New tank fish in cycle.

[August Vukosovich]

I have a glass thermometer in the aquarium that I'm basing my readings on. Also, yes, I have a planted tank. I tested my water again with my API master kit and the numbers are the same. It is not a cycled tank so the numbers don't surprise me. Today they are swimming instead of hovering around the heater, but they are still at the very top of the tank and still not eating but a flake or two each. When I feed my female guppies and baby guppies in the other tanks they zoom all over the tank eating. I don't know what is wrong with the new ones. And the new ones came out of different tanks. I did another 25% water change this morning. I'm starting to wonder if they don't have enough oxygen. Although I have a back hanging filter and a bubble wall that seems to be producing enough surface agitation. It is a tall tank however.

 

[August Vukosovich]

Hey! I just walked by the tank and the guppies are in there playing and chasing each other in the middle of the tank! My elephant ear guppy was looking bad last night and was dropping the bottom of his body last night. I thought for sure I would wake up to at least one dead this morning but all are happy now. Thank you so much for your help Byron. You helped me save my fish!

 

[Byron]

You are very welcome. At the first sign of obvious water-related issues, and frankly most anything, do a significant water change and use no additives aside from the conditioner. More than once I have solved unknown problems this way. Clean water is still the important thing.

Observe going forward, and feed very sparingly.

 

[FishGuest5123]

You should never ever use Prime for the first 24 hours after using Safe Start. It will destroy the bacteria. It is safe to use and I highly recommend it after those first 24 hours. Use another dechlorinator att first that does not bind ammonia. I would get another bottle and try again. Good luck!

 

[lyn Pisces]

Hello everyone. I bought a 36 gallon tank and let it run for 24 hours after adding tetra safe start and seachem prime. I know now about the new tank symdrome after reading many of your posts so, I know not do do this next time. I added two male and 4 female guppies, one nerite snail, and a bottom feeder. Can't remember the name but it's long amd skinny and brown lol. I have a power filter going, a bubbler, 5 live plants, and a heater. There are zero ammonia, zero nitrites, and zero nitrates. I did use a filter from a cycled aquarium. The temperature is 78. All 6 fish are at the top of the tank huddled together and hardly moving. They barely eat. They have been in there about 20 hours. Any ideas what is going on? Thanks in advance.

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I always thought we had to wait about 4 weeks for a tank to completely cycle... Maybe you should do a 25% water change and see if fish do better. Wondering about your readings... maybe can take a water sample to local pet store to check numbers to be sure. You also need to make sure the PH of the tank is within normal range... somewhere between 6.8 and 7.8 is good for guppies. Not sure what are the requirements for the other fish in your tank. Also if bottom feeder is a pleco catfish, you will need driftwood for it to thrive.

 

[Daves Corydoras]

Hello everyone. I bought a 36 gallon tank and let it run for 24 hours after adding tetra safe start and seachem prime. I know now about the new tank symdrome after reading many of your posts so, I know not do do this next time. I added two male and 4 female guppies, one nerite snail, and a bottom feeder. Can't remember the name but it's long amd skinny and brown lol. I have a power filter going, a bubbler, 5 live plants, and a heater. There are zero ammonia, zero nitrites, and zero nitrates. I did use a filter from a cycled aquarium. The temperature is 78. All 6 fish are at the top of the tank huddled together and hardly moving. They barely eat. They have been in there about 20 hours. Any ideas what is going on? Thanks in advance.

Hello, my name is Dave, if you put the prim in at the same time as tetrasafe, the problem is this
1 tetrasafe is a cycle starter. Prime is a water detoxifer. So what has happend is you killed the good bactera and the toxic water is now bad for fish. Oxigen levels are very low and toxins are forcing the fish up cause they are trying to get away from the bad. You need to do a 50% water change. Do not feel bad about this as it takes time to learn all of it. I am sorry to say this but your fish may not make it. Cause the have already been in the toxic water for to long. They may make it but chances are they may not. Never add two of any thing at the same time and always read about what they do and how to use them. Then i recomend you cut that in half for for the first day then add the other half on the second day. Never put fish in a new tank. Always wait about 4 or 5 days. Then do a 25% watet change once a month. Good luck hope they all make it.