Beginner die offs

[CSmaniac]

Hello all, I'm a beginner at this whole tropical fish thing. In order to understand my problem I think i better describe how I started.

I moved into a new room in my house, and the kid who lived in the room before me left a 30 gallon tank with a foot and half long channel catfish in it. Somehow it lived the entire summer without ever being fed. I found it in 10 inches of water and with the tank completely covered in algae. I tossed the catfish in the gorge, (I live in Ithaca), and scraped off all of the algae and calcium deposits on the tank with a razor. I didn't use any soap or chemicals (although I don't know what happened to the tank before I go it) and I rinsed the tank and the rocks with water.

I have a 30-50 gallon filter, a heater, a light, a thermometer and an ammonia measurer.

The die offs:

I initially put 10 guppies and 1 beta fish in the tank. the beta fish and 7 of the guppies died within a week. I did a 50% water change, went to a different pet store, and got 3 pictus catfish, and 4 bala sharks. Put them in, and they were doing fine for a week and a half. Two of the 3 of the guppies died (natural causes) 3 or 4 days after adding the balas and pictus. Last night I found the temperature to be around 79 degrees (a bit higher then it normally is), and lowered the thermometer one notch. When I woke up this mornign the temp was around 73 degrees, but my catfish and one of my balas were sick. I raised it back up a notch in the morning, but when I got back from class all 3 catfish died, and 1 of the balas died. I am now left with 3 balas and 1 guppie.

It seems that my fish keep randomnly dieing on me. Was the most recent die off caused by this drop in temperature, or is my tank cursed with something? Petco gives a 2 week garuentee on the balas and pictus, which expires wednesday. Should I simply replace the fish, or scrap the whole thing?

My ammonia reader is fine. I haven't changed the filter but my friend said it should be fine cause I haven't had the tank that long, and I didn't have that many fish.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ferrikins]

I think your problem is you tank is trying to cycle, theres a post on here about it, but sorry can't remember witch forum it is in.

all the fish you have choosen are not realy hardy and thats proberly way there dieing, I can't see the temp thing being a problem.

can you get NitrIte and nitrAte readings??

sorry can't help you more

 

[skimpy]

Hi CSamaniac, I would definately say that your fish are dying because your tank is trying to cycle. There is a lot more to starting a tank than cleaning, adding water and then fish. This link will help New tank syndrome.

Firstly if you are going to cycle with fish it is very important that you only get 3 fish at a time and that you monitor the water parameters very carefully thoughtout the cycling (possibly about 8 weeks) This other link will give you an idea of what sort of readings and waterchanges may be required.cycling record.

1. ensure you add dechlorinator to any water you put into your tank (including the initial set up of water).

2. add fish carefully, choose hardy fish, and only add a few (say 3) at any one time. When you wish to add more fish make sure your water parameters are in a place that is safe to add new fish i.e. 0 ammonia and 0 nitrIte.

3. do regular (daily) water tests. The tests you will need are PH, Ammonia, NitrIte and NitrAte.

4. Read up on the Nitrogen cycle (another link here to help Nitrogen cycle so that you can begin to understand what is happening to you tank.

If you read up on the above links, and take it slowly you should have no problem.

Sorry to hear that you have had such a bad beginning, do not give up, understanding is the key. GOOD LUCK