got a problem, bad

freshwater06 · 08-01-2007, 02:50 PM

i started last week with a 5 gallon, 3 black mollies, tuesday is when i got them, they did good til saturday when i got my 20 gallon tank, waited 4 hrs with everything runnin, did a lil research on online for the chemical balance, tested the water, everything was good, so i went out saturday evening and bought 4 cichlids, the mollies were bigger so there wasnt any problem, later that nite 2 mollies died, monday comes 1 cichlid and last molly die, yesterday i was watchin them when my slightly bigger cichlid started actin funny, dartin around the tank and then layed over and floated to the bottom on its back twitchin in the fin, after 5 mins it started back breathin -gills movin- after 10 more mins it rolled over and eventually started actin normal, it did this 2 more times actin like it was havin seizures, finally last nite it died, and this mornin my other cichlid died, 2 of the mollies i didnt return but i returned yesterday a molly and cichlid for the 14 day return petsmart offers and brought back 2 more cichlids, now im bout to return the other 2 that just died and have my water tested -which they also offer for free-. the only thing that has actually lived since saturday was 2 of my ghost shrimp which the other ghost shrimp i had the cichlids have been eatin. i feed them 2 times everyday, flakes in the mornin and freeze dried medley in the evenin. to fill the tank i used filtered tap, just an adapter filter on the tap, can anyone help???? my tank does have a runnin filter, air pump w/ tank air log and heater that keeps the water between 78-79F. the 2 cichlids ig to yesterday seem to be doin good, the bright yellow ciclid is now gettin its black strip on the fin which it didnt have yesterday, im to the point if my other 2 die im switchin to salt water, maybe have better luck. any suggestions?

P-Daddy · 08-01-2007, 03:53 PM

Hey freshwater06,

You seem to have fallen prey to a common misconception held by many beginning hobbyists - the concept that clean tap water alone will provide a healthy environment for your aquatic pets.

Many hobbyists make this same mistake, and are now in the same boat you are in, but fear not! All is not lost and you have come to the right place.

What you need to do is "cycle" your aquarium, which you have unwittingly already started by adding fish and shrimp. "Cycling" is the term hobbyists use to describe the process of creating colonies of beneficial bacteria which break down the toxic waste chemicals produced by fish into less toxic substances. For more detailed and useful information about the whole process I suggest you read this:

http://www.fishtankforums.com/fishtank/freshcycling

This article alone will do quite a bit to get you off on the right track, other than that my only advice to you is to keep asking questions.

PS. Your livestock choices may also be of some concern - Cichlids can grow to be very very large, even just one of the cichlids you have chosen could more than outgrow a 20 gallon aquarium fairly quickly. Furthermore they are aggressive fish and they will fight amongst themselves, and will definitely, without a doubt eat those ghost shrimp.

ian2mic · 08-01-2007, 08:34 PM

You may have just not added this small detail but just in case....even filtered tap water has chlorine and chloramine in it. You must use a conditioner that removes these chemicals, such as Start Right. This may be why they died right away after putting them in the new water.

Cycling is very important but I thought I would mention this as a measure you can take immediatly to prevent losing any more fish.

Kuli_Loach · 08-01-2007, 09:54 PM

Very important to cycle. There is the old way with fish and then there is the fishless cycle. The fishless is a lot cheaper and easier on the fish. Get a test kit, I will list a few things that are a must for your tank:

A filter registered for a 40 gallon tank(always use about half of what they say and that is about what it can handle)
Stress Coat(best stuff every invented!!)
Spirulina or w/e it is that starts the bacteria quicker, not really a must but makes the cycle go quicker!!
Clean substrate well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best to have live plants to help with break down
Don't every overcrowd the tank and research before adding w/e to your tank
TEST KIT!!!!!!!!
PATIENCE is a must when it comes to starting out.