Fish Dying Within 24hrs, Need Help?

[stuartr]

I have a new fluval tank with 125 litre capacity, im using sand as a substrate. I Have a PH of 6.5 no nitrate no nitrite and amonia as of yet. Id left the water in my tank for one week running with a fluval 3+ filter with the air supply on its max. I have done nothing else to the water as I was told the chlorine will come out the water after a week by the LFS. I added 5 lemon tetras and a java fern on bogwood to start my tank cycling slowly. Within 24 hours their activity has rapidly reduced, at first it looked like typical breeding behaviour, so I went to bed thinking they were sorting the pecking order out, now they are very lazy and lathargic two have died. They decseased flicked around on their backs in sharp motions while travelling round the tank in the current.

Note: The water is not completley clear its slightly hazey in the tank one shop said it was the substrate in the water and I could add fish at this stage, the other shop said it may be bacteria and it would die of quickly, this shop sold me the tetras and said it was ok to go ahead and cycle.

Can some one tell me what I have done wrong please?

 

[WILDER]

You need read up on cycling a tank.
Fish will die as they have to go through the ammonia and nitrite process which damages the fish gills and burns there skin.
You have been given some terrible advice.
I would invest in a liquid master kit in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

I would post this thread in the tropical discussion part of the forum, will get more help over there.