Fish Keep Dying - What Could Be The Problem!?

[heyman8]

I am a new hobbyist as of November of last year. I currently have a 10 gallon freshwater tank with 4 guppies, 2 platys and a pleco. I test my water regularly and do regular changes, but keep losing fish. The PetCo folks don't seem to think there's anything wrong with the water samples I bring in, but I think there MUST be something wrong!
The tank temp is consistently 76-78 degrees with a heater. When I perform water changes, I add a water conditioner (Krodon NovAqua+) and wait ~ 20-30 mins to let the water conditioner work and get the water to the same temp as the tank water temp. I test with a Mardel test kit and have roughly these same results with each test:
Nitrate : 0-20ppm (safe range)
Nitrite : 0 (safe range)
Total Hardness : 120ppm (upper end of 'moderate')
Alkalinity/Buffering Capacity : midway between 0 and 80 (seems to be a bit low according to Mardel's measures - says 'add buffer up')
pH : between 6.4 and 6.8pH (seems a bit low according to Mardel's measures - says add 'pH Plus')
Ammonia : 0 (safe)

Any thoughts?? I need help!!!

 

[waterdrop]

I'm not familiar with the Mardel kit, are the tests liquid drop based or is it a strip that is dipped?

 

[heyman8]

I'm not familiar with the Mardel kit, are the tests liquid drop based or is it a strip that is dipped?

strips - one strip for ammonia and another one for the rest (nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity, hardness, pH)

The PetCo folks use strips, as well, and come up with pretty much the same results...

 

[Davo86]

Hey
How long has the tank been up and running?, was it fully cycled?
What percentage of water changes are you doing and how regularly?
What fish have you been losing i.e. just certain species or random fish
Have the fish had any symptoms?

testing strips are notorious for being slightly out on their results, (with nitirite and ammonia even 0.1 is a toxic amount for your fish)

 

[heyman8]

Hey
How long has the tank been up and running?, was it fully cycled?
>>I've had the tank since November and it has been fully cycled.
What percentage of water changes are you doing and how regularly?
>>I'm doing ~30 percent water changes on the weekend; making sure to vacuum the gravel bed
What fish have you been losing i.e. just certain species or random fish
>>I have had Platy's and have lost and replaced several and also 3 danios and have lost those, as well. The guppies are fairly new (weekend before last) and have not lost any so far.
Have the fish had any symptoms?
>>No visible symptoms that I have noticed. The lost fish exhibited listlessness, tilting to the side and erratic swimming (slow then really fast) towards the end.

testing strips are notorious for being slightly out on their results, (with nitirite and ammonia even 0.1 is a toxic amount for your fish)

>> what testing kit would you recommend? The one with the drops/vials?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[Davo86]

>> what testing kit would you recommend? The one with the drops/vials?

most liquid tests are fine although most people will recommend the API brand.

The lost fish exhibited listlessness, tilting to the side and erratic swimming (slow then really fast) towards the end

I would say that these are all symptoms of an internal bacteria condition, possibly Swim bladder,

 

[guppy fan]

I've heard most plecos will out grow a ten gallon tank, but I've never kept plecos before.

 

[Davo86]

I've heard most plecos will out grow a ten gallon tank, but I've never kept plecos before.

yeps that pretty much the case, unless the pleco is a pitbull pleco then it would be better to rehome it now before it grows too large

 

[waterdrop]

I agree with heyman8, the jury is out as to whether you are just having trouble with diseased fish or whether you have significant water chemistry and filter problems that are just unknown because the strips are wrong (no matter who uses them) and because you may still be at the beginning of the learning curve for bio-filtration etc. Hope we hear from you!