Can Somone Advise Please

[nay27uk]

Hi all im new to keeping tropical fish (realy New) i got a tank on sunday morning its a moby dick tank about 1' its got all the stuff a pump that sucks the water up then passes it through three filters befor it goes back into ther tank. it also has a heater and it all works well. BUT i need help when i filled the tank on sunday it was good then monday when i got up it was all merky and verry smelly, so i cleaned it all out againe and the fish seemed fine infact extremely happy. then today againe the fish seemed happy and lively when i feed them this morning, then when i went to feed them this evening i had lost 6 of my fish, the water was merky and againe stunk like a trash can. Could anyone please tell me waht im doing wrong WHY is the water getting so merky and stinkey so quick AND why have i lost my fish. Here is what i have done to keep the fish

(1) keeping the water temprature at 79-80 F
(2) feeding three times daily morining, afternoon, and night
(3) making sure that the pump hasnt stoped

PLEASE i dont want to loose anymore of my babies ive lost 3 tetra neons 2 somthings and one tiger somthing, all i have left is 4 tiger somthings and my common plec.

HELP

 

[Luke_e]

Ok, first of all welcome to the forum. I'll do my best to advise you, but i'm useless at explaining stuff. So if i dont explain it well hopefully someone can fill the gaps for me.

Before adding fish to a tank, you should cycle the tank. Bascially cycling the tank is where you add amonia to a tank (amonia is also created by fish waste) and you add some bacteria, this bacteria feed on the ammonia and they build up inside the filter.
Have a read of the following links:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365&st=0

Have you washed youre gravel? This may be causing the cloudyness.

Have you declorinated/treated you're water? Chrlone in tap water is dangerous to fish and can rot their fins and in the end kill them. Declorinators make the chlorine safe for fish.
You will have to do water changes to keep the ammonia levels down otherwise you fish may keep on dieing.

What fish do you currently have in it? (and how many)
Do you have a water test kit? If so take some water readings.

 

[nay27uk]

Ok, first of all welcome to the forum. I'll do my best to advise you, but i'm useless at explaining stuff. So if i dont explain it well hopefully someone can fill the gaps for me.

Before adding fish to a tank, you should cycle the tank. Bascially cycling the tank is where you add amonia to a tank (amonia is also created by fish waste) and you add some bacteria, this bacteria feed on the ammonia and they build up inside the filter.
Have a read of the following links:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365&st=0

Have you washed youre gravel? This may be causing the cloudyness.

Have you declorinated/treated you're water? Chrlone in tap water is dangerous to fish and can rot their fins and in the end kill them. Declorinators make the chlorine safe for fish.
You will have to do water changes to keep the ammonia levels down otherwise you fish may keep on dieing.

What fish do you currently have in it? (and how many)
Do you have a water test kit? If so take some water readings.

Wow I didnt Know any of that stuff about cycling and amonia and all that, i thought i could just get a tank fill it up get the right temprature and add my fish.
Now i only have 5 fish left
(1) my common plec (love this fish)
(2-5) 4X tiger somthings

I lost 1X tiger somthing
3X tetra neons and
2X somthing i dont know the name of but they are about the size of a tetra neon shaped like a common carp are sort of a creamy wellowy color with a black triagle near ther tail.

Yes i did wash the gravel i used a culinder and my shower and hand to turn it.

I dont have a water test kit and dont even know what one looks like.

like i said i am verry new to this and just assumed you could put them strait in the tank if the temprature was rite like goldfish.

 

[Luke_e]

I'm sorry to tell you but you're tank is not big enough for a common plec. They need probably around 6ft to be comfortable.
Which shop sold you it all? They have contributed to you're tank and the losses of you're fish.
You must take the common plec back, preferable the tiger (barbs?) too otherwise they may die too, and you'll need to start again, otherwise the fish may die through the cycle (not sure why the died straight away as the amonia shouldnt of build up that quickly).

Did you declroinate the water with a treatment? This is a must otherwise the fish will die, but i really suggest you take them all back.

Goldfish arent as simple as believed, they are quite messy fish.

 

[nay27uk]

i got the tank at a carboot sale and the fish from a local aquatic shop. the plec is only a small one about 1 1/2" they said they can grow to about 18" but i could take it back and swap it for a smaller one when it gets bigger.
I think i need to do some reading and start over. is ther any good sites that give a newbie a step by step instructions on how to setup and maintain a tropical aquarium. preferably with all needed chemicals and gadgets named with links to purchase

 

[Luke_e]

Well the above link tells you how to cycle a tank.
Basically, you need a water testing kit which gives you the levels of ph, amonia, nitrate and nitrite. You'll need a thermomiter, dechlorinator. Go to your pets shop/fish shop and ask for some advise there, preferably not pets at home if your from the UK, as many people have had bad advise from there.
As for taking the fish back and swapping it well, they still creat a lot of waste and i wouldnt see the point in doing this.
Everything you need to know about starting a tank is in this forum, look around and read, and you'll learn what to do.

 

[nay27uk]

THANKS staks for your help. maybe i will get it right next time, but thats me all over, very impatiant want everything now.
If your in the uk could you give me any product names for the declorinatores and stuff i want to try ebay

 

[Luke_e]

No problem, glad i could help you.
Dont put you're self down because of it, you're lfs should of advised you also.

declorinators available in the uk are made by King British and others. Bascially it will probably be easier for you to get it from your LFS rather than ebay, it isnt too expensive, and after you've paid Postage you would probably be able to get it for cheaper from a shop..

Make sure when you add water to your tank to treat it before, i.e add the drops of declorinator before you put it into the tank. Also, when your tank is cycled, if you decide to rinse the filter, make sure you rinse it in tank water..

Good luck.