I set up a new tank about a week ago. I read TONS of info on cycling, fishless cycling, etc. I couldn't find 100% amonia so I figured I'd get the hardiest fish I could find to cycle my tank. There are NO pet stores near me other than Petco and Pet Smart so I wasn't too confident when they told me to try 2 platys. Anyway, within 3 days they both died. I did go back and buy one tiger barb which I read (on this site) is more hardy. My question is, are platys hardy at all? Did I manage to kill 2 really tough fish in 3 days? Right now I'm fearing for my tiger barbs life! I've been checking on him every 10 minutes (still doing fine). Oh, I also put in 3 smallish plants. Two look great, the third doesn't look so good. I've been keeping the light on about 14 hrs/day and put in some plant food I bought. Thanks for any help.
Already Killed 2 Fish!
- Thread starter Lisa67
- Start date
You can use fish food or a piece of fish or shrimp meat in the tank instead of bottled ammonia. You could try to return the barb to the store and use food instead. You don't have to worry about anything dying that way.
You said you read lots of info so excuse me if this is a stupid question... But are you testing the water for ammonia and doing frequent water changes?
You said you read lots of info so excuse me if this is a stupid question... But are you testing the water for ammonia and doing frequent water changes?
term_22000
Fish Fanatic
The plants are a great way to see what's going on with the water. I agree with ^ testing the water is a great way to see how cycling is going in your tank. They have some bacteria enhancer stuff at the pet stores that should help you in cycling your tank.
symon_say
Fish Crazy
How big is your tank, do you have a test kit??
karin
Fish Herder
You will need a test kit so that you can test for ammonia and nitrite daily and then do the necessary water changes. Fish-in cycling usually requires daily water changes. The other thing is to get to ACE Hardware and get the right ammonia and do a fishless cycle. It is the general consensus on this site that the "bacteria in a bottle" is a waste of money and does not work.
Either way you go, fishless or fish-in, you will need a good test kit. Most folks here like the API liquid based master test kit. Do not buy the strips as they are not accurate enough. Do not believe your local fish store because they will often tell you whatever they need to to sell you more stuff.
Small plants won't do much to help and if they are not doing well and rotting they will contribute to the ammonia load.
I think you need to decide if you are ready to commit to a fish in cycling and daily water changes.
Either way you go, fishless or fish-in, you will need a good test kit. Most folks here like the API liquid based master test kit. Do not buy the strips as they are not accurate enough. Do not believe your local fish store because they will often tell you whatever they need to to sell you more stuff.
Small plants won't do much to help and if they are not doing well and rotting they will contribute to the ammonia load.
I think you need to decide if you are ready to commit to a fish in cycling and daily water changes.
I don't own a test kit but I was able to have the water tested at the store. They say there is no amonia in the water. The only thing that wasn't right was the PH. I did buy something to bring the PH down (it was 8.5) So, I'm guessing that was the problem but I'm not sure. There were nitrates (or nitrite) can't remember which but I'm having it retested tomorrow unless we get a huge snow storm. Does the absence of amonia mean that the tank is cycled? Oh, and yes I have been doing partial water changes. My water was cloudy but is now clear.
It might be... How long have you had fish in there? Cycling takes at the very least a month, but can take up to several months depending on the circumstances.
I wouldn't bother with the pH stuff actually, it's more harm to the fish to have a pH that goes up and down rather than a stable but high one. Once you get the cycling sorted out it would be a good idea to research fish that naturally prefer a high pH rather than fighting against it.
I wouldn't bother with the pH stuff actually, it's more harm to the fish to have a pH that goes up and down rather than a stable but high one. Once you get the cycling sorted out it would be a good idea to research fish that naturally prefer a high pH rather than fighting against it.
A month? I guess I read a lot, but not through to the end. Uggg, this is more complicated than I though. I don't know how I did it years ago...as I said in another post, when I had my first fish tank (prior to the internet), I bought a tank, set it up and threw way too many fish in it. Some definately died, but over-all I was fairly successful. Now that I'm trying to do things correctly I'm killing fish right and left. My tiger barb is now dead. I have clear water with no amonia...so, what should I do next? I had fish in there for about a week..my water is finially clear. According to petco my water is perfect except the high PH. HELP!!!
am pretty new to this my self but , it might be worth testing your tap water ? for p.h ?? and i my be wrong so if i am please d correct me
but am sure i heard that bog wood can lower the p.h as i said am new to this so please dont take my word as gosple !!! good luck , just be patient and your efforts will be rewarded 
Caprichoso
Fish Herder
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If you want to do yourself a favour, don't fiddle with the pH. You will cause more hoopla than you can handle. I find simplicity is the best. Do your regular de-chlorinated water changes, add bacteria each time. Test for ammonia often while you are cycling the tank(buy yourself a good water test kit). You can add some bogwwod but boil the heck out of it first or you will have a lot of tannins in the water making it dark. Test the pH again after you've done these things. If your pH is still high, look into getting fish that prefer high pH. It's much easier to work with the water you've got than to try to change it. Trust me, it's way too difficult to maintain. As far as the type of fish you had, they are just normal difficulty for "normal" tank conditions.
Good luck
Good luck
Ok, so I decided that I will try to find fish that like a high PH. That problem will then be solved. My main question is, what do I do now? JUST AS A RECAP..... So far, I filled it with tap water (well water) which I conditioned first... I also put in a piece of driftwood (from a tank at the pet store) and a few small, live plants and gravel. I then added 2 fish which died after a few days. Then I bought a tiger barb which also died in a few days. I now have a fishless tank with clear water, the plants, gravel and drift wood. SO, I'm hoping that I dont have to dump it and start all over from the beginning. I do have a partially cycled tank, right? Should I just drop a piece of shrimp in there and wait several weeks? Something else? Thank you!
Egh, honestly just do a fishless cycle if you dont have anything in there. It will be faster, cheaper (because you won't be replacing dead fish), and obviously easier on the fish.
Your tank will probably cycle in half the time if you go fishless.
Your tank will probably cycle in half the time if you go fishless.
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