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Has the tank only been running with fish in it for a short period of time?

You are cycling the tank - unfortunetly, you're cycling it with a lot of fish, and a number that just can't handle these levels. Your best bet right now is a number of water changes, about 30% until you can get those levels down a good bit. On the one hand, doing water changes will slow down your cycle; on the other, skipping them is sure to kill a lot of fish. The other best things you can do are to return a number of those fish, if possible, and to buy some New and Improved Cycle, which should help your tank out at least a bit. Keep us posted!

-Molly
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Looks like you posted at just the right time...

We've been discussing the practical ways of cycling a tank but I'm afraid you've jumped the gun.

A working knowledge of the Nitrogen Cycle is a must but for now, since you're started out with a full bio load of fish and showng ammonia and nitrites, the only way out is to purchase the "New Improved Cycle" to provide the required ammonia-eating bacteria that will cycle the tank.

Ammonia/nitrites no doubt are killing your fish so a few small water changes are required to dilute the ammonia.

Do a 25% water change of the same temp and pH as the tank water and do the same 10 hours later, then dose the bacteria starter as soon as possible.

You can purchase a nitrate test while you're at the store. When you start to show some nitrates, the cycle is starting.

--garyroland.

Do water changes until your levels are down into very safe territory. I can't tell you how many that will be, buy your test kits can. Add the NIC as soon as you get it (you can pour it directly onto the filter media) and from there according to the instructions.

Did you recently add a large group of fish, by any chance?

-Molly
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I thought you had just started a new tank...

But, it would seem the tank has gone out of cycle according to your readings.

You better back off a little on your feeding. Excess uneaten food will cause an ammonia problem. The oily film can be attributed to residue from any fish food, usually shrimp, sometimes flakes.

The NIC will not be needed if small water changes take care of the problem and uneaten food in the tank is prevented.

--garyroland.

You bought more fish!

Doing that not only is a danger to them, but makes life even harder on the ones you already have. When fish die in a tank with ammonia, think of it like nature's way of "culling(sp?) the herd" with each removed fish, the ammonia level drops, and the rest have a better chance to surive. You are fighting that! And your fish are going to lose!

I mean, you bought EIGHT more fish! Most people think that with a PROPERLY cycled tank, you should only add a couple at a time! If you want any of them to be happy, you have to return the new ones ASAP! And don't buy ANY more until you have 0 ammonia, AND 0 nitrite!


Your post was titled, "My Fish are Dying!! Please Help!!" But YOU aren't helping at all!

Please return them, they will thank you for it.

-Dennis

[span class="edited"][Edited by Beefshank 2004-08-29 20:49][/span]

Nevermind.

But it seems like a lot of fish for a 10 gal all at once too. But I don't know anything about how much plants effect things.

-Dennis