Help (Full Info Provided) My Fish Are Dying

[Chrisrules334]

Tank fluval chi 25l (maybe 20l)
1 small neon tetra 1.5cm
1 cherry barb 2cm
1 phantom like tetra 3cm
1 unknown (family got it I can't identify but it's about 3cm and unagressive to others)

PH ridiculously high 8.3 I believe
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40-50ppm
Temperature 26c (UK weather fluctuating massively so hard to control currently)

Wednesday top up water
Sunday change 25-40% I believe (dad does it) and add some water safe when changing

It is clear to me what is wrong - family are on holiday and I thought I'd check water.. AApparently according to lfs it's fine. I disagree.

Our fish are dying rapidly... One every few weeks. I believe the phantom currently has bloated stomach and swollen eyes and is breathing quickly. Not moving well.

Our little tetra eyes appear bigger too but hard to tell as they are so small.

Our Guppy died a fairly bad death - stomach swollen to rupture and back appeared snapped. Eyes popped also.

What can I do to help the fish? As I'm looking after it I imagine I'll do a better job for a few weeks and pass on the info to dad.

Thanks in advance

 

[Blondielovesfish]

None of those fish should be in a tank that size and they all need schools of at least 6.

Do a water change, about 75%. Remember to add a dechlorinater and to match the temperature of the water. See if the fish perk up a little.
After this water change, if you could do daily water changes of 50% then that would help. Keep doing this and you should see an improvement (hopefully).
If their condition only worsens then it may be kinder to euthanise (wait a week of so before deciding).

Once the fish are cured, I recommend that the fish are rehomed or you upgrade their tank and you give them all schools of at least 6.

Is the tank cycled?

 

[Chrisrules334]

Thanks for the reply,

I believe the tank is cycled (although this is the first time I've looked after the fish)

What would you have in a 25L tank? Our Lfs are clearly useless, as we used to have many more fish (because - as you do - we listened to lfs)...

I'll do the water change later today and the daily 50%.

Shall I just use tap water and some water safe before adding?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

You could house a betta in a 20 liter tank.
 
When I got into fish keeping and knew nothing... my LFS told me I could buy a 12 litre tank "cycle" it for 2 days and add 2 goldfish.  Let's just say nothing about that went well!

 

[DoubleDutch]

The tank is cycled, but you're reading ammonia. Think that's the problem with such a small tank. You can't hold conditions good for a long time.
Sounds strange, but the bigger your tank the easier / better !!! Other thing is nano-specialists that can keep them good in a drop of water.
I wouldn't put in a betta as well by the way. Maybe some shrimp.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Have a look at this thread. Show the owners of the tank that thread as well

 

[Chrisrules334]

No wonder it's gone badly if that guide is anything to go by.

I guess lfs only have profits in mind!

So really I can only get 3 guppies in there and nothing else? Rather than the 10+ fish lfs advised us to get...

 

[Chrisrules334]

Apologies for double post

But it does annoy me - they wouldn't say put 5 dogs I'm a cage - so why do they do it for fish...

 

[DoubleDutch]

Even for guppys it's to small. It's a snail / shrimp-tank.

 

[fluttermoth]

Apologies for double post

But it does annoy me - they wouldn't say put 5 dogs I'm a cage - so why do they do it for fish...

I'm afraid a lot of shops are just there to get as much money off you as they can, with no real thought for the welfare of the fish
 
It's a common problem and we deal with the aftermath on an everyday basis here

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I find if you walk into a shop looking like you have confidence and a plan of what you want, they won't question you as to whether or not you have any idea what you are doing.  When I ummed and awed when I was more of a beginner (I think I will always think of myself as a beginner) they would ask me questions... now, they never do as I go in knowing what I want.

You could house a betta in a 20 liter tank.
 
When I got into fish keeping and knew nothing... my LFS told me I could buy a 12 litre tank "cycle" it for 2 days and add 2 goldfish.  Let's just say nothing about that went well!

Just wanted to go back and say (in case it wasn't clear).  I was responding to what fish could you have in this size tank... When I said a betta... I meant just a betta not a betta and the fish you have already.

 

[Chrisrules334]

I do like betta, my last two died. Obviously due to massive overcrowding. I'll suggest this once the tank is sorted...

 

[Chrisrules334]

75% change completed.

I did a quick test an hour after and alkalinity is still the same?

I tested one tube aquarium vs my tap and:

Aquarium 8.3ish still
Tap is around 7.0

What's going on?

 

[daizeUK]

Either there is something in your tank that is raising the pH or your tap water will naturally settle at 8.3 after it is left to sit for 24 hours.
 
My tap is 7.6 but rises to 8.2 after left to sit, that's normal and is a result of the gas leaving the water.
 
Can you give us a photo of the tank?  Are there any rocks in it that might be raising the pH?
Also take a sample of tap water and leave it to sit in a glass for 24 hours and test it again.
 
If your ammonia is reading 0.25 then a high pH will make it worse as ammonia is more toxic at higher alkalinity levels.

 

[Chrisrules334]

https/www.dropbox.com/sc/b0rdiewoyxuhdso/4FhBuQYNbF

Photo of tank, blue ph test is POST 75% change. Green is TAP

thoughts?