Need Help!

[rimalgami]

http://picasaweb.google.com/rimalgami/MyTank/photo?authkey=YYzM93DaiLY#5194800575928519010Hi I recently registered to get sm information about keeping tank & fish healthy. For starters I have a 12 gallon tank (eclipse system 12) that has been set up with live pants and going well for 6 weeks(tank was running without fish for 2 weeks) I had 2 glow fish ( zebra danios) and 2 other fish (orange & black ..pretty loppy but 4got the name) . Intially in first 5 days one of the orange fish died, but I guess that one was not healthy to start with.Everything was going fine since then, but yesterday I just wiped the algae(gree in color) with the piece of new sponge off the wall.. & in next 15-20 mins observed that all the 3 fishes were inactive ,swiming on the surface with fast gill activity, limp body ..immediately I changed the 25% of the tank water & added aquasafe.But still they did not seem comfortable..after an hour so I did 25% change again..but by then tetra died..for the whole evening & night I was watching the other 2 fishes .. In the morning the ornage fish seems to have recovered a bit & ate the food but the tetra seemed too tired to eat. Now they are not swimming at the top of the tank & lilttle imporvement in the body movement also . But there is froth in the tank water( never happend b4) water parameteres yesterday were PH 7.6/ammonia 0ppm/nitrate 0 ppm. I don't know wht I did wrong.. Is wiping the algae from the wall while tank is full of water disastrous to the fish.Plese help me .. what should I do.. Feel preety responsible for what happend to them cause b4 the cleaning algae they were active & awesm.:help:.I am sorry for such a long mail.. but need some advise.

[Dwarf Puffers]

You say you had 2 glowfish, a black fish and an orange fish. You said the orange fish died. But you mention a tetra and another orange fish? :confused:

Where did this sponge come from?

[Hooked Newbie]

Type of sponge is very important and probably the culprit. Even new sponges (if not specifically for aquarium use) may contain chemicals that get released.

[Rbishop]

Did you use a standard household sponge? Was it marked aquarium safe? It may have had anti-bacterial agents in it or soap.

Do you have a liquid test kit or strips? The strips are unreliable.

[rimalgami]

hey thanks for looking at the post ... I had 4 fish 2 glow & 2 other.. & now left with 2 of them...sponge was the house hold sponge I used to clean the tank glass....
cld u spot the problem ..of wht might I would hav done wrong..

[rimalgami]

yea I guess that is the possible explantion... will be gettin sm algae scrapper from the store..my fishes too are doin good since morning...so should I change 100% tank water or gradually change it???

[Rbishop]

I would do daily 50% water changes for a few days.

Next cleaning sponge you buy, make sure it is aquarium safe.

Your cycle is probably going to start all over. Use the liquid test kit to monitor ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. When ever you indicate ammonia or nitrites at .25, do a water change. And at a minimum of weekly.