Beginner and have questions

[Richard Brown]

I'm new to fish and aquariums so hopefully this won't be too boring but I have a question regarding my new aquarium.

My wife and I have always wanted an aquarium so when a lady called to place a 75 gallon Oceanic with two Emperor bio filter pumps, gravel and two algae eaters for free then we jumped on the deal. We emptied all the water except for a little green nasty water in the gravel. I filled the tank with tap water and treated it for chlorine per instructions. I also added aquarium salt per instructions. I turned on the Emperor filter pumps and connected the heater.

Okay, this is where the rookie messed up (maybe?). I waited two days before purchasing fish. My wife and I purchased the freshwater community fish from two different LFS, and after reading this forum I now understand why they didn't talk to me about cycling my 'new' tank without fish. In any event, I placed about 20 small fish in the aquarium and everything seemed great for the first week. One local LFS, who was actually fairly helpful, told me to watch the tank for ammonia so I tested the water every day and have an ammonia guage in the water. I performed a 20% water change after the first 7 days with a gravel siphon so I could clean some of that green nasty stuff at the bottom. Well, I hope I haven't removed all the good ammonia eating bacteria from the tank. I filled the tank back up with tap water, treated it for chlorine, added a little salt for the new 15 gallons of tap water and thought I was ahead of the 'new' tank game.

Well, a couple of days later, one fish died overnight so I removed it immediately in the morning. He didn't seem to eat as well as the others. A couple of days later a calico goldfish was getting picked on by a Platie (I think) and then the next morning he was dead. I removed him immediately. I've lost two more since then and again I tested the water for ammonia with a test kit. It showed 0 ppm so I know there isn't a toxic situation. I haven't tested for nitrates or is it nitrites?

My question is was there possibly enough bacteria in the old gravel and the old Emperor filters to introduce the needed bacteria? I haven't lost any fish in the last 24 hours and I did add Stress Zyme (?), which stated that it introduced ammonia-fighting bacteria.

Sorry for the long story but I thought the more information describing my rookie mistake(s) then that would help with everyone's understanding of my current situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Richard

 

[Sandusky]

Well, a couple of days later, one fish died overnight so I removed it immediately in the morning. He didn't seem to eat as well as the others. A couple of days later a calico goldfish was getting picked on by a Platie (I think) and then the next morning he was dead. I removed him immediately. I've lost two more since then and again I tested the water for ammonia with a test kit. It showed 0 ppm so I know there isn't a toxic situation. I haven't tested for nitrates or is it nitrites?

Welcome Richard!

It might not be your tank thats killing off the fish at all. If the params check out and the biological filter system is the same as the woman whom you bought the tank from then the cycle should actualy have a head start because of the bacteria settled in the filter media. What MIGHT be killing your fish is infections/diseases that the new fish might have on them from the LFS. Not all LFS keep up healthy dissplay tanks and might even be selling sick and/or injured fish without your knowing. I suggest you inspect the fish your going to purchase VERY carefully, if you find any white spots, torn fins, listfullness, irregular swimming ect. then i would suggest not buying ANY FISH from that tank as it could be spread to it's tank mates. I dont know exactly if this will help with the fish you have now but it will help for future refrence.

Good luck with the fishies, hope they make it!

 

[Richard Brown]

Thanks for the quick reply and advice, Sandusky. I know three of the four that died came from the same LFS so that is a definite possibility. I did notice that some of the fish were trying to scrape their gills on a rock but I don't see any white spots. Could it still be ich? They don't seem to be doing it today so I wonder if it was the four that were unhealthy that caused the problem.

I really love watching the fish. Seems to take all the stress away but I really want to provide a healthy home for them. Should I wait a while before I do another 20 percent water change?

Thanks,

Richard

 

[Sandusky]

Hmm. It wouldnt hurt to change a bit more water.
About the fish that are rubbing themselves against the rock...
They might have a parasite infection, MARDEL puts out a good line of products for parasites, a good one for parasites/internal infection is MARACYN-TWO and COPPERSAFE.
First off, you should try to find a small (say 10-gallon) tank, this can be used to "hospitalize/quarantine" any newly bought fish. Essentialy this tank can be used to put new fish in and observe them for any signs of illness, QT tanks are also great for medicating one or more fish istead of the WHOLE tank. Though it's not a NEEDED per say it's highly urged to keep a QT tank, usualy kept without any gravel/decoration (maybe a few silk plants). A QT tank must have a cycled filter though and/or an air stone+pump and a heater, best to use a small feeder goldfish to help it along as goldfish are hardy for cycling tanks. Keep new fish and fish acting strangly in the QT tank for as long as you wish/ till they finsih reciving meds ect.

A tub, or bucket can be used also be used as a QT tank, same media required. (to sub a filter do 30%daily water changes depending on the size of the bucket and how many QTed fish.

Thats your best bet.