All Fish Dying!

[marsdenj]

Hi, I came back from work today to find my platy and my pleco both dead. Over the past couple of days I have lost 6 Neons and 6 Harlequins also. My tank has been running for 6 Days now and I have added dechlorinator, cycle stuff, I have also done a full test of the water today using the API Test Kit and all is perfect! Temperature hasnt changed and filter has always been running, Over the past 6 days i have done a daily 20% water change and 1 50% water change, added whitespot treatment and also anti-fungus and finrot and still, today, I come home to two dead fish.

Anyone suggest what could be doing this? I think my tank has the Black Death.

Thanks,

 

[mattlee]

i would say your tank isnt cycled and not able to keep fish alive without very big frequent water changes. it sounds like you are in a fish in cycle. basically you can either keep doing 50% water changes every day until the filter is cycled, which gets very expensive in dechlor etc or return the fish and start a fishless cycle by adding an ammonia source and waiting for the bacteri to form in the filter.
there is a pinned topic in the new tank section, have a read and decide what you need to do. also some of the fish you have chosen are very sensitive and need a mature tank to be able to thrive.

its probably nothing you have done wrong, just followed the fish shops advice.... which as you are finging out isnt always good! the cycle stuff is a waste of time and just a money making scam!

also adding all those meds in such a short time wont do any good foe the fishes health either, meds only work on sick fish and adding them just incase can cause more problems. always be 100% of the problem before treating

 

[marsdenj]

i would say your tank isnt cycled and not able to keep fish alive without very big frequent water changes. it sounds like you are in a fish in cycle. basically you can either keep doing 50% water changes every day until the filter is cycled, which gets very expensive in dechlor etc or return the fish and start a fishless cycle by adding an ammonia source and waiting for the bacteri to form in the filter.
there is a pinned topic in the new tank section, have a read and decide what you need to do. also some of the fish you have chosen are very sensitive and need a mature tank to be able to thrive.

its probably nothing you have done wrong, just followed the fish shops advice.... which as you are finging out isnt always good! the cycle stuff is a waste of time and just a money making scam!

also adding all those meds in such a short time wont do any good foe the fishes health either, meds only work on sick fish and adding them just incase can cause more problems. always be 100% of the problem before treating

Thanks for the advice, so, if i was to do a fishless cycle would i have to start again with new water or not? How long does the tank take to cycle?

Cheers,
Dan

 

[mattlee]

read this link...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

there is no time on a cycle it can take 1 month or maybe even 3..... to get best results set temp at 29 degrees as the bacteria will grow well at this temp

 

[onebto]

I would have a gues that you have not cycled your tank plus I dont think it was wise to put those meds in but thats just supposition on my part.

Fish in cycling: http/www.fishforum...howtopic=224306

Fish less cycle: http/www.fishforum...howtopic=113861

Both of these topics are here along with alot of other information worth reading

Beginners resource centre: http/www.fishforum...esource-center/

The cycle stuff you used is snake doctor juice, it does not cycle your tank however LFS (abbreviation of Local fish shop) Like to tell you it works as its a good little earner throw it in the bin it is worthless and you will find more use from a chocolate teapot.

Question is do you have any live fish left?

If yes I would recommend a minimum of a 50% water change give it a couple of hours then maybe give it another water change.

Do some reading if you have never heard of cycling links above.

As for your tests showing 0 I am surprised that the Ammonia is not of the scale as for Nitrate and Nitrite well you have not got a cycled tank so I doubt you would see either and if it was cycled then you should see some Nitrate.

Hopefully some other people will come along and support or correct my recommendations good luck

Regards onebto

 

[jacko32]

if you have been using cycle all your water stats will be perfect as cycle causes a placebo affect and plays havoc with your test results

do you know anyone who has a healthy mature tank that you could get some media from to add to your filter ?

i would do a down to the gravel 100% water change as mixing meds is never a good idea plus it would get rid of the cycle you have added

 

[marsdenj]

if you have been using cycle all your water stats will be perfect as cycle causes a placebo affect and plays havoc with your test results

do you know anyone who has a healthy mature tank that you could get some media from to add to your filter ?

i would do a down to the gravel 100% water change as mixing meds is never a good idea plus it would get rid of the cycle you have added

Thanks for the advice, im guessing that i shouldnt wash the filter and decor to keep the bacteria?

 

[mattlee]

if you have been using cycle all your water stats will be perfect as cycle causes a placebo affect and plays havoc with your test results

do you know anyone who has a healthy mature tank that you could get some media from to add to your filter ?

i would do a down to the gravel 100% water change as mixing meds is never a good idea plus it would get rid of the cycle you have added

Thanks for the advice, im guessing that i shouldnt wash the filter and decor to keep the bacteria?

only ever wash filter madia/sponges etc in tank water and just give then a swill dont go mad with them as you can harm the bacteria once established if you get too carried away. the decor really isnt a major factor in the cycle as its the filter that needs to be mature, yes bacteria will grow on ornaments, the substrate etc but not enough to worry about