppm in our tap water..... we struggle to keep nitrates down,regardless of plants and understocking tanks.
To get a better picture of what is wrong in your tank, you need to get an accurate ammonia reading.
Also, where do you live?.....In London,where we live the nitrates never get below 50ppm in our tap water..... we struggle to keep nitrates down,regardless of plants and understocking tanks.
To get a better picture of what is wrong in your tank, you need to get an accurate ammonia reading.
I am using the fresh water master test kit. I live in the U.S east coast.
Fresh water master test kit
Fresh water master test kit
fish_fetish65
Fish Crazy
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i live on the US east coast as well, and i believe i know your problem.
in those particular test kits, if it is the strip kind, you have to put the strip in the liquid and move it up and down or shake it for about 60 seconds continuously. only then will you have an accurate reading. you have probably just been dipping it in and then pulling it directly back out or something of the sort. took me a while to figure out that's what was the matter with my test strips.
EDIT: just read that it was a liquid test kit. in that case, it sounds like you have a faulty ammonia test or else are doing it the wrong way.
in those particular test kits, if it is the strip kind, you have to put the strip in the liquid and move it up and down or shake it for about 60 seconds continuously. only then will you have an accurate reading. you have probably just been dipping it in and then pulling it directly back out or something of the sort. took me a while to figure out that's what was the matter with my test strips.
EDIT: just read that it was a liquid test kit. in that case, it sounds like you have a faulty ammonia test or else are doing it the wrong way.
I have used that same test kit for many years. The ammonia test should give you an accurate reading! It always has for me.
Just an idea,but maybe you could take a sample of your tank water to your lfs and get them to test your water(so you know for sure)
I know this doesn't help you with your recent fish losses,but it might help to ensure you don't lose any more.
Just an idea,but maybe you could take a sample of your tank water to your lfs and get them to test your water(so you know for sure)
I know this doesn't help you with your recent fish losses,but it might help to ensure you don't lose any more.
Bex
Fishaholic
Don't know if this helps, but I have 2 ammonia bottles for my ammonia test and assumed one was just a spare. My tests were clear as well until I realised that you have to use both bottles! 
You're probably not as stoopid as me though, but just a thought
You're probably not as stoopid as me though, but just a thought Similar threads
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