Dying Fish

[pinola]

Hi Im quite new to this and think I have mad a big mistake I have a 24" tank and at the weekend I added a new filter a fluval 105 before that I have an internal filter system so to setup the fluval I emptied my tank saved 60% of the tank water them I cleaned the gravel ect.. And started to put my tank back together I have kept the old filter running in the tank for now for the bacteria Now my fish are dying fast I have lost and 6 so far all they are doing is swimming around with there mouths open and closing very fast like I said im a beginning so please help before I lose them all

My water stats are

No3 100
No2 0
ph 6.8

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

3 things :
did you keep your filter running while cleaning the tank, ie in a bucket of tank water, you said you kept 60% of it?
how did you clean the gravel, ie what with?
your nitrate is quite high, but did you test for ammonia? this is the most likely thing to be wrong with your tank from your description. if there is ammonia present, then it will burn the gills of your fish and cause them to gasp for oxygen, and it can cause quick deaths like you are experiencing.

 

[WILDER]

We need to know water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph, big mistake cleaning the gravel as you would of lost all the beneifical bacteria that was in the gravel.

 

[pinola]

Yeah i know that now cleaned gravel in tap water
Had the water tested at local pet shop for free and all they said was all levels fine inc ammonia but high nitrate

did you keep your filter running while cleaning the tank, ie in a bucket of tank water, you said you kept 60% of it?

how did you clean the gravel, ie what with?

your nitrate is quite high, but did you test for ammonia?

Nope took the filter out and gave it a small clean as well

Cleaned gravel with tap water

Was told ammonia level was 0

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

what did you clean the filter with?

 

[pinola]

tank water

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Do regular 20-30% water changes with dechlorinator every day or two, also i would buy an accurate test kit of your own for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates as then you can keep a closer eye on your water quality and know for sure what the stats/test results are . Fish definatly sound like they are dying due to water quality issues, so regular small/average sized water changes will be the key to sorting this out- nitrates should be kept preferable 40 or under, do you have any healthy live aquarium plants in the tank?

 

[pinola]

Do regular 20-30% water changes with dechlorinator every day or two, also i would buy an accurate test kit of your own for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates as then you can keep a closer eye on your water quality and know for sure what the stats/test results are . Fish definatly sound like they are dying due to water quality issues, so regular small/average sized water changes will be the key to sorting this out- nitrates should be kept preferable 40 or under, do you have any healthy live aquarium plants in the tank?

yeah I have three oxygen plants that are fine after small water changed fish are looking a little better no dead ones today