Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant
How big is the tank? How many fish?
|
New tank, well cleaned and rinsed before use. Rather small shelf top tank, 12 liter, new washed gravel and plants from a very healthy tank. Water was aged for several days before adding fish. All chemical test results normal.
I began with 5 Vailtailed guppies; 2 males and 3 females to occupy the upper levels of the tank. Replaced, but am now down to one male and three females that seem quite healthy
One Siamese Fighting Fish (male) to roam the mid-level. Replaced but died.
5 small Neon Tetra for the lower strata. Died, replaced and died again, and not yet replaced.
1 small bottom cleaning catfish. Apparently healthy though out the whole affair!
There should be enough room for double the number of fish this size and still not crowd the tank.
Quote:
|
The bacteria in the filter need time to build up to clean up the ammonia from the fish.
|
The fish began dying after 6 hours. There wasn't enough time for ANY ammonia buildup.
Quote:
|
And then another bacterial population needs time to build to process the nitrite produced from the ammonia by the first lot.
|
I've tested for nitrates, nitrites, pH, ammonia, Cl, and water hardness. ALL are perfectly well within normal levels, and have been so since the beginning. This is why it's so puzzling to me! It simply shouldn't be happening. I began raising fish when I was a boy, made money setting up tanks, made smaller money selling Fancy Guppies and Betas to a few local pet shops. But this is my first tank since I was a teen. Should be easier as most of the water quality tests weren't available for home use back then. These days the pet shops here have entire shelves full of various testing and adjusting materials!
Quote:
|
I'd suggest (if you still have some living fish) that you shouldn't add any more fish for a few weeks.
|
Certainly my plan! I do wonder though, what is causing all this mayhem!
Stitchawl