Not Really Sure What The Problem Is

[Electrician4hire]

I recently setup a 72 gallon tank. let it run for a couple days to make sure everything worked and the temp was steady. then i added 6 small tetra from a LFS and some filter media. They were all fine for the first 24hours. Then the water started to get cloudy. One of them started swimming funny and died. now another one is starting to swim funny.  I have no idea what the problem is. There is no ammonia in the tank. the PH is like 7.2. I have a 20gallon tank that is doing just fine with that PH. oh yeah and its a brand new tank. definitely not cycled. Please help.

 

[ncguppy830]

well you didnt cycle the tank id say that the problem.
what are your exace parameters then?

 

[Electrician4hire]

The temp is 78F
No ammonia
No nitrites
No nitrates
PH a bit over 7 right around 7.2
 
I know the tank isnt cycled. its new

 

[ncguppy830]

really? well just continue cycling then i guess only thing.

 

[Electrician4hire]

I hate seeing my fish die. there has to be something im missing

 

[ncguppy830]

well thats the risk of a fish in cycle, maybe you can put the fish in the 20 gall you have until its fully cycled?

 

[Electrician4hire]

They might eat my baby shrimp

 

[ncguppy830]

hmm well have another tank that the shrimp could go in?

 

[Nordk]

Go to the link in my sig and read up on fish-in cycling. It may take awhile to do this as the biolode is very light. Maybe try putting a divider in the 20gal and fishless cycling the other tank? 

  
What test-kit are you using?
It sounds like ammonia poisoning, but it could be something else.

 

[Electrician4hire]

There is no ammonia in the tank at all. i use strips and API drip kits

 

[Nordk]

Are you using both to measure everything, or splitting readings between them? The paper strips are worthless, and typically give false readings, API's kits are pretty good though, use that one and get rid of the paper strips.
I'm asking as it's very unusual to have no ammonia in an uncycled tank.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

How long have the fish been in the tank for?
 
The cloudy water is most likely a bacterial bloom, it will go away normally within a week.
 
It may take a little while for the ammonia to show because it is a very light bioload for the tank, you will want to keep an eye on the ammonia though so you can do water changes when you see any.
 
The fish may have been sick from the LFS.

 

[ech0o]

Electrician did you dechlorinate the water before you added the fish?  Maybe something else got into the water, that sounds very strange. Is your 20 gallon cycled?