Problems - Another Two Dead Fish

[lozalove4u]

Hi ya

Still very new at looking fish so bear with me if im being really thick.

We have had quite a few fish turning up dead so have listed them below

1 Tetra - think the pakistani loach got it so returned the loach to the pet shop.
1 Platy - was not well for a while and thought it got stuck under a plant. After reading on here, we have come to the conclusion that the cause it was our first fish and also it had a small silvery patch on its faces (if im correct if was a cut??). Kept shying away behind the plants. Also when we changed the water, we did not know about water conditioner!!!
1 Swordtail - white spots this weekend. Have noticed these on the tetras as well so have placed a first aid filter in and the powder it was supplied with. Have to to a 30% water change next weekend and placed the second sachet of powder in. Swordtail was a new fish.
1 loach - died this weekend and still not sure how this one died. Brand new fish. Was tiny and not sure whether I saw him eat. Also it got stuck in the bag with no water when transfering him to the tank. Died when the first aid filter was already installed.

brought a water tester at the weekend which we also did not know we needed . Readings were:

Ammonia - 0.25 mg/l
Nitrite - 0.00 mg/l
PH - 7.8

not sure whether this is good or bad. Going to wait till the first aid filter is finished and going to take another reading and do a water change again with new filter.

Really felt like crying this weekend dont want anymore to die . As its my first pet im actually quite sensitive about this type of thing but I will keep trying to fish the problem.

Does anyone know what I might need to do next to make sure no more die

 

[catxx]

did you cycle your tank?

ammonia should be at 0 at all times.
any trace of ammonia will cause stress, burns and death for your fish.

what are your nitrate readings?


do daily 25% water changes until the ammonia goes to 0.

 

[tetraqueen]

It is sad, I feel for you, but I think you need to move on.

You need to check your water for evidence of Nitrates as well.


I also do not know when you say water changes what you are doing. 25 % at a time is enough.

I am also unsure that a Biorb is really the right tank for this type of fish.

You may find it easier with the normal rectangular tank or explain in your local fish shop what is happening and ask if you can exchange the fish for fish that suit your bi orb.


Read the sections on cycling tanks as you cannot just add fish to water.

Slow and patiently you will get there.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Sorry to hear about your problems. It is awful when they die like that.

Your main problem is that the tank you have - 30 tlrs and a biorb - is way too small for most of the fish you've tried to keep in it. Also, you introduced too many too quickly.

How many fish and what kind have you now got left?

 

[lozalove4u]

We were going to take the molly back to the pet shop as thought he might be getting a bit big for the tank. Problem is I got a bit upset as its the only one left who has a personality .

Done a water change last weekend but guess we should have done one before adding the first aid filter. Im going to get in touch with the manufacturers of Bi-orb to check about water changes, filters, fish capacity (they say we can keep up to 12 fish which somehow I think is incorrect). Its supposed to be low maintence!! Was discussing at the weekend about getting a bigger tank anyway.

Was going to do a Nitrate test but we run out of text tubes. Ill get my boyfriend to change some of the water and to test for Nitrate tomorrow night.

Ill try and make sure a water change is done more often. Is twice a week enough?

Ill let you know about the outcome. :

 

[dwarfgourami]

To give an idea of stocking, the general rough rule of thumb for the final stocking of a tank with small fish is not to exceed 1 inch of fish/gallon of water.
So your biorb is about 8 gallons which would in theory allow you 8 inches of fish. The molly probably accounts for 3-4 inches, the neons at least an inch each, 2 male guppies 1 inch each, 1 platy 2 inches. So you are well overstocked. HOWEVER, this is when the tank is mature and ready cycled. To complicate matters, for CYCLING a tank (the stage you are at now) you are only supposed to go with 1 inch of fish/5 gallons of water. So your one platy would be enough to cycle the tank. To further complicate matters, a biorb has less surface area than a rectangular tank, so you have to stock it more lightly.
Further complications in that neither neons nor guppies are considered hardy enough to cycle a tank, so you may lose those (then again, you may be lucky).
Whatever else you do, I would return the molly (unless you are able to upgrade). A molly needs much more swimming space, in the region of 30 gallons. There is no way you can provide for its longterm wellbeing in such a small tank.
What testing kit have you got? I would have expected higher nitrite readings at this time. Anyway, keep doing regular small water changes (20-25 %) every day until the readings for ammonia and nitrites are untraceable at all times. Once the molly is gone, you may just be able to keep the tank at this level. Just watch your guppies, as 2 males can get a little bit fraught; ideally, you should have more to spread aggression, but no room in your tank.