Dead Fish

[gkaugustine]

Just wanted to say that i should have did my research before i decided to take up this hobby...

Bought a 10G tank
Filter
Heater
Air Pump

3 cichlids
1 pleco

lived for 3 days.....only survivor is pleco

What i dont understand is why they died when the levels were fine. The day of their death the amonia levels was at .5 i got some amonia tablets and did a 25% water change then 40 minutes later the fishes started to swim to the top of the tank periodically poping up for air......in about 5 minutes they droped to the floor and stoped breathing......yesterday was a sad day...now today the water all of a sudden is really cloudy tested all the levels and their all fine. The pleco seems fine......

HELP!!

 

[-germ-]

Whats an ammonia tablet?
Detailed description (ie;copy the back of the pack) or link to the exact (not just similar) product.
Ps; I have a baby

 

[gkaugustine]

Whats an ammonia tablet?
Detailed description (ie;copy the back of the pack) or link to the exact (not just similar) product.
Ps; I have a baby

Ammonia clear tank buddies tablet.

They fish died after i applied that to the tank and after the water change.

 

[joshthesud]

im really sorry about your fish but i have a freind that could help u his name is rabbut.

 

[bubblesburst80]

sorry for you loss, this is a great place for info, hope you can find what you need to carry on with fishkeeping

welcome to the forum btw

xXx

 

[Shedeivl]

have u read about fish desscess it my not of been amonia levels I would read though fish dessces and see if u can think back and rember if ur fish did show systioms RIP poor little fishes if it helps u r not the only one out there who has done this as for me i killed ten i felt like the bigest murder

 

[TubbyLaLa]

Just a wild guess but if they were cichilds could it have been the hardness/softness or Ph of your water I do not keeps them but I know they have specific water requirements where a pleco can be more hardy depending on which type. Maybe a browse in the cichlid forum would be useful? Sorry for your loss hope your plec does ok (and that he only grows small). Some pets shops are irresponsible and sell people plecs that will grow far too big for their tank so it might be worth asking for an ID for him/her in the pleco forum. Good Luck

ETA When you say the levels are all fine what exactly are they? this could help. Cloudy water could be a bacterial bloom, we had a resin cave once that made our water cloudy....trying to think of other reasons for cloudy water maybe use a search of the forum for cloudy water in the emergency section maybe this could bring some ideas?

 

[newtotropical]

Sounds like your tank isint cycled. Cichlids cant take bad water, any reading for ammonia is bad!!!

 

[fry_lover]

Sounds like your tank isint cycled. Cichlids cant take bad water, any reading for ammonia is bad!!!

yes any reading for ammonia is bad, but what was the pH, as ammonia is more toxic to fish when over pH 7.0 (i think thats right)

 

[typhoon]

cichlids are not really beginner fish to be honest they need PH of around 7.5 minimum up to 9 in some cases plecs tend to be very hardy spesh if its a common?

 

[scooterchick]

What levels are fine? How long did you have water in the tank before adding the fish? If the tank was brand new the levels would be fine cos there wouldn't be a chance for the biological cycle to have taken place. It's like a chain........fiah waste, food waste start producing ammonia, this in turn converts to nitrite......friendly bacteria begins to develop turning the nitrite into nitrate. Amonia and nitrite are lethal to fish. It's only when enough good bacteria have built up that it's safe to add fish. Doing a fishless cycle, adding amonia yourself every day to an empty tank, this process takes around 4 weeks. I would guess you added the fish straight away and the amonia and nitrite build up have killed your fish.

I would return the plec to your lfs (local fish shop) immediately and read the thread about doing a fishless cycle.

Please stick around, and welcome! Sorry about the circumstances but it's probably what's brought the majority of us here.