Fish Are Dyeing And I Dont Know Why

[bloodyeagle4]

I recently relocated my semi-aggressive fish to another tank and now have my 30 galloon to fill. I went to the store about two weeks ago and got a few danios. They died within about 2 days. I checked my levels and my ammonia was a little high (like .5ppm) but it really wasn’t too bad. I did a big water change and did maintenance on the tank until my levels were about perfect. I went to petsmart about 2 days ago got a gourami and 3 guppies. All 3 guppies died. I check my ammonia levels again and they were good (at 0-.25ppm), my nitrite (about 5ppm), and my Ph which is about 6.5. To me these all seem good (the ph is a little low but not death worthy). I dont know whats going on or if it could just be the fish. Any help or thoughts would be great because it’s very frustrating. Thanks!!

 

[Ninjouzata]

Do you mean nitrite was 5 ppm or NITRATE? If nitrate was 5 ppm then there is a problem.
 
Did you cycle your tank?

 

[bloodyeagle4]

The tank should be cycled its been running for way over a year. I can go recheck my nitrate. What is a good level of nitrate? I was told anything below 40ppm

And I just check again and the NITRATE level is about 5 ppm. Is that too low too high idk..from what ive read on other forums and what not That is an okay level.

checked*

 

[attibones]

Do you ever change any media in the tank? Do you follow filter instructions and replace an insert every two weeks? I you are doing that, then you're actually forcing the tank into a new cycle every few weeks. You should not have any ammonia or nitrIte readings at all. Nitrate is safer under 40. In your post OP, you say you have 5 nitrite. Is this correct? Your water is toxic with 5ppm of nitrite.

 

[bloodyeagle4]

No I've had a succesful tank right before this so I dont know whats going on. Its still the same filter as it was when I had the other fish. and it was NITRATE my nitrite levels are at 0. sorry for the confusion on that.

 

[coolie]

Nitrate is ok then.

 

[bloodyeagle4]

yah that what I thought. So I'm just really confused on why they are dyeing then.

 

[coolie]

What about all the general house keeping and pre-requisites, you don't spray furniture polish on the tank?, you haven't got mould growing in that gap between the water and the top of the tank, you have surface movement so the water is being oxygenated and not going stagnant, you don't constantly stick dirty hand and hands plastered in soap or after shave into the tank? etc etc etc?

 

[attibones]

Very well just could be the fish. In my experience, guppies at PetsMart are particularly bad stock.

 

[b3cca]

Is your water PH vastly different than that of your LFS where you're buying them. How are you acclimatising them. 

 

[mhancock]

I'd suggest buying fish from somewhere else if you are confident that the water is OK (unless the last deaths have meant that the tank DOES need cycling now - if it's been empty).

 

[bloodyeagle4]

Figured it out! I think it was the fish which is wierd because I have gotten fish from petsmart before, but the ones I have now are going good