Help New Tank And Two Fish Dead Urgent

[Tracyfm]

Hi sorry another fish keeping newbie here.
I'm ging to give as much info as possible to see if I can get some help.

I bought my son an aquastart 320 for christmas. 28 litres, did research after the event realised it was small but thought we would upgrade as fish grew and we became more experienced. Cleaned tank,gravel and fake plants, no detergents used. Filled with water added aquastart water conditioner. Switched on filter (101f) and heater to 20 not sure if we were ging tropical or goldfish at the time. Visited fish shop after 60/72 hours (sunday) decided to go tropical so turned tank to 26.

Decided to purchase zebra danios so after further 24 hours (Monday) had water tested by fishshop,
Ammonia 0 and nitrite 0. Took 3 small zebra danios home and slowly introduced to tank. Also added 3 pure aquarium balls to help introduce bacteria and help cycling process. Fish happy but did not eat any flake food offered not really interested.

Next day (new years day) switched on tank light, fish at bottom of tank but then started swimming around tank. Slightly concerned one swimming near spray bar at top of tank but no obvious gasping, tank had gone a bit cloudy.
After lunch, found smallest danio dead at bottom of tank. Used Api master test kit to test water ph 8.2 ammonia 0.25 max, nitrite zero. Performed 50 water change, added conditioner did NOT add any more aqua balls. After change ph dropped to 7.4. Fish still not interested in food.

This morning found plug had been knocked so filter and heater had been off over night, water temp about 20. Fish still swimming. One a little bit near top but not asping? Switched heater/ filter back on Did 15/20% change to help speed up temp increase slightly (did Not add hot water just at 26)

Couple of hours later children told me a fish was at the bottom. Still alive but not happy gasping.
Didn't know what to do so did 50% water change added conditioner. Fish died soon after.
Tested water after change ph 7.4/7.8 hard to tell, ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrates 0.

I understand in principle about cycling but don't understand what is happening here. Very worried that final danio will be dead soon, looks ok to me but not interested in flaked food. If I had a bacterial bloom why do I not see that in my test readings HELP.
Thanks

 

[phoenixgsd]

you say....Switched heater/ filter back on Did 15/20% change to help speed up temp increase slightly (did Not add hot water just at 26), ......the quick temperature change can shock and kill fish, combined with the fact they were suffering ammonia poisioning AND the sudden Ph change

, also i hate to be the bearer of bad news but you need to cycle the tank, please read the link in my signature it will explain cycling, if you have any questions please ask, also danios are very fast swimmers and arnt really suitable for such a small tank

 

[Tracyfm]

Hi ,
addition of water during 15/ 20% water change raised the temp by 2 oC maximum and was added slowly, is a 2 oC rise enought to kill them. Also I know about cycling in theory but have not chosen to do this fish-less. Fish died yesterday but ammonia readings were 0.25 max, colour was in between this and 0. After 50% water change ammonia reading was 0. So where was the ammonia spike and poisoning, could the test readings be wrong. Even a 50% change wouldn't produce a 0 reading unless reading already low. Plus how drastic is a pH change between 8.2 and 7.8 for a zebra danio. In addition fish were not eating and not pooing, minimal food added then removed when uneaten. Bacteria added in the form of aqua balls, so is this only source of ammonia production (in addition to fish urine).

Although a newbie I do understand the nitrogen cycle. Just not how it occurs in practice, I would have expected to see evidence of a spike in my tests, and would a spike be expected so quickly, less than 24 hours after adding fish. Also I thought most people struggle due to over stocking whereas I have only added 6cm of fish. I was advised to add the aqua balls shortly after the fish and I did. Does any one else use these?

Could something else be going on and it not be due to ammonia and nitrate level.
Thanks

 

[KCB]

It's good that you recognise your tank is too small, but because of its size the ammonia levels will not be very diluted and so can build up quite quickly. Any reading of ammonia is bad for the fish so this combined with all the other things (ph and temp. change, newly added to the tank etc.) could have overly stressed the fish and they were unable to deal with it.

I understand it is annoying to do a fish-less cycle, especially since it was a gift for your son, but it would have been less heartache for you if you had done it fish-less. You will have to carry out a fish-in cycle and daily water changes will be a must. If you follow this guide (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/) it should set you right .

Good luck with your fish and I hope you don't suffer any more losses.

 

[Tracyfm]

Thanks KCB

Ammonia levels 0.25 again this morning, nitrite still 0. Not sure if final Danio will make it. If not,will fish less cycle and will add a few small slower fish when complete.