Desperate Advice Needed

[Spanky855]

Hi There

Can anyone help, I have a new tank, just put 5 barbs in on advice form my Local Shop to help cycle the tank, 2 days ago I lost one, and now I have lost another!!!
Problem is when I say lost I mean lost, they are no where to be seen, checked filters, plants , rocks , bog wood and sand substrate.
Do these guys eat each other? Its the only thing I can think of??

Am i going mad !! I have never been so confused. Local Shop not open until tommorrow because of holidays so i cant ask them.

If anyone can offer advise to help keep my sanity I would appreciate it .

Kind regards

Lee

 

[Underwurlde]

They aren't jumping out of the tank are they? Check behind, under etc. etc.

Putting that much fish straight into a new uncycled tank is poor, poor advice!

If I were you, I'd seriously consider taking them back and fishless cycle your tank BEFORE adding ANY fish:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

Andy

 

[Spanky855]

Guys Thanks for your help.

I have found the problem.

I have the jewel realistic rock backing which is stuck inside my tank, on one of the edges where it overlaps so you can get a seamless there is a gap !!

The water leve is only about 5mm above the top of the backing but amazingly both the missing fish have made there way down there.
I have rescued one , which seems to be ok but im afraid I was too late for the other which means I have had a dead fish in my tank for two days, will this cause any problems??

Regards Lee

 

[Underwurlde]

That backing should be stuck to the OUTSIDE of your tank. Make sure both the backing and the tank is DRY. Sellotape across the entire top edge of the backing (stops water getting down there). Use a drop of veg oil (or vaseline) smeared across entire surface of backing to make a good even 'contact' between backing & tank glass.

Sorry to hear about your dead fish. 2 days is OK in my mind. Any longer then Ammonia will go up as dead fish decomposes....

Andy

 

[Spanky855]

Hi Andy

Thanks again.

I assure you that the backing is actually fitted to the inside of the tank, its actually looks and feels like rock with bumps and hollows.

Regards Lee

PS See link http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/strukturrckwnde56.htm

 

[Underwurlde]

Oh, it's that stuff! I thought you were describing the photographic backgrounds. Silly me!

Are you still gunna use it considering what happened? I am not a great fan of the stuff as it tends to trap gunk and the such like. (As well as unfortunate fishies!)

Andy

 

[Spanky855]

Its a good question.

Its actually attached using silcone so when in place nothing can get down the back, you really have to see it to believe where the two fish had gone to.

The gap has now been plugged so I hope all goes well from here.

Regards

Lee

 

[DarkEntity]

Erm...please tell me you took the dead fish out beofre sealing the hole?

If not you will just continue to get pollutants from the rotting fish in the tank water.

 

[Spanky855]

Yep

Dead fish removed.

Lee