Water Change Question

[xxxpinkladyxxx]

Saturday before last, I bought a tropical fish tank. I set it up and left it a week before I bought any fish. I must admit that I know absolutely nothing about tropical fish so thought it was just a case of getting my fish tank water settled and the temperature right. Well I think I got that right. Anyway, stupidly, last Saturday I ended up getting about 18 tropical fish (5 pink & white ones which I don't have a clue are called, about 7 guppies and 6 neon tetras). The dimensions of my tank are roughly, from memory, 30cms high (just the glass that is, not the measurement from the bottom to the very top including the lid), 43cms long and about 12cm deep. I know that I have obviously put too many fish in my tank at one time. When I got my tank Saturday before last, I put some safe water in which is supposed to neutralise organic waste produced by fish, degrades ammonia and nitrite, helps digest sludge and boosts processing power of biological filters. Well anyway, all my fish seem to be dying off! After just 12 hours, one of my tetras died, then another and another. Then one of my guppies died, then another and another. I now only have about 1 or 2 guppies left, 1 tetra and 4 pink and white fish. One of the pink and white fish got white spot disease and that's how he died. I then did a bit of research on the internet which said it could be treated by putting in 1tspn of salt per gallon of water in the tank so I did this, but the pink fish then died anyway. I now desperately want to try and save the fish I have left, if this is possible (which I doubt!).

Anyway, after my second fish died, I came to this website and was given some good tips - i.e. that I had too many fish that was releasing too much ammonia into the water and that I should do a 40-50% water change and to put some dechlorinator in the fresh water I was adding. I did this, but my fish are still dying. I am therefore keen to change all of the water in the tank. Is this possible? I thought the whole point of waiting a week for my tank to settle was so that the water would be right. If I just replace it all like that, surely this will cause me more problems??

 

[Katana]

Your water settling is not the same as your water being cycled. The "balance" that fish tanks need to reach, preferably before introducing fish, is called cycling. Cycling is the process of getting the bacteria to process the waste from your fish. Changing all of the water is not the solution. You need to keep changing it daily little by little. Mabye as much as 20% per day. When you change it, make sure to put chlorine neutralizer in it. Also, invest in a testing kit. Test for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. When ammonia and nitrites are reading at a steady 0, your tank is cycled, and you don't need to change water as frequently. Till then, keep doing 20% a day. If your local fish store will take the fish back, get them to, and do a fishless cycle. I'll find the link to the info for you in a second.

EDIT: Here's the link, the second post down should tell you about it. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

 

[xxxpinkladyxxx]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try that.

 

[Katana]

Keep us posted if they make it

 

[diademhill]

This tank can't be cycled with your remaining fish - it holds under 3 gallons and should only hold about one/two fish max!
Your best option is to return the remaining fish to the store and have a rethink unless you want to buy a 70L tank for your remaining fish.

In the meantime you neeed to keep a bucket of water, ready conditioned, alongside the tank & change a full bucket out twice a day.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I make it 3 UK gallons (4 US gallons), though of course there may be less actual water volume after displacement. There are really only a very few fish that can survive in such a small tank. Most fish need more swimming room and more water volume to provide oxygen and deal with their waste. Really, this is a tank for a betta (Siamese fighting fish) only, or for a few shrimps. It's a shame you were mis-sold this tank, happens a lot unfortunately.