Guppy SOS

[marsdaud]

I'm new with guppies. Sad to say, 3 have already died in the past week.

I have a simple setup, as you can see from the pics. In it, I've got 3 guppies (2 male, 1 female), 8 shrimps and 2 snails. There had been many deaths of shrimps when they were in a 1 gallon tank. When I got guppies, I transferred them all to this tank (water level low cuz I took some water to hold my pregnant guppy). Now, the shrimps are doing well, the snails are fine, but my guppies don't look so good.

I dechlorinate the water, add a lil salt, and do water changes (250ml a day cuz I don't wanna freak them out). I got the filter and oxygen pump.

Friend says I don't have to get a nitrate test kit cuz the plants will use the nitrate. But to be honest, I'm feeling very paranoid after all the deaths. Can someone give me some good advice?

[Rbishop]

Unless it is a heavily planted tank,nitrates can stll be an issue. I would not call that heavily planted.

What size tank is it? The bio lad of the shrimp and snails isn't much, so by adding guppies, the load went up. Probably more so than the bacteria could handle initially.

You need to have a good liquid test kit and get readings on ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Until the bacteria develop to handle the load, water changes will be your best friend. I would feed lightly and vacumm out excess uneaten food. And do at least 30% water changes daily until the bacteria develop to handle the issues.

[marsdaud]

tank size is 8.5x13x6 inches

[Rbishop]

That is barely 3 gallons US. And you are just over half full.....

Change out more water and fill it up...get the readings to us....

[marsdaud]

okay, it's night here. so I'll change the water first, and get the test kits tomorrow. thanks.

[Rbishop]

Keeps us informed! Hope things go well. And to be truthful, it could also be bad guppy stock to begin with.

[jpappy789]

I agree with Bob. Most likely with the little water you have available the new guppies caused a spike in ammonia that resulted in their deaths.

If at all possible go with the API Freshwater Master kit

[blissskr]

Welcome to Ac, as stated I would fill the container all the way and when doing your water changes change way more than 250ml I suspect your tank isnt cycled yet so I would be changing more like 50% of the water daily in such a small tank. As long as the water is the same relative temp and ph as your tank water (also dechlorinated) it wont be bad for your fish it will actually be good for their health.

[J double R]

unless they have ich, adding salt is pointless and really unnecessary.

[jm1212]

3 gallons really is not big enough for guppies...especially guppIES, as in more than one.