HELP! new hobby to me, i think im doing everythign wrong?

Sarah84

Hi There

4 weeks ago, myhusband bought me a 10G fish tank for my birthday... I was so excited to start with! Until I came into problems....!! I bought live plants and conditioned water like it is recommended, and waiting 48 hours before buying fish. I started out with 4 Danio's (which were recommended but apparently are not good for small tanks.... but i later returned them after getting the tetras as they were agressive)

about a week later (after the danios) i introduced 5 tetras.. (but returned the danios within the same 24hours) and replaced the danio's with 3 Guppies. Everything seemed like it was going well... until the tetras became diseased.... all dying. So I went and got my water tested.... of course amonia levels are high as well as nitrates.. because of being a new tank... they basically said 'dont be suprised if they dont all die".. they suggested MelaFix to treat the guppies.. and then all 5 tetras died within 3 days... then i had a case of ick i had to treat

Sooooo..... i left the 3 guppies to do their thing, then 1 of the females died... she had red sores on her tail and.... was obviously sick. so..... I went and bought 1 more female guppy (with knowing the rule 2 girls to one male) and a cory catfish. The next day i found the male guppy dead.

Things were normal for a few days...... and then yesterday Fin rot is back, the fat yellow female guppy is now sick, it's tummy deflated and red gills.. the new female has fin rot.. the catfish is doing okay.
I have done plenty of water changes/treating with 'cycle'.. i did a water change today, and there seems to be a film of something on the surface of the water.... I don't know what I'm doing wrong... and i'm ready to give up...

any suggestions or help??
Sarah

Tuffcents

Im my opinion, your fish are being poisioned by ammonia. It would of been better to let the tank "cycle" first and then slowly add fish. The red gills are a sign oxygen deprivation, which is due to high nitrate levels. I would suggest doing a 50% percent water change immedietly, then again every couple of days to help deal with the bio load

RedBaron

Rule No. 1: in my book, don't give up!

Rule No. 2: Find a great forum for help, advice, and "been there, done that", like this one.

Rule No. 3: Learn something everyday (life principal of mine)

You have done all three, so therefore, you are doing fine.

All kidding aside, it is a matter of time before the cycle completes itself. I am assuming that you now are the proud owner of some sort of water testing device, either strips or liquid test kit. If not, procure a liquid test kit, much better for giving you accurate readings.

Can you provide us with what is in your tank, heater, light, plants, decorations, substrate, and of course, water parameters. With that information, the great souls that frequent this board will be able to help.

My first suggestion, from a newbie, is to continue your water changes, put the "medicines" on the shelf, and let the bacteria do their thing. You will most likely lose a few more fish, but don't despair, it will come about.

Keep reading the forum, particularly the stickies on the cycling of a tank, no Lance Armstrong is not involved, and introducing fish to your aquarium. You will find a few things that you might have done differently, but rule No. 3 will help you in the long run.

Best of luck and please reprt back on your progress, your information is invaluable, just think if you had run across your question sooner than later. You are contributing to the knowledge of all, and above all else, do not give up!

Tommy Gun

Tuffcents is right on track. Red Gills are also a sign of bacteria infections. but it does sound much more like ammonia poisoning in your case.

Four days is definetly does not allow for enough bacteria to grow in your tank to deal with the fish's wastes. There is a 'sticky' thread on this site about cycling your tank. It would be a very good place to start researching how to get your tank back to what you want it to be.

saltwaterdude

go get some advice at your fish store

get light
filter
decorations,plants
heater set at 78
ph increaser, decreaser, test kit,
amonia and nitrite tester
marine salt, no table salt-too risky

and when you set everything up wait 3-6 weeks before you get fish

dont give up - your missing out on alot of fun

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Sarah84

I have tried to get advice from a few pet stores.. majority rather sell you fish then help.
I have a AquaClear filter, a heater/light..... I bought a starter kit so I would have everything!
I have been just getting the pet store to test, obviously that isn't well enough, I will go and buy a tester kits tomorrow.
They did give me aquarium salt.... I have been using it with every water change as they instructed. but unfortunitly, everyone fooled me telling me i could have fish right away poor fishies
I have decorations.. and live plants... (they're growing .. i've had to cut them back a few times!)
thanks for ur help!! i'll keep u updated!!

Loman

Sarah,
I think the advice about not giving up is probably one of the more critical points . Many of the LFS staff do not fully understand the cycle process themselves so they suggest a lot of band aids. It also makes them money to sell you a lot of unneeded chemicals. The key to all of it is the water parameters. Did the store give you the actual readings or did they just say you are okay? 4 weeks in you are probably well into the cycle and items like ammonia are probably at or near the high point but the tests will let you know that instead of speculating.

Salt in a freshwater tank is appropriate sometimes and not at others. I do not think it really bears on the overall situation but that is something to revisit as things start to improve.

Sarah84

They didnt really say where it was at.. except for that they were 'high'... and seemed like they didnt know what they were talking about.... but.... i'll go and get test kits for at home! I'll letcha know.... i did a 50% water change tonihgt like suggested.. hopefully that helps!

Loman

A water change is almost always a positive thing. If they said they are high I expect they are very high (LFS tend to down play these readings). Get the test kit and the real readings and we can go from there. You said that you start this 4 weeks ago so I am assuming the equipment is all new but just to be sure everything that went into the tank was new, clean , and intended for a fish tank?

We have all had issues at one time or another and most of us had problems with the first tank. Once you learn a few of the basic concepts it all comes together fairly well. Do not despair.

Tommy Gun

I would definetly listen to all this advice so far and there are times in which some LFS employees can be a good resource, but unless you know what you are doing and/asking about, you cannot be sure if they are giving you the right answer or not. I like to stick with the 'rule of three'...If I dont hear the exact same information or ideas from three completely unrelated sources, I wont believe it.

I think that there is a misnomer about the aquarium salt. It is good at times like Loman points out, but trying to use it to reduce cycling times or help rid your tank of ammonia are just not accurate from what I have heard and learned. It does help to keep your fish a little more healthy, but it wouldnt matter if the water is what is causing them to be unhealthy anyways.

I also find it weird that your LFS would tell you that your ammonia is high and it is most likely really high then. I am sure they want you to buy some 'ammonia pillows' or something that promises to take out ammonia. Trust me, the only way to take out the ammonia right now for you is to either take out the fish and change all the water, or wait for the tank to cycle.

Also, the LFS usually test your water using test 'strips' which can be easily spoiled by humidity or just from being old. I really really really recommend using liquid test kits as they are more accurate and hard to ruin. They are more expensive right off the bat, but keep in mind that you can use them more times in most cases that there are test strips in a bottle or package.

Definetly do not give up and hang in there. This is all just the begining of your tank and someday (hopefully sooner rather than later) you will be able to keep fish in there without a problem. The key is to keep testing your water until you have no ammonia or nitrites and very low nitrates. Then you will know that your tank can support a fish and a healthy life for it.