My Fish Keep Dying

[andy_gtfc]

Unfortunately, my fish keep dying and end up on my filter. I got my tank at Christmas, and left it at least a week (to be precise it would be approx 9 days) before I added any fish allowing time to let it stabilize. However they keep dying for some unknown reason. I have had the recent fish a week, and they were showing no signs of illness or anything, but I go look at them tonight and two of them have died. I have managed to save the remaining two and put them in my other tank that has been set up for about a year now.

The stats have been stable, but the ammonia was high today and the KH was approx 500. The other stats were fine though. Also I checked before I put the fish in a week ago and the stats were fine and were meant to be how they are.

I also have artificial plants in the tank if that helps?

Hope someone knows what is wrong

 

[the_lock_man]

The reason is that the filter does not have the bacteria to process the ammonia produced by the fish.

Unfortunately, loads of fish shops tell people to let water stabilise for a week or so and then put some fish in. That week (or in your case 9 days) is a waste of time. In order to mature a filter with bacteria, there is only one thing you need, and that is ammonia. Without that, the bacteria cannot grow. This is why the stats were fine before you put the fish in - there was nothing to make them unfine.

One source of ammonia is your fish, the other is from a bottle of household ammonia.

In your case, you have fish in there, merrily living, and producing ammonia. But there are not yet any bacteria, so the ammonia sits there and poisons the fish, and so they die. Whilst your filter is growing the bacteria (you need two different sorts), you have to remove the ammonia (and consequent nitrite) for them, by means of large water changes.

This is a lot of hard work, but the fish do prefer it that way, because it means they get to be alive.

In my signature, there is a link to a thread which gives you a lot more detail as to what you need to do and why you need to do it.

If you've got any more questions, post away. The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

 

[andy_gtfc]

My tank is just sat there at the minute guess I will have to get my filter to mature. How do I do this? Would it be easier to take all of the water out and start a fishless cycle? Or shall I get a bottle of household ammonia and start it that way? There are no fish in my tank so I presume it will be easier to do a fishless cycle?

Sorry if they sound dumb, but I am very much a noob at this kind of stuff

 

[fluttermoth]

It will be easier to do a fishless cycle; less water changes for one thing, and you won't risk any fishy lives if it goes wrong.

You don't need to empty the tank (unless you want to change the substrate, rearrange it or something), just start adding ammonia as soon as you can get some.

You will need test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and preferably pH as well (a very low pH can stall a cycle)

There are articles on fisahless cycling in the beginner's resource centre (link is in my sig) which will explain the process for you

As you already have a tank that should be well cycled (unless you're washing your filter out under tap water), you can seed your new tank with some of the media from your old filter; that'll shorten the time you need for a fishless cycle considerably or, if you're brave, you could use some old media and add fish straight away.

 

[andy_gtfc]

I am not planning on getting fish for a bit now, so I will do a fishless cycle as it sounds easier as well. I will see if I can get some household ammonia soon as well. I have some test kits so the aren't a problem either

 

[the_lock_man]

I am not planning on getting fish for a bit now, so I will do a fishless cycle as it sounds easier as well. I will see if I can get some household ammonia soon as well. I have some test kits so the aren't a problem either

Ammonia is reasonably easy to get hold of, if you're persistent. I'm assuming from the GTFC part of your username, that you're from the North East Lincs area of the UK (I can't think of any other reason to support Grimsby Town). Most decent Homebase stores stock it in their Cleaning Goods section. You can order it online at Boots, and can get it delivered to the store of your choice free to pick up. Lastly, many independant hardware stores will stock the Jeyes Kleenoff.

When you get the bottle, shake it, and check whether it foams up or not. If it foams up like washing-up water, don't buy it. If you just get a few bubbles which quickly burst (like plain ol' water would) then it's fine.

 

[andy_gtfc]

I am not planning on getting fish for a bit now, so I will do a fishless cycle as it sounds easier as well. I will see if I can get some household ammonia soon as well. I have some test kits so the aren't a problem either

Ammonia is reasonably easy to get hold of, if you're persistent. I'm assuming from the GTFC part of your username, that you're from the North East Lincs area of the UK (I can't think of any other reason to support Grimsby Town). Most decent Homebase stores stock it in their Cleaning Goods section. You can order it online at Boots, and can get it delivered to the store of your choice free to pick up. Lastly, many independant hardware stores will stock the Jeyes Kleenoff.

When you get the bottle, shake it, and check whether it foams up or not. If it foams up like washing-up water, don't buy it. If you just get a few bubbles which quickly burst (like plain ol' water would) then it's fine.

Yeah I am from North East Lincolnshire, there are a few Boots stores so I will pop into one soon and see if they have any. Thanks for the advice with the bubbles as well

 

[the_lock_man]

I am not planning on getting fish for a bit now, so I will do a fishless cycle as it sounds easier as well. I will see if I can get some household ammonia soon as well. I have some test kits so the aren't a problem either

Ammonia is reasonably easy to get hold of, if you're persistent. I'm assuming from the GTFC part of your username, that you're from the North East Lincs area of the UK (I can't think of any other reason to support Grimsby Town). Most decent Homebase stores stock it in their Cleaning Goods section. You can order it online at Boots, and can get it delivered to the store of your choice free to pick up. Lastly, many independant hardware stores will stock the Jeyes Kleenoff.

When you get the bottle, shake it, and check whether it foams up or not. If it foams up like washing-up water, don't buy it. If you just get a few bubbles which quickly burst (like plain ol' water would) then it's fine.

Yeah I am from North East Lincolnshire, there are a few Boots stores so I will pop into one soon and see if they have any. Thanks for the advice with the bubbles as well

No probs. Boots don't often sell it off the shelf, you have to order it online for delivery to store. I got mine from Homebase - I think there's one around the docks area in Grimsby, I'm sure I remember seeing one there. I have relatives in a couple of the villages outside Grimsby, and often visit the area. My uncle used to be head-honcho at the Lindsey Oil Refinery.

 

[afremont]

Unfortunately, my fish keep dying and end up on my filter. I got my tank at Christmas, and left it at least a week (to be precise it would be approx 9 days) before I added any fish allowing time to let it stabilize. However they keep dying for some unknown reason. I have had the recent fish a week, and they were showing no signs of illness or anything, but I go look at them tonight and two of them have died. I have managed to save the remaining two and put them in my other tank that has been set up for about a year now.

The stats have been stable, but the ammonia was high today and the KH was approx 500. The other stats were fine though. Also I checked before I put the fish in a week ago and the stats were fine and were meant to be how they are.

I also have artificial plants in the tank if that helps?

Hope someone knows what is wrong

Since you have an existing tank, you can speed the process up by taking some gravel and some filter material from the tank that you've had for a year. This will really jump start the cycle.