Aquarium Kit Bulb Cooking My Tank!

[RobberyinCSharp]

I've just started a freshwater aquarium about 6 days ago. When I got the aquarium, it was a 10-gallon starter kit tank that came with everything you'd ever need to start an aquarium, with the exception of gravel and plants/decor. They came with two bulbs for my tank lid. There were no specifications on them with the exception of "115V". No wattage information. After the tank was fully set up, I added my fish after they had acclimated to the water. They were all very very happy! I have two thermometers in my tank - one is a sticky magnet for the glass that came with the kit, and one is an suction cup magnet that goes directly into the water. They do have relatively different readings, by about ~6*F, but the tank is always between 75-80. Sadly, I awoke one morning to find one of my fish had died!!! Slowly, one by one, three two others had died with him. I had no idea what could have caused this, as I put the appropriate amount of chemicals in my tank to allow for a stable pH, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite level. Then I looked at the thermometer - the reading was at 88*F!!!!!! The stupid light caused my tank to heat up like crazy and it killed my fish I would like to see my fish interact, especially at night, so I like to keep the light on from around 9pm - 9am. Obviously I can't do that at all anymore or more of my fish will die. What do I do??? I'm scared for my poor fish and livid that they would send me a set of bulbs that cooked the tank it was meant to be in! Someone please help???

 

[fluttermoth]

I doubt very much it was the temp that killed your fish; it's more likely a build up of ammonia from being in an uncycled tank.

I'm afraid those bottles of chemicals are practically useless.

Do a large water change now (75 or 80%) with warm, dechlorinated water and have a read of some of the articles in the beginners resource centre (the link is in my sig) on 'the nitrogen cycle' and 'fish-in cycling'.

12 hours of light is far too long; you'll just end up with algae; 6 to 8 hours is enough.

Can you also list the fish you have? Do you have test kits at all?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

6-8hrs is plenty of 'light time'

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I put the appropriate amount of chemicals in my tank to allow for a stable pH, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite level.

I doubt very much it was the temp that killed your fish

Do you have test kits at all?

Agree, what have you been adding to the tank to adjust ph?

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Thanks all for the fast response!

I have Tetras, Guppies, Mollies and Platies. They're all interacting beautifully with one another. I did have a build up of ammonia from the first fish carcass, because it took me a while to notice it (I went to work in the morning and didn't see it until I went home!). Then when the others died it only made it worse. I did a 20% water change, because I was scared that removing more would stress my new fish out. I then bought a test kit and looked at the ammonia, it said it was at 0. It also said my Nitrates and Nitrites were at 0. It then said that my water was a little hard, the alkalinity was very strong and the pH was about 8.5. However, I went to Petco 12 hours later with a water sample and she said my ammonia is still high, and so is my pH. She had me buy tablets to reduce the ammonia in my tank, but Petsmart reps had told me that adding chemicals into a brand new tank is generally not recommended because the tank is so quick to fluctuate in its infancy. I did in fact read the article about in-tank cycling and I've read up on the Nitrate/ite cycle. That's what drove me to buy the plants. And it's doing wonderfully with it. I'm so confused....what do I do

 

[This Old Spouse]

Read the info on fish-in cycling here.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Read the info on fish-in cycling here.

I read that already

 

[Rickzayne]

Then what's your question?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I suggest re reading fish-in cycling untill you get your head around it, re read your water test instrucions and try test the water again. Are you using strips or liquid?

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

I suggest re reading fish-in cycling untill you get your head around it, re read your water test instrucions and try test the water again. Are you using strips or liquid?

At first I was using strips. I read these can sometimes be inaccurate, so I purchased a liquid kit (API Master Test) to continue testing everyday until the cycle is complete. At this point, would it be worth vacuuming the gravel, doing a 70% water change and starting again, or will this shock my poor fish?

 

[fluttermoth]

Large water changes, as long as the water is warmed and dechlorinated, don't shock fish.

All you need to do for the moment is test at least once a day (preferably twice) and do a water change if you see any reading at all for ammonia or nitrite (don't worry about pH or nitrate at the moment). Change as much water as you need to get those back to zero.

 

[This Old Spouse]

+1
And get a new light.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

So, good news. I did a 70% water change, vacuumed as much waste as I could, and put I primer in my tank. As of now, the readings are

pH - 7.0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Ammonia - .5ppm

Its not perfect yet but it sure beats the 4ppm ammonia reading from this morning! #41####...I'm fasting the fish to reduce ammonia and tomorrow I'll put one more dab of primer in. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'll cross my fingers for you if you do another 50% water change ASAP!

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

You got it, tomorrow afternoon, 50% !