Quick Assistance Please :) Guppies In Trouble!

[Spence89x]

Hey,

So my tank had been set up for 2 weeks with cycling complete. I bought 5 guppies which have been in the tank for 2 weeks.
They were absolutely fine until last night, one of them which was a dark blue colour was reallyy bloated! It had a long stringy poo
Coming out, it was laid on a rock not moving and it started to turn black! It passed away a short time after!
Today on my return from work another guppy which is a pale orange colour has turned red on top and acting in the same way!

I have run out of test strips so not sure what's going on in the water, there is food
On the gravel and with one fish been bloated is this overfeeding?

I also have not carried out a water change yet.

Can someone help me save my other guppies! I'm still really new to this.

Thank you

 

[phoenixgsd]

your tank wont have cycled in two weeks, and as you have been using test strips which are very unreliable and havnt done any water changes i will assume this could be your problem, you need to do a massive water change with temperature matched dechlorinated water (dont touch the filter) then read up on fish in cycling as you might have to do it again, how big is your tank?

 

[Spence89x]

It is 28L, all the levels were correct when I put the fish in, I just don't get why it's happening so suddenly I'm not sure how I'm going to match the temp of the tank but il give it a go!

Thank you

 

[phoenixgsd]

have you not changed the water at all since setting up your tank? if you have food on the tank floor syphon it up, temperature matching is easy once you know how use a new bucket or tub or one thats not had any chemicals in it and put your hand in the tank then the bucket and if it feels similar add the dechlorinator and add to tank

 

[4seasons]

I have run out of test strips so not sure what's going on in the water, there is food
On the gravel and with one fish been bloated is this overfeeding?

I also have not carried out a water change yet.

Test strips are garbage. You need a liquid test kit like the API master kit that most of us use. Until you get one your best bet is a 80% daily water change. You are basically flying blind without a good test kit. Large water changes will solve a lot of problems and if you don't know what the problem is water changes are about the only safe bet. You also need to read up on fish in cycling in the beginner section here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/

 

[Easy]

I have run out of test strips so not sure what's going on in the water, there is food
On the gravel and with one fish been bloated is this overfeeding?

I also have not carried out a water change yet.

Test strips are garbage. You need a liquid test kit like the API master kit that most of us use. Until you get one your best bet is a 80% daily water change. You are basically flying blind without a good test kit. Large water changes will solve a lot of problems and if you don't know what the problem is water changes are about the only safe bet. You also need to read up on fish in cycling in the beginner section here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/

That basically sums it up.lol
Good luck, I'm in the same boat as you right now. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Mauigirl]

OK so bit of linage b4,

you say

all the levels were correct

Well yes before you put the fish in I would assume they were as nothing was happening at all.
You are needing to cycle the filter, not the water, the test give you a end result. I.E. no fish , no waste, nothing to report.
Add fish and all hell breaks loose for the unprepared/uncycled

With out an Ammonia source the bacteria never started to grow. this takes some time to get a fully capable base, and it requires much more than setting up and running filters and air stone for a bit,
thus the quote

your tank wont have cycled in two weeks

As It wont have without seeding, cycleing takes 3 weeks to 3 months, estimate, most at 4 weeks done correctly. If done correctly you will have a mostly pleasant experience.

Please, for your sanity and the sake of the fish remaining read fish-in-cycling and also poke around in beginners-resource-center as the more specifically you can ask questions and the more you know the better your fish will do..

You are not alone many are duped by fish stores, or whomever into thinking its a 1,2,3 type thing.. Its not, but the rewards of a stellar tank are great.

As for tests, get a API master kit and expect that you will burn it up during the cycle.. test test test.. it is important you know the stats so you can make wise choices

bear in mind 28L is a SMALL tank and any type of misalignment and or adulteration of the water is magnified as there is little if any dilution of contaminates.
Also ask about stocking as this is a fickle thing for a small tank.. your choices are limited in a small Biotope ( spelling)