Newbie And Some Help Please :0)

[El_jacko]

Hi guys n gals

sorry if this is a repeated question, but I've been googling and googling and can't seem to get a definitive answer! I stumbled across this forum and you all seem really nice, so hope you can help!

I have 190 litre jewel tank that I started about 8 weeks ago. I cycled the tank for just under 3 weeks, checked the water and it came out all ok (even got 2 Petshops to check too) o added some plants and 6 plattys. I left it for about 10 days checked the water and it was still all fine, so I added 6 neon tetra and 2 angel fish. I tested the water 2 days later and still fine

Since then I have managed to loose 4 neon tetra and an angel fish. Thry have just vanished I have checked in all the ornaments and the filter and can't find them! They can't have jumped out as it is totally covered.

. I left it alone up until Saturday when I trimmed back a plant that had grown like wildfire and cleaned the algae off. The same day I added 2 guaramis (sp) and a shark. I tested the water today and I have high no2 now

Sorry pressed wrong button,

Is this just a temporary thing? I'm planning on doing a 30-50% water change this afternoon.

Could the adding of the new fish cause the spike?

I've probably done loads wrong already!

Thanks for taking the time to read it

El

 

[colleen0309]

Good morning and welcome! How did you cycle your tank? What kind of test kit are you using? I will try to help, if I can.

 

[El_jacko]

Hi

Thank you sorry for the late reply. I started the tank off with stress coat and stress zyme. I'm using the tetra test kit, the one you dip in the water and gives you the 6 tests in one.

I have tested again this morning and the nitrite and nitrate are back down. All the others ph cl2 kh and gh are also reading fine too!

My only issue now is one of my new guaramis are on it's way out :0( but the other is fine. He's only been I'm the tank 4 days

Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi there.

Unless you were adding a source of ammonia during your three weeks, the filter will not be cycled.

The test strips are not that great; not just because of accuracy (which is low) but because they don't seem to test for ammonia, which is what the fiah actually produce, and which wil kill them long before any nitrite or nitrate turn up.

Do 50% water changes every day until you get an ammonia test.

Best of luck!

 

[colleen0309]

Boy, you people are either up really late, or really early. Must be the time difference. Anyhow, Fluttermoth is right, unless you were adding an ammonia source during those three weeks, your filter probably isn't cycled. Do at least a 50% water change asap. Get a good liquid test kit. I use API freshwater master kit. Check your ammonia and nitrite once, or twice a day. If you have levels of 0.25 or higher, do a big water change to bring these levels down. Do not add anymore fish until you get it all straightened out. Go to the beginners resource section and read up on doing a fish in cycle. Until you get the liquid test kit, do atleast 50% water change once a day. I know it sounds like alot, but your fish will thank you in the end. Good Luck! If you have anymore questions or problems, feel free to ask.