piscineamigo
New Member
Hi all. Here's my saga.
About six weeks ago I started a new aquarium for my son. It's a 20 gallon TopFin tank with a TopFin 20 power filter. First I tried doing a fishless cycle using Tetra SafeStart as a bacteria source, but after four weeks the cycle was going nowhere. Then I added Dr. Tim's One and Only bacteria source and the cycle started in a day and was fully cycled in 10 days. It could process 4ppm of ammonia in less than a day, with zero ammonia and zero nitrite remaining. I kept it going for several more days, adding 4ppm ammonia per day, and always the ammonia and nitrite would peak and disappear rapidly. I then did a 50% water change on a Friday and Saturday (always treating water with Tetra AquaSafe), resulting in final readings of 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10ppm nitrate, ph 7.6-7.8, temp 77-78F. On Sunday we went to the store to get some fish.
I went to Sierra Fish and Pet in Renton Wa. as they have a huge selection and good reputation. We picked out four dwarf neon rainbows, two red platys, and two salt and pepper cory cats. Usually this would be a lot to start with, but since the tank could process a lot of ammonia quickly, they and I thought this number was OK.
I introduced the fish by floating the bags in the aquarium and slowly adding tank water to the bags over about an hour and a half. Then I scooped them into the tank with a net.
I checked the water daily - always 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10-15 ppm nitrate. I checked the ammonia alert tag often and it always registered nothing.
They did fine for about 4 days. On the fifth day the platys were gasping near the surface. Later that day one platy died, then a few hours later another died, and a few hours later a rainbow died. Because of the gasping I assumed they must not have enough oxygen, even though the pump kept the water moving pretty well. The next day I installed a Tetra Whisper 20 air pump with a 1" diameter spherical airstone. I also did a 30% water change and vacuumed the gravel. Now the water was really moving and had lots of bubbles. I figured this would fix any oxygen problem.
They looked really happy. Eating well, swimming around. That night another rainbow died. Two days later (yesterday) another rainbow died. They look ok until a few hours before they die, when they swim feebly near the surface, then flop side-to-side and eventually sink and die. Now there are two cory cats and one rainbow left. The skin of all the fish looks clean and without film or spots, and the gills looks pink, though the rainbows may look a bit dull.
I took the water to be tested at the same fish store. They tested ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, copper, Gh, Kh, phosphorous. All readings were fine though I don't know the exact readings.
At this point I'm fully expecting all of the remaining fish to kick. My son is very disappointed. I'm out of ideas, except perhaps to add some salt, but not much because of the corys. Any ideas are welcome.
Other info:
ph 7.6-7.8 and stable
temp 77-78F and stable
florescent lamp, on 6-8 hours/day
two plastic plants
one ceramic fake coral
one very large and hollow plastic fake driftwood (could this thing be giving off toxins?)
25lb medium-size smooth gravel
All ornaments were rinsed with dechlorinated water
feeding with Omega One Tropical Flakes and small sinking shrimp pellets for the corys (brand?)
feed twice/day: a tiny pinch of 4-5 flakes (2 flakes now that there are fewer fish), one pellet.
About six weeks ago I started a new aquarium for my son. It's a 20 gallon TopFin tank with a TopFin 20 power filter. First I tried doing a fishless cycle using Tetra SafeStart as a bacteria source, but after four weeks the cycle was going nowhere. Then I added Dr. Tim's One and Only bacteria source and the cycle started in a day and was fully cycled in 10 days. It could process 4ppm of ammonia in less than a day, with zero ammonia and zero nitrite remaining. I kept it going for several more days, adding 4ppm ammonia per day, and always the ammonia and nitrite would peak and disappear rapidly. I then did a 50% water change on a Friday and Saturday (always treating water with Tetra AquaSafe), resulting in final readings of 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10ppm nitrate, ph 7.6-7.8, temp 77-78F. On Sunday we went to the store to get some fish.
I went to Sierra Fish and Pet in Renton Wa. as they have a huge selection and good reputation. We picked out four dwarf neon rainbows, two red platys, and two salt and pepper cory cats. Usually this would be a lot to start with, but since the tank could process a lot of ammonia quickly, they and I thought this number was OK.
I introduced the fish by floating the bags in the aquarium and slowly adding tank water to the bags over about an hour and a half. Then I scooped them into the tank with a net.
I checked the water daily - always 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10-15 ppm nitrate. I checked the ammonia alert tag often and it always registered nothing.
They did fine for about 4 days. On the fifth day the platys were gasping near the surface. Later that day one platy died, then a few hours later another died, and a few hours later a rainbow died. Because of the gasping I assumed they must not have enough oxygen, even though the pump kept the water moving pretty well. The next day I installed a Tetra Whisper 20 air pump with a 1" diameter spherical airstone. I also did a 30% water change and vacuumed the gravel. Now the water was really moving and had lots of bubbles. I figured this would fix any oxygen problem.
They looked really happy. Eating well, swimming around. That night another rainbow died. Two days later (yesterday) another rainbow died. They look ok until a few hours before they die, when they swim feebly near the surface, then flop side-to-side and eventually sink and die. Now there are two cory cats and one rainbow left. The skin of all the fish looks clean and without film or spots, and the gills looks pink, though the rainbows may look a bit dull.
I took the water to be tested at the same fish store. They tested ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, copper, Gh, Kh, phosphorous. All readings were fine though I don't know the exact readings.
At this point I'm fully expecting all of the remaining fish to kick. My son is very disappointed. I'm out of ideas, except perhaps to add some salt, but not much because of the corys. Any ideas are welcome.
Other info:
ph 7.6-7.8 and stable
temp 77-78F and stable
florescent lamp, on 6-8 hours/day
two plastic plants
one ceramic fake coral
one very large and hollow plastic fake driftwood (could this thing be giving off toxins?)
25lb medium-size smooth gravel
All ornaments were rinsed with dechlorinated water
feeding with Omega One Tropical Flakes and small sinking shrimp pellets for the corys (brand?)
feed twice/day: a tiny pinch of 4-5 flakes (2 flakes now that there are fewer fish), one pellet.
