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[lmpb17]

My tank was fully cycled so I decided to add fish. I tested my water one last time an got the following:

ph: 7.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20
kH: 13

Went to petco got 9 neon tetras that all looked fine until they touched my water. At this point they swam together for a little bit and then they died off one by one. My substrate is topsoil and sand. Could the topsoil cause this? What else can it be?

 

[lmpb17]

Nevermind... Got the water tested at petco and it turns out my ammonia was off the charts.. I thought it was 0 because on the api test kit it was kind of clear...

 

[Corleone]

Clear as in what color? 0 should be a sort of pee yellow color with the API kit. It's possible the test kit is defective - have you had it for long?

 

[WILDER]

R.I.P.
How long did you climatise the fish as also it could of been ph shock.

 

[lmpb17]

Ive had the test for maybe a month. I dont think its the test I just think the value was so high it had trouble picking it up.

I climatized them for about 30 minutes. I doubt it was a pH shock as my ph is 7.2 and the stores is 7.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Bless them.
What test kit are you using as liquid test kits are more acccurate.

 

[Colin_T]

the test kits will read really high ammonia as a dark blue or even purple colour. If it didn't show any colour then it could well be a dodgy test kits.
Test the tap water and the tank water and see if they read the same. Then take the some tap and tank water back to the LFS and have them check both. If they get an ammonia reading from the tank water and your kit doesn't, then get it replaced.

If the topsoil was contaminated with something in the garden then it could well have poisoned the fish

 

[WILDER]

Missed the soil bit sorry.
I agree if you been using chemicals in the garden.