tnfishlady
New Member
I had posted this in the Welcome Topic under New Here, New Aquariums, And Dying Fish (a long intro), but have copied the pertinent info here as well.
I currently have 5 aquariums. All currently have some live plants, Anubias and Cryptocorne species. The first aquarium I set up was a 20 gallon high, in early June. This aquarium has a Marineland Biowheel power filter and a heater. The first try in stocking the aquarium ended up in disaster -- I purchased and added 3 small angelfish, 3 platies, 2 dwarf gouramies, and 2 cory cats, all at the same time. I did add some bacteria starter, and the bottle seemed to indicate all would be fine as long as I added it for several days after starting the aquarium. The platies lasted a week; the others died within 48 hours. My research after this happened indicated the fish died of ammonia poisoning.
The 2nd try proved more successful, with 5 zebra danios cycling the aquarium, and I think 3 of those made it through the cycling process. The aquarium cycled in a month. Then I added 2 small tiger barbs, and a week later, two more small tiger barbs. One of the tiger barbs died, everything tested fine. A few days later I bought another tiger barb, then a few days later, added 3 black ruby barbs. A tiger barb died soon after, then one of the black ruby barbs died, but I think he had been nipped and bacteria set in. Then another tiger barb died with no signs of illness. I purchased two more tiger barbs. Plus I had some trouble with danios as well, but do not remember the specifics as I added then moved them around to other aquariums. I had a couple of weeks when all seemed to be ok. I then moved the danios out to start my newest aquarium. Just a few days ago I lost another tiger barb after it was hiding out among the plants at the bottom for a few days without eating, and another had been mostly hiding at the bottom now, although in the past 24 hours it has come up to eat and out a little more. There are no signs of illness and all tests come out ok. Since cycling the aquarium, I've done 3 or 4 20% water changes. I can understand loosing fish when the aquarium is cycled, but does anyone have clue what is happening here when all tests come out ok and there are no signs of illness? Also I should add I am using Prime as a dechlorinator/water conditioner. I am using API test kits, which I understand now may be unreliable? That is all that is available around here as far as liquid test kits.
Thank you in advance for any insight.
I currently have 5 aquariums. All currently have some live plants, Anubias and Cryptocorne species. The first aquarium I set up was a 20 gallon high, in early June. This aquarium has a Marineland Biowheel power filter and a heater. The first try in stocking the aquarium ended up in disaster -- I purchased and added 3 small angelfish, 3 platies, 2 dwarf gouramies, and 2 cory cats, all at the same time. I did add some bacteria starter, and the bottle seemed to indicate all would be fine as long as I added it for several days after starting the aquarium. The platies lasted a week; the others died within 48 hours. My research after this happened indicated the fish died of ammonia poisoning.
The 2nd try proved more successful, with 5 zebra danios cycling the aquarium, and I think 3 of those made it through the cycling process. The aquarium cycled in a month. Then I added 2 small tiger barbs, and a week later, two more small tiger barbs. One of the tiger barbs died, everything tested fine. A few days later I bought another tiger barb, then a few days later, added 3 black ruby barbs. A tiger barb died soon after, then one of the black ruby barbs died, but I think he had been nipped and bacteria set in. Then another tiger barb died with no signs of illness. I purchased two more tiger barbs. Plus I had some trouble with danios as well, but do not remember the specifics as I added then moved them around to other aquariums. I had a couple of weeks when all seemed to be ok. I then moved the danios out to start my newest aquarium. Just a few days ago I lost another tiger barb after it was hiding out among the plants at the bottom for a few days without eating, and another had been mostly hiding at the bottom now, although in the past 24 hours it has come up to eat and out a little more. There are no signs of illness and all tests come out ok. Since cycling the aquarium, I've done 3 or 4 20% water changes. I can understand loosing fish when the aquarium is cycled, but does anyone have clue what is happening here when all tests come out ok and there are no signs of illness? Also I should add I am using Prime as a dechlorinator/water conditioner. I am using API test kits, which I understand now may be unreliable? That is all that is available around here as far as liquid test kits.
Thank you in advance for any insight.
