New Starter And All My Barbs Are About To Die

[onidrase]

Really cross now, even told the guy at the shop that it's a cold water tank with no heater n he said to get the cherry barbs. They even went as far to say any fish labelled with a blue sticker are fine for cold water. Thats 6 fish thats are going to die needlessly and my little girl who is going to be really upset

I have very little money so if I was going to buy and run a heater it would have to be really cheap

Depending on your tank size, they can cost anywhere from 10-50$

It'll be worth the money. Make sure to follow the directions on the heater by the letter, these days they're rather fragile.

 

[mike455555]

you would only need a 50W heater for it

 

[Rummynose]

oops, I see others already posted regarding the heater....I'm a slow typer, lol
maybe you could get a second hand heater?

 

[funkyboots]

Just asking my friends on facebook if they have a heater, have poured some hot water in the tank but I think it might be too late
My water test kit goes mainly from colour and is saying it is all within safe range

Am in UK so don't know if the prices will be much different

 

[Akasha72]

My 50w cost £7.50 on Ebay but you need one faster than that really. I would keep dribbling in some hot water (do it too quick and it'll got the other way) and then wrap the tank in blankets and a spare duvet if you can. Only thing you can do then is cross your fingers or hope your friends come up with a heater

 

[mike455555]

turn the heat up full blast in the house as well/ put a little heater in the room with the tank, stop it cooling down as fast

 

[funkyboots]

Have started adding hot water and am waiting to see if anyone has a heater I can use. Will go out first thing and get a heater tomorrow. Am looking on ebay to see if anyone selling one who lives near me that I could buy tonight

 

[Akasha72]

good plan FB, you are de-chlorinating the hot water before adding it to the tank ...?

 

[funkyboots]

Oh poo, no I didn't, I was just in a rush to get it in there. Do I just add some of that water treatment stuff?

 

[funkyboots]

wow I can't believe the difference. 3 of them are actually moving about again. They were desperate to get towards the warmer water. Thank you so much xxx

 

[Akasha72]

Yes, just dose for the whole tank - it won't harm. I thought in your panic you may forget to de-chlorinate.

All you need to do now is get the temp up to about 26 then wrap it up to try keep the heat in. It will drop but hopefully not too far. If you can keep it above 20 they should be okay

Good luck

 

[funkyboots]

I'm amazed I've got it up to 19c so far and all of them (even the one I was convinced was dead) are swimming about, they still not as perky as at the shop but what a difference. I'm so chuffed and my little girl is all excited now. I just hope I can keep them this way till morning. thanks so much for your help xxx

 

[mike455555]

id go slightly over 26 so you have longer between when you have to do it again (not that much higher though) or you'll have the same problem with how hot is it =] glad the fish are seeming ok

 

[funkyboots]

Was thinking, would it be a good idea to take them out of the tank and put them in a small fish bowl and place them on the radiator overnight. I was going to fill the bowl with water from the tank they are in now so they don't have to acclimatise again. Just thinking this might be there best chance of survival

 

[fluttermoth]

No, that wouldn't be a good idea; they'd soon poison a small volume of water with their wastes.