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I recently set up a 30 gallon hex tank I have an UGF w/carbon filters and an aquaclear? outside filter (up to 50 gallon cap) I set it up on Friday and let it run. I also and added the stress clear and stress zyme.

On Sunday night I added 3 zebra danios and 3 var plecos. Sunday night one of the danios died. On Monday afternoon, I went to my LFS (not where I bought the fish) and had my water tested everything was normal, only my PH was a little high around 7.6-7.8? They recommended I leave it alone. I also bought 4 more zebras from them.

Well, today another zebra died from the orignal batch. Could it be they were sick to begin with? I'm concerned about disease.
Well, today another zebra died from the orignal batch. Could it be they were sick to begin with? I'm concerned about disease.
My platys are really settling in, but will sometimes flash? There is an exposed airline and they will kinda launch themselves off of it w/their belly. When one does it the other ones will too. Not sure if it normal, but I also know one is pestering the other for SEX!

Here is the thing though, I don't have the thermometer turned on. The temp has been at 76-78 green line=good temp consistently without it. Could this be bad? I have not added salt or anything to the tank, nor have I done any water changes, since the tests came out good. I will re-test tomorrow. Any ideas/recommendations.
Thanks in advance!
Eskimomommy


Last edited by eskimomommy at 16-Aug-2005 21:15

Last edited by eskimomommy at 17-Aug-2005 09:56


Last edited by eskimomommy at 17-Aug-2005 09:59

Mom,

Since you have just set-up your tank, I would not worry about disease but I would be concerned as to whether you have "cycled" your aquarium. Please go to this link http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-cycling.asp

If I correctly read your post, you added 3 zebras and 3 plecos (then added another 4 zebra danios after 2 died. You later spoke about platys, so I assume that the plecos were variegated platys.

My immediate suggestions would be:
- hold off on purchasing more fish,
- read the link,
- add "Cycle" or a similar product,
- use a test kit for ammonia and nitrites to determine water quality.




Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 17-Aug-2005 08:28

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

eskimomommy,

Bob is right, you should read about cycling. Nevertheless, it is comforting that the LFS tested your water and it came back normal, whereby it would be nice to know what “normal” is.

On thought on why your danios, which are usually hardy fish, may have died:
How did you introduce them to your tank (acclimatization)? If you just took them out of the bag after you got them home you might have exposed them to a different environment too quickly. Do you have any idea what the ph is in the tank at the LFS where they came from?

Another question: did the LFS replace the danio that died for free?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So, sorry I made a mistake I did not purchase plecos, but platys. Originally was 3 zebra danios and 3 platys. One 1 danio was dying when we went to sleep, but didn't find his body. I then purchased 4 more zebra danios. So the next morning a find a dead fish and think, here we are think another dead fish, but "NO" it wasn't another dead fish it was the missing dead guy. Anyhow. I tested my water this morning and Nitrate and Nitrite are at 0, PH is 7.6, Ammonia is slowly climbing it is now at .25, it was at 0 a few days ago.
BTW I did float the bag for 15 minutes prior to releasing the fishies.
Thanks for the help.
Eskmimomommy

eskimomommy,

I am a little dizzy when trying to follow who is who in your tank, but I assume that so far you had only one dead Danio.

Well, you will have more soon as your tank does not seem cycled and your ammonia is on the rise.

Do a 25 to 30 % water change right away. Monitor your ammonia at least once a day and, as soon as it is rising again, perform another water change. Keep on doing this until your tank is stabilized. Maybe you could also return the 3 Platies as that would lower your fish load and as such the ammonia production. In that case, what would you have left, 5 Danios?

You could also add a Product called Bio Spira (sp?) to your tank which creates an instant biological filter, but don’t overdue it.

I am not familiar with the product Ammo Lock but it supposedly locks up the bad ammonia right away. Problem is though; all further readings of your test kits will be off because they register the locked ammonia as well as any unlocked ammonia.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I am not familiar with the product Ammo Lock but it supposedly locks up the bad ammonia right away. Problem is though; all further readings of your test kits will be off because they register the locked ammonia as well as any unlocked ammonia.

Ammolock and similar products bind the ammonia to a larger molecule that us harmless to fish. Personally I like to use Prime because it also decreases toxicity of nitrite, something you'll be dealing with soon. I would take the platys back to the store (you have too many fish for cycling a fish tank ), pick up some Prime, Amquel+ or Ammolock while you're at the shop.

Prime, etc. will show false readings for ammonia if you're using test kits, so you'll really have to rely on other tests (NitrIte, NitrAte) to tell you how the cycle is progressing. Use your fish to gauge the water quality, if they're looking stressed out (sluggish, breathing heavily, disoriented, etc.) it's time to do a large water change (30-50%) with dechlorinated water that is the same temperature of the tank. You'll know the cycle is complete when your tests are showing NitrAte rising and NitrIte has dropped to zero. The cycling process usually takes 3-6 weeks. Count on about 6 weeks before you add any more fish.

This is what Prime looks like:



It detoxifies chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, nitrite, heavy metals and reduces toxicity of nitrate. It replaces your usual water conditioner. Excellent product. It is slightly more expensive than regular water conditioners but since you only need 2 drops per gallon, a bottle of it lasts a very long time and costs you less in the long run. It will make the cycling process easier and safer on your fish.

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