New Girlie! Help Please!

[angel308]

Hello peeps.

I'm new, so hello to all.

Can anyone help, I've had my new 125l tank for 4 weeks, have fish in in for 2. They currently sit at 2 sailfin Mollies, 3 female guppies, 4 baby guppies, 1 male guppie. 1 plec and 4 neon tetra's. All my readings are fine according to my test kit. However I've lost 2 male guppies and 1 tetra in the past week the first guppie definitly looked like fin rot, his tail disappeared over night and he died before I could get medication! The second had no real signs of illness exceot slow motion and not swimming round as much, I thought he look like a red spot and red strip appeared on his side/tail but I couldn't be sure they weren't just his makrings, again we died within hours of look ill! Now today a tetra has died with no obvious signs of illness!

Any idea's what I'm doing wrong?? I don't wanna lose any more fish. I'm treating them for fungal illnesses presently with tablets.

Thanks in advance guys xx

 

[slimeneo]

Hm, you've only had it for 4 weeks? and it was new, using a brand new filter? chances are, your tank isn't cycled... what kind of test kit are you using, API master kit (liquid) or test strips? Test strips are found to be inaccurate. I would do a really big water change (95%) until the fish can barely swim.

I wouldn't treat the fish until you're 100% sure of the cause.

Also, do you use dechlorinator during every water change?

 

[angel308]

It was new with a new filter. I used the chemical addition to speed up the cycle process and took advise from the local aquatic centre as to how to cycle with fish. I'm using liquid tests, all indicate good/neutral results. I've been doing 25% water changes twice a week and adding the aquasafe to remove chlorine after these changes.

I was using the medication recommended by the aquatic staff, do you think I should stop treating them? The rest of the fish seem fine, they are very active and growing. I don't see any signs of illness on any of them yet. Plus I'd have thought if the water quality was the problem the babies would have died in the nursery....am I wrong?

Thank you for your help x

Hm, you've only had it for 4 weeks? and it was new, using a brand new filter? chances are, your tank isn't cycled... what kind of test kit are you using, API master kit (liquid) or test strips? Test strips are found to be inaccurate. I would do a really big water change (95%) until the fish can barely swim.

I wouldn't treat the fish until you're 100% sure of the cause.

Also, do you use dechlorinator during every water change?

 

[slimeneo]

I wouldn't trust LFS advice so much, they really only want you to buy more unnecessary products from them. Well, that's not to say everything they have sold you is useless- I've never used a chemical to speed up the cycle process so I couldn't really comment on that.

So the test kit doesn't say exactly how much ppm for ammonia, nitrite or nitrate?

If it does have something to do with the water conditions, some fish might just be more sensitive to it than others. But you're right, the babies would probably be the weakest.

I would do a water change now just to be safe.

 

[angel308]

Not exact amounts no, it gives you a range based on the colours of the liquid.....all of which in the test kit say are ok (Nirite is 0, Ammonia is 0 and Nitrate is 10mg/l or less). I will do a large water change in the morning before work just to be sure. Is it normal for a few of the weaker fish to die when cycling a new tank? I was concerned as the guppies i added most recently were the males, they had only just (on the day!) gone back on sale at the store after being treated, I am curretnyl trying to find out what they were treated for, maybe they hadn't been treated properly??

I wouldn't trust LFS advice so much, they really only want you to buy more unnecessary products from them. Well, that's not to say everything they have sold you is useless- I've never used a chemical to speed up the cycle process so I couldn't really comment on that.

So the test kit doesn't say exactly how much ppm for ammonia, nitrite or nitrate?

If it does have something to do with the water conditions, some fish might just be more sensitive to it than others. But you're right, the babies would probably be the weakest.

I would do a water change now just to be safe.

 

[slimeneo]

Yes, it's normal for weaker fish to die first (or the species that are more sensitive to nuances in the water). I did a fish-in cycle for my 10 gal with 12 fish (which is why I don't trust my LFS anymore, they said it's perfectly fine for a 10 gal to have that amount of fish..... apparently not). I lost 2 fish during cycling because only after I bought the fish, did I find out that my tank needed to be cycled

But anyhow, one of the first fish to die was one with a wound on his head. It was sad really, my mom originally wanted me to return him but I said no because I felt bad for the little guy.

So the guppies you bought at the store were already sick before when they were in the store?

I think it's definitely ammonia poisoning though, because some symptoms include torn fins, lethargy, and red streaking on the body. I would definitely get a better test kit, API freshwater master kit is what is commonly used (and accurate).

 

[angel308]

Hmmmm....well I'll do the water change and reduce the feeding, the PH level is only 7 so not sure about reducing it......will keep watching.

I think the guppies were sick yes, but all the other fish seem fine, not symptoms yet of anything.....will keep watching though!

Thank you so much for your help x

Yes, it's normal for weaker fish to die first (or the species that are more sensitive to nuances in the water). I did a fish-in cycle for my 10 gal with 12 fish (which is why I don't trust my LFS anymore, they said it's perfectly fine for a 10 gal to have that amount of fish..... apparently not). I lost 2 fish during cycling because only after I bought the fish, did I find out that my tank needed to be cycled

But anyhow, one of the first fish to die was one with a wound on his head. It was sad really, my mom originally wanted me to return him but I said no because I felt bad for the little guy.

So the guppies you bought at the store were already sick before when they were in the store?

I think it's definitely ammonia poisoning though, because some symptoms include torn fins, lethargy, and red streaking on the body. I would definitely get a better test kit, API freshwater master kit is what is commonly used (and accurate).

 

[angel308]

Sorry guys one last question....how pink is usually for the gills to be?? Now red gills have been mentioned I'm looking and I can see there gills are pink, not red but pink and i can notice it...is that normal? Thank you x

 

[slimeneo]

I wouldn't do anything to pH, ammonia is more important. So yes water change is good, the more the better.

Pink is a sign of ammonia poisoning.. if you can notice it, I don't think it's good Do a big water change, like 90%. it will help lower the ammonia a bit, and it would be great if you could get a more reliable test kit like this: http/www.amazon.com/API-FRESHWATER-MASTER-TEST-KIT/dp/B000255NCI