They Are Dropping Like Flies!

[Saf1]

So I just completed a fishless cycle on a 36 gallon aquarium (had a tough time cycling it as I had posted in a previous thread) but it seemed like all was well...had ammonia and nitrite levels dropping to 0 per the article on this site and lots of nitrates. Did a complete water change, then added 4 small guppies and the 2 african dwarf frogs from my established tank. It was just them for a week or so, but I figured with a fishless cycle I was free to add a decent amount of stock. Before adding any more fish I verified that pH was 7.8, ammonia and nitrite 0, and nitrates were around 5.

Saturday after some debate I added 6 red serpae tetras, 2 panda cories, and 2 black mollies. Everyone looked fine. Sunday night I noticed one of the tetras had died. I had not noticed anything looking off about him but I tested the water and found the ammonia level was up...maybe 0.25. Nitrates higher than I expected maybe 10-20. The other fish had apparently pecked at it so no way to tell if anything was wrong with it. I dropped everything and did a 50% water change.

The next day (Monday) ammonia tested 0, nitrites 0. Figured the ammonia killed the tetra or the tetra was sick from the pet store and since I did not realize right away he had died maybe he had caused the ammonia but either way figured it was fixed. Monday night noticed one of the tetras swimming strangely and realized his tail fin was in tatters. I had not seen anyone pecking at anyone else, so thought maybe it was fin rot (again from the pet store) and several of the others had slightly tattered fins, so I added API antifungal medication to the tank. I have never used medication in a tank before...always just tried to work with water changes and stuff.

So this morning I discovered that the tetra with the bad tail had died...along with one of my guppies that had appeared perfectly healthy. I looked at her little body and no signs of fin rot. No idea. Now one of my male guppies is laying on the ground and I am pretty sure he is on his way out.

I am concerned I have another ammonia spike going but there is no way to know because the medication turns the water green! I am at a loss. Should I do another big water change in case it is ammonia even though there is no way to test? Do I re-dose the tank with the antifungal if I do? I really regret putting it in there but several of the fish do have slightly tattered fins so I dont know if maybe I really should finish the treatment. Neither guppy has any signs of infection...so dont know why one died and the other is dying. Ugh appreciate any guidance on this one. Including if I screwed up with the fish I added. I tried to research docile fish that did okay in a community tank...did not see any problems.

To sum up since this is long:
36 gallon tank
Current stock - 2 african dwarf frogs, 3 small guppies (one dying), 2 black mollies, 2 panda cories, 4 red serpae tetras
Lost - 2 red serpae tetras, 1 guppy with another dying
Last water test Monday (API master test kit) - pH 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ish
Tank treated with API antifungal medicine last night

Thoughts??

 

[BettaBettas]

k, well you shouldn't have the frogs, that's first.
Also it seems your tank isn't cycled. And you added to many fish to fast, which caused an ammonia spike and nit. spike. killing off some of your fish.
I think that you need to stop the water changes, clean your filter out more often for the next 4 weeks or so. do about 20% water change a week? and stop treating these medicines because they don't help either, they just change the water quality until you know what's going on, obviously they aren't helping

reason I say no frog, is because unless you have something leading to the surface of the tank, it will e very stressful for him to get air. also they need a special diet which im not going to list (blood worms, glass worms, other worms, more food, other food) I would say you do your own research on that.
and idk if your tank is planted but they need a bunch of hiding places, especially with fish in the tank

 

[Saf1]

So I have had the frogs since December, feed them blood worms using aquarium tongs, and they do very well getting to the surface. I did a fishless cycle on the tank according to the article on this site, took approximately 5 weeks, and the water was testing exactly as the article said it should. I am not ruling out that I didnt goof something up and that the cycle may not have completed when I thought it had, but again, it was reading according to what the article said it should. I have a well established tank as well so Im not totally new to this...although this is my first time using a fishless cycle so I cant say for sure I didnt screw something up.

The tank is planted plus has 2 large faux driftwood inserts so I feel like the we are okay on hiding spots.

Isnt the solution to an ammonia/nirite spike to increase water changes? Curious what the logic is on decreasing? 20% a week is what I do with my older well established tank. Not trying to be argumentative...really am looking for help...just want to make sure I understand the reasoning.

 

[Saf1]

Totally agree on the medicines though. Never used them before, should not have started. Ugh its so GREEN.

 

[BettaBettas]

20% a week will slowly lower the levels, not causing any stress to your fish other than the stress that's currently upon them. Hope that kind of answered you confusion

 

[cowgirluntamed]

If you do believe it was a possible ammonia or nitrite spike...up the water changes! The stress on the fish from having ammonia and anything else toxic in there will be way more than getting it out through water changes. I wouldn't use the meds either though unless you actually see anything fuzzy or something other than tattered fins. I know tetras need 6 or more to be happy(I know you did this initially) but I wNt to say serpaes are fin nippers. So maybe while they were doing their hierarchy thing they could have nipped too much. We don't always see this. Maybe they need more than 6 but I'm not sure. It could have been weak from the Petstore as well. Other than that I don't really know. But if you want to stop the meds, other than water changes, be sure to run some carbon in the filter.

Also, another thing popped into my head, how did you acclimate the fish? It could have been a shock to them if done too fast.