Heater Question

[Queen Bee]

I am in a basement apartment and even if it is warm outside, it can be very cold inside. I've been trying to figure out why I lost 2 tanks of fish, and every fish I have bought since then.

I am running a 10 G & 29 G. All levels read 0 using the api drop tests. I've also been getting bacteria bloom quite frequently in both the tanks.

All the fish are fine when I go to bed around midnight, and next morning around 10, they are dead.

I am running aqua clear filters in both and air sponge filters in both tanks. I usually keep the water level pretty near the top. I suspect that the heater is going on alot during the night. (Things started going downhill Labour Day weekend, and it has been very cold here) The surface agitation is good, but not high. (I have also been over dosing in dechlorinator lately to get rid of the excess ammonia in my tap water if that matters)

Could the increased amount of time the heater is on, and keeping the lid always on tightly and securely be causing the deletion of air getting into the water? Should I add an additional air stone but attach it so it would be closer to the surface to get more aggitation?

The heater is currently set at 24. The only fish that seems to be doing well lately, is the guppy that is a make shift isolation tank that is completely open and has no heater.

 

[raptorrex]

first thing is the heater should be on all the time!! and you should have at least some, nitrate and ammonia. how long have you had the tank and have you cycled it? a bit more background may well help us help you. ie:

how many and what type of fish you have, the answers to the question above pulse the full set of water sats your test kit gives.

 

[Queen Bee]

first thing is the heater should be on all the time!! and you should have at least some, nitrate and ammonia. how long have you had the tank and have you cycled it? a bit more background may well help us help you. ie:

how many and what type of fish you have, the answers to the question above pulse the full set of water sats your test kit gives.

The heater is plugged in all the time and cycles on and off. Nitrate, Nitrite, ammonia all are reading at 0. Ph is reading a 6. The tanks have been running for 2 months when I lost both of them full of fish. I then emptied them, cleaned them, and refilled them. Around the 5 of Sept, I got filter drippings for the 10 and a couple of days later added a swordtail. He lasted 8 days. Day later added a platy, he lasted 2 days and died. The 29 received a filter from a cycled tank (Same one got drippings from) After 1 week, I tried to add a guppy. The guppy is the same one that has been in my make shift tank. He was only in the tank for 15 minutes when he started darting around and racing to the surface. I got him out and put back in the original tank. He was very agitated and panting hard. After 1 hour there, he is still panting, although not as heavy as he originally was. He turned a dark green or black in colour on his body.(he is a pale yellow guppy). His colour is now starting to come back. He almost tried to jump out of the water.

The tank I am receiving from is running platy (only 6 in a 20 G) The person is using the same filter and gravel as I am using.

 

[Dave Ehl]

that's a low ph for most aquarium fish. The standard is 7, which is neutral. a ph of 6 has ten times more hydrogen than 7, which makes it more acidic. There are products that can adjust ph. Also, if you're getting a reading of 0 nitrates, then your biofilter is not working properly. since you're starting fresh, do a fishless cycle. the instructions are pinned in this section of the forum. that will solve your problems and make the tank stable.