Need Help!

[coupe_nic]

I've got a problem...
I've got a 90L tank which has got..
3 zebra danio
4 guppies
2 betta (1 male 1 female)
2 albino corys
6 cardinal tetras
and 2 d gourami's

Recently i've had 2 corys and 2 betta's die. they all seems restless the day before and then died. I've been using the test strips 2 check the water and i'll get a better testing kit 2moro 2 check ammonia but the levels r
ph 7.2
alkalinity 10
harness 7
nitrate 100
and nitrite 0

I'm new to keeping fish, my tank has been set up for around 2 months and i let it cycle for 4 weeks before stocking it and it is planted with real plants.

Has anyone got any idea what might be wrong?

 

[WILDER]

Just to let you know that you can't keep female betta with males.
You have a high nitrate reading.
What your tap nitrate reading.
Do you use a gravel vac, and how often do you maintainn your tank.

 

[coupe_nic]

Just to let you know that you can't keep female betta with males.
You have a high nitrate reading.
What your tap nitrate reading.
Do you use a gravel vac, and how often do you maintainn your tank.

I've not got a gravel vac yet..will that help and my tap water levels r
ph 6.4
alkalinity 3
hardness 7
nitrate 10
nitrite 0

how can i fix the high nitrate?

 

[Christine1014]

What did you do to cycle the tank?

The nitrates are WAY too high. To keep nitrate levels in check, most fish keepers do weekly water changes - anywhere from 20-50% - as they vaccuum the gravel. you'll be AMAZED at the ammount of gunk that's going to come out of the gravel. How quickly can you get a gravel vac? (I think you can get an average size on for about $10) If you can get one today, great. If not, do a BIG water change, just to get the nitrate levels down. However, they're only going to stay low very temporarily since you've never vaccuumed. Get the vac ASAP and give your tank a good cleaning.

Also - two more quick things. I notice your water stats don't include your ammonia levels. Ammonia is the most toxic thing for fish, but for some reason, those dip test strips don't include an ammonia test. Rather than buying those replacement strips all the time - which are pretty inaccurrate anyway, I'd recommend the API Freshwater master test kit. It's about $30 and can be picked up any pretty much any LFS or chain pet store. It will last a really long time and give way better results.

Second thing - Wilder's right. Betas aren't community fish. With very few exceptions, males can't be kept with ANY other fish, and females can only be kept in a group of other female betas (about 6-7, I think). Betas and guppies are especially bad tankmates.

But it looks like with your current stocking levels you'll be okay as long as you can start doing some regular maintance. (Oh, and you might already know this, but just in case - don't forget: you're doing water changes, you have to add water conditioner!)

Good luclk!

 

[coupe_nic]

Thanks for all the help
I will get a gravel vac 2moro and also do a good water change and also get a btr testing kit n mayb i can sort out my tank coz i dont want to lose anymore fish

 

[coupe_nic]

I've done what was needed and now my values in my tank r
ammonia 0.6
nitrate 5
ph 7
nitrite 0.1

is this now a btr range of values?

 

[merry78]

Hi, i don't know much but i am pretty sure your ammonia should be 0.0 ie none at all. This is to do with your cycling of the tank ( ie the colony of good bacteria that you need to build up before adding fish). Check out some of the other threads about ammonia, cycling, and beneficial bacteria. As a quick fix, you could try something like Sera Nitrivec or some other brand of " bacteria in a bottle" but this is controversial as many people do not think they work very well. Good luck, hope your fishies get better soon.