New Tank Killing Fish

[tiffani1103]

In need of serious help.
I had Bettas fish a few years back and decided I was ready for a new one.  I did my research on everything it needs and what I should get it.  So I bought a 2 gal tank. ( I wasn't looking for a big tank but something that he didn't feel confined in).  So with my research I decided to get a few other things.
 
2 gal tank.   
         Came with a filter
And a heater which said it was for 2 - 5 gallons.  (50w)
One silk Plant ( So he didn't tear his fins)
And gravel for the bottom.
 
And most important a male crown tail Betta.
 
Two days went by and he was fine. I went shopping last night got home at 3am and he was nose diving into the rocks. He would float up and then full speed ahead nose dive into the gravel. It was horrible.  So I tried to distract him, tap the tank, drop a pellet of food in, turned his tank light off and on, nothing stopped him.  I cried myself to sleep because I didn't know what to do. I turned the filter off (didn't know if it was pushing him around or something) Upon waking up he was vertical face up now and just his mouth out of water.  3 hrs later I checked on him and he was laying at the bottom dead. 
 
I took everything out the tank.  Threw the silk plant and gravel away. And let everything soak in warm water. 
 
I went back to the pet store. I just spent $70 on this equipment I needed to put a fish in it. 
 
I bought new gravel and a plastic plant this time.  (read that the silk can grow bacteria, however it was only 3 days old so couldn't have had that much bacteria). I also bought a new filter replacement, just incase it had bacteria from the dead fish.
 
This time I decided that Bettas seemed to have a lot of topic on illnesses and such so what else could I get that would be fun, but maybe easier to care for.
 
So this time I went with glow fish.  I got 4 1inch glofish.
 
I conditioned the water just like last time. I have a bottle of an instant conditioner, but I still let it sit for 2 hrs. Then I put the bag of new fish in the tank and let them sit for 30 mins.  When I dumped them in the water it was crazy, they were swimming around like kids in Disney World.  To me they seemed really excited.  Then it happened, one flipped over. I screamed oh no its dying, but it flipped back and swam around.  Then two others flipped but this time no flip back.  So I ran in the kitchen to get a bowl to put other fish in I needed to get them out the tank before they died too.  It all happened in a matter of minutes.  I was able to save one.
 
I poured water from the tank into a bowl ( a 3 liter bowl) and put the only survivor in there. I went to work and came home and he is still doing good. So I am assuming it isn't the water if he survived.  However it has to be something that is killing my fish. 
 
Could it be the heater? Or Filter?
I am $120 in and have an empty tank.  The lonely glofish can't be alone (they are pack fish) and I am scared to get more and kill them too, or even put him back in the death trap! 
Please help my pour fish.
 
Thank, Tiffani

 

[fluttermoth]

Your problem is that your tank isn't 'cycled'. That means it doesn't have a colony of good bacteria living in the filter. The bacteria eat the ammonia produced by the fish and turn it into less toxic substances; first nitrite, which is also toxic, and then nitrate, which is only toxic at very high levels, and which we keep low with water changes, in a cycled tank.

As your tank is new, there are none of those good bacteria living in the filter yet; and this means that the ammonia is building up in the water and making it toxic for the fish, which is what is killing them.

You are going to need some test kits; sorry, I know you've spent a lot of money already, but you really, really do need them. You don't need to bother about pH or nitrate at the moment, but you need to be able to measure the amounts of ammonia and nitrite

Try and change at least 95% of the water right now; leave just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!) before refiling with warmed, dechlorinated water. Then do 50 or 60% every day until you can afford some test kits.

I feel I ought to tell you that, although they're advertised and sold this way, glofish really aren't suitable for very small tanks. They're a very active fish that really need a tank at least two feet long to swim up and down in. A betta or two or three male guppies or Endler's are all you can really keep in a 2 gallon tank.

 

[l_l_l]

fluttermouth is right, your tank is not cycled meaning your fish will all have trouble living in it until the bacteria has colonized your filter.
 
I know it can be a pain in the butt, but you have to do it.
I suggest you check the cycling guide on this website.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Ah, thats a shame that has happened, hope you are not put off from fish keeping, it is truly a rewarding hobby and worth doing.
 
Just means there are a few things to learn along the way to be sure everything will go smoothly.
 
The cycling process, if you do not know this, is basically to get some good bacteria inside your filter.
 
The bacteria that is needed is to be able to deal with the ammonia and nitrite which is produced by the fish waste, these are toxic to the fish am afraid.
 
Therefore this is why it is recommended you do a fishless cycle to your filter just so that you fish can live happily and healthily in the tank that you provide.
 
This link that is provided is much clearer and better at explaining what the process involved and why this is the best method to do before actually adding any fish to your new tank.
 
Hope this helps.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/

 

[tiffani1103]

Thanks everyone. I am going to start the fishless cycle today.  And then I will be adding just one betta.
I am going to bring the poor surviving glofish back to the store today and let him go to someone with a bigger tank.
 
I will let everyone know how the cycle goes. And I promise to test kit the water.
 
So no one thinks its the heater?
 
It was just weird that with the glofish it all happened in like 5 mins.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Well, the heater is pretty important as well, is your tank temperature stable at your desired temp?
 
Are there any cracks or noises coming from the heater?
If not, then probably ok, but if cracked or noisy (apart from the normal click on/off noise) then may be an idea to discard this and get a new one.
 
A little doubtful if the heater caused this, as is pretty new as you just recently bought it.
 
If the heater is not working then water will just simply go cool and Bettas tend to just go lethargic/not move much or sleep a lot.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Make sure that you get liquid test kits, as the strips are very inaccurate
You may want to pick up a thermometer as well, to make sure that the heater is at the temp you want, since they're sometimes a little off.
You can get ammonia at Ace Hardware, if you have one of those nearby. Or you can order some online.
This also may be of use once you've got everything else taken care of: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/423364-betta-splendens-caresheet/

 

[Ch4rlie]

Here's a list of suitable ammonia and where you can get them from if you do not have any.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/427161-ammonia-and-bacteria-starter-sources/
 
Also Ninjouzata has some good tips there esp about getting thermometer and do have a read of that link too.