Help! Fish Loss! =(

[often dignified]

I've had my Glolite Tetras for about a month and a half. Today, I scraped some algae, picked up some Ottos, and added some silk plants. Before adding plants, I washed them in warm tap water.

I got 3 Ottos, and they've been buzzing around and eating a ton. I've been watching the Tetras all night, they've been really active and swimming through the new plant and exploring around. I went to Walmart to pick up some burger buns for dinner... came back, and one of the Tetras was near the top, bobbing up and down and swaying from side to side. I gave the glass a tap and he swam away, but I knew something was wrong. I came back to the tank about 2 minutes later after putting food away, and he was dead. :(

I immediately did a test and I have:

ph: 8.2
KH: 200
GH: 200
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 25-30

The rest of my tetras are breathing fast... so I threw in an airstone hoping that it would help w/ oxygen a bit.

I did a 15-20% water change today with gravel vac. The nitrates are still a bit high, so I will probably do another one tomorrow. Last time I did a water change, I lost all of my fish. :confused:

Could my tap water be severe enough to cause this? I tested the tap and the KH, GH, pH are all the same.

I can't test ammonia... I got my test kit in the mail and what do you know... NO COLOR CHART :mad: I don't have access to even buy an ammonia test around here. But if my Nitrites are 0, wouldn't that mean ammonia would be near 0?

I'm using Wardley's Chlor Out

PLEASE HELP! :(

[blitzen25bm]

dont know what could have happened, did you try calling the test kit company to get a new one? most of the kits its clear when you have no ammonia and turns yellower as the level increase. were the plants made for aquariums? just some tap water wouldnt have done that to them.

[often dignified]

Yea they were Penn Plax silk plants...

the other 2 Tetras died, I even tried putting them in a big pot with completely fresh water. I don't know what's been going on.

Yes, they are sending me a new one... I did a test for the hell of it and it was slightly yellow, really pale, so I'm guessing that means a low amount? I have a Penguin 125... its a 10 gallon which I know can be hard to keep stable. But I thought the bio-wheel eliminates ammonia and nitrite by the amount of bacteria they hold?

Maybe fishkeeping just isn't for me :shake:

[PumaWard]

What company makes the kit? Maybe someone has that same test kit and can help you out with the color.

[often dignified]

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals... it's like a lemon color but not near as bright.

[kveeti]

For Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, this site http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ has a colour chart (selection in left margin), but, of course, beware of the different appearance of colours due to scanning and your own screen.

[sumoschro]

yes i have the kit and would be glad to help. If the water is clear after you add the drops it means ammonia is at zero or very slight. pale yellow is between 2 - 3 ppm, which is a little much. try not feeding your fish for 24 hours and removing the excess food and waste, and that should clear up your problem.

hth:)

[often dignified]

ok thanks... so you all agree that my ammonia is too high?

That's the last thing I thought it would be... I've been home for Christmas break and I've only been coming back to the apartment about twice a week to feed, and I only feed what the fish can eat in about 2 minutes.

I don't think I'm guilty of over-feeding? :confused:

[kveeti]

One thing you didn’t mention is what you did/do to treat the water for your water change. Could the water supply company have suddenly started using chloramines? (If you've only come back to the apartment infrequently, did you run your tap water a while - I don't know maybe something from standing in the pipes?) You said you tested your tap water for KH, GH, pH. Try doing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests on your tap water, as well – it’s a place to start.

[often dignified]

Wardley's Chlor Out says it removes chlorine and chloramine, so I don't think it's that...

and yes, I ran the water for about a minute before filling up the tank. I'm totally clueless here... :confused:

[kveeti]

Please check the wording carefully on the Wardley Chlor-Out. Sometimes the conditioners that say they remove chlorine and chloramines, mean they only break the chloramine bond. I believe it specifically has to say it neutralizes ammonia as well. Does the product list its ingredients?

See the following site and read specifically the *Note at the bottom which refers to the Wardley product (and others). http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/rev-cond.htm

I guess the way to double check would be to treat some water in a bucket and then do an ammonia test on it.

P.S. I'm assuming this is if your water contains chloramine. If it only contains chlorine, then I'm at a loss.

[often dignified]

Thanks for all of your help. It seems to be my tap water... but what can I do now? Mix it with RO water? I saw it in the supermarket for 50 cents a gallon, so it wouldn't be expensive at all to use it in my tank.

But, if there are problems with my tap water, would it be better to use all RO water or would it be safe to mix it 50/50?

Also, in May I will be moving back home, where we have well water. I've heard that well water cannot be used, but is it true? We also have a water softener.

Thanks for helping a newbie :o