I Really Need Some Help

[Acidsoul]

Tank size: 5 gallon
pH: 7.0
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
kH: Not Sure
gH: Not Sure
tank temp: 82-86 degrees

I bought this tank a few weeks ago, did a fish-less cycle for a week and then bought three fancy guppies which died when I woke up. I cleaned out the bodies and felt depressed for a bit. The thing was, I didn't feed them the first night they were in there. I know that overfeeding is a huge contributor to water quality changes. After that incident, I went back to Pet smart and redeemed my 14 day warranty. So again with the fish in tow I head back to my tank which had been completely cleaned after a 100% water change. I followed the procedure to transfer the fish in and yet again they died. To make a long story a little shorter I took my Air Stone out because I thought it was over oxidizing the water causing the fish to suffocate. Then did another 100% change and a scrubbing of everything because I had a bacterial bloom which left a film on EVERYTHING. I have dechlorinated the water every time I changed it. I bought a heater set at 82 degrees. I have no idea what is going on and I just netted my new sword tail and guppy out of my tank... its starting to become rather depressing to keep looking at an empty fish tank. I really need some advice and help I hope someone can help me out. Thank you very much.

 

[lilfishie]

Hi and Welcome,

your tank is not cycled so to put it simple as you fish poo they are killing themselves

Poo is ammonia, ammonia is very harmful and deadly to fish if at high levels, you must 'cycle' your tank which is effectively growing good bacteria to make this ammonia safe

Have a read through the beginners section Here

 

[Rickzayne]

Hey click the link in my Sig and do some research!

What they fail to tell you is that ammonia which they create will poison and kill them.

a fishless cycle actually takes 4-6 weeks using household ammonia to create benifital bacteria which will in turn turn the ammonia to nitrIte(also poison to fish) to nitrAte which is much safer.

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi there; welcome to the forum, and sorry to hear of your problems.

Your tank is not cycled; it takes more than just running the tank for a week to do a fishless cycle. Are you using paper test strips to test your water? if you are, they're notoriously inaccurate and may not be giving you correct readings. For instance, it is vanishing rare for a tank to have zero nitrate, even if newly set up, as most tap water has some nitrate present.

If you have fish in, do a 50% water change every day, until you can sort out some proper, liquid tests, for at least ammonia, and preferably nitrite as well.
If you now have no fish, I'd recommend doing a proper fishless cycle. Articles on both fish in and fishless cycles are in the beginner's reource centre (link is in my sig)

When you're doing these 100% water changes and tank cleans, how are you cleaning the filter?

Your tank is also very small; 4 or 5 male guppies or Endler's, a betta or a small shoal (6 or 8) of microrasboras or smaller tetras is all you have space for (you could have some freshwater shrimp later, once your tank is properly cycled). You need to turn your heater down too; 82°F is far too hot for most trops; 74/76°F is plent warm enough.

Best of luck; do post again if you have more questions

 

[Acidsoul]

Thank you for the helpful replies. how do I know when my tank has properly cycled? also I have no testing method at the moment but in the last two days i have taken my water sample to a pet store to have it tested with strips. I know that my tank is small and I am aware of the spacial restrictions but I thought that having two guppies and a swordtail wouldnt be too much. I will turn town my heater but what else can I do? The only surviving fish is a fancy guppy...

 

[Rickzayne]

do a 50-60% water change adding your de chlorinater

then do another tomorrow morning.

then keep doing them every 24 hours.

feed your last fish every other day. only a small pinch of flake food.

buy something similar to this

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aquarium-water-test-kit-freshwater-Nutrafin-mini-/400184257273?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item5d2cd72af9

it will take up to 6 weeks for your tank to cycle.. and you wont know with out a kit to test with.

 

[PyroBrit]

How are you cleaning the filter?

The filter should only be cleaned in fish water that you have syphoned off to be replaced by newly dechlorinated water.

You really need a liquid test kit so that you can test right away and not have to wait.

 

[Acidsoul]

I havnt cleaned the filter. I wasnt aware that I needed to do that or how to do it. I have done a 50% water change. When I get a testing kit, what numbers in what values am I looking for? When will I know that it is safe to add fish again? Thank you again for the help

 

[Rickzayne]

Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 5-150

They should be your results, anything else and your tank isn't cycled

 

[Acidsoul]

Just netted Gil, the remaining fancy guppy out of my tank. I really hope that this will be the last fish I take out for quite a while. My roommate keeps making jokes that I wont be allowed into a pet store because I keep killing the fish, but now I am a lot better informed and also I am a bit more optimistic about my next aquatic purchase. any more tips or advice will be greatly helpful!

 

[PyroBrit]

I know you keep taking the water to the store to be tested with strips bit it really is worth investing in your own liquid test kit.
Granted that eBay may be cheaper but the time for bidding and delivery may be too long when you need to test right now.
Does you local store sell the kits? Liquid testing is much more accurate than strip tests.

 

[fluttermoth]

Is your tank empty of fish now, OP? If so, I'd strongly advise you to do a proper fishless cycle; either with household ammonia, or, as it's such a small tank, adding pinches of fish food to rot down. You will need liquid tests of your own, for at least ammonia and nitrite, as you'll be needin to test he water at least daily.

Articles on how to do a fishless cycle are in the beginner's resource centre (link is in my sig), but basically you add ammonia to simulate the waste from fish, rather than having actual fish in the tank while you grow the bacterial colony.

Or, if you know anyone else who has a tank, you could beg/borrow/steal a bit of their filter media to put into yours. You LFS might give you some if you ask nicely (don't be fobbed off with any 'bacteria in a bottle' products they might try and sell you; those are of no use as the bacteria can't survive enclosed in a bottle).