Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dolly777]

I have a 10 Gal. tank with 4 guppies (used to be five but 1 died) it cycled for 6 days before I added the fish. When I added the fish the water was perfect.
NO2/ .0
NO3/.0
NH3/.0
PH/7.0
Teperature 78 degrees
My problem is my water cuality is deteriorating and can't keep it stable. Here are my test results (before water change):

NO2 /.25
NO3 /.0
NH3/ .25
PH/ 7.6
Temp. 78 degrees
I did a water change 2 days ago and another one today after I tested the water. Here are the results after the water change:

NO2 /.25
NO3 /.0
NH3/ .25
PH/ 7.6
Temp. 78 degrees
The results stayed the same. what can I do? my babies look a bit stressed and are hanging out at the top of the tank a lot. 2 of them seem to have 1 white spot on them. I don't want to loose any more fish. By the way my tap water good cuality since I have a reverse osmosis system.
All the help I can get will be greatly apreciated.

[Kasakato]

Your tank is not cycled. Just leaving a tank for a few days isent going to do anything. You need to grow bacteria. And bacteria needs food. And its food is fish poo which is ammoina.

When you added the fish you begain the cycle. This is why you see NO2(ammoina) and NH3(nitrite). You need to keep both of these levels where they are. Below 0.25 is the only thing safe from your fish. This means lots of daily water changes and lots of testing. It can tank several weeks, but you have to hang in there. In ABOUT 2 weeks (taking a big guess) your ammoina levels should start to die down. And your nitrite levles will go up. At this point you are about half way there. Keep doing the water changes and testing. In another 2-3 weeks your nitrite levels will start to go down and you will see N03 (nitrates). You want your levels to be N02- 0, NH3- 0, N03- 5to20. Nitrates is the by product from the cycle. This stuff is safe for fish in small amounts (under 20ppm). Weekly water changes are what we do to keep these down. But for now you are doing a "fishy cycle". You can search for more about that.

What types of dots are they? Are they white? It could be ICH. You can read more about ich here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39759

[dolly777]

I did a fishless cycle with Aminia drops and some substrate from the pet shop's tank. from the look of it my fish all have fin rot and itch. I went to the place where I got them and looked at the tank where my fish came from and they have about half of them with the same problem. What can I do to help my fish out. Also I'm doing water changes once a day and the test results are still the same as when I posted last. anything else I can do to get the test results where they need to be. Like I said in my last post before I added the fish the water was in great conditions.

[mishi8]

A fishless cycle cannot be completed in only 6 days. Fishless will usually take just as long as a regular fishy cycle, and it requires daily dosing of ammonia. Once the fishless cycle is complete, you would have a large reading of nitrates, and would need to do a large water change before adding fish.

So, you are still cycling. The cycling process can stress the fish out which can lead to any number of health issues, not to mention the toxicty of ammoia and nitrite directly causing health problems.

Finally, reverse osmosis water is not a good choice for using in an aquarium. This water lacks the necessary dissolved solids for maintaining stable pH, and for keeping the fish healthy...most fish need some solids in their water. Best to use regular tap water with a water conditioner.

[Puffernewbee]

In an emergency you could buy some Bio-Spira. This would save you alot of water changes even though it will set you back a few bucks.

[mvigor]

Your post's subject title has exceeded the maximum number of allowed exclamation marks. I fine you 10,000 yen.

[Kasakato]

Your water is not in great condtion. It still needs to cycle. You want to have some N03 (nitrates).

[dolly777]

this is what I hate about (big chain) pet stores(by the way I found out today that they don't quaranteen their fish), they never give the right imfo. I was told to do a fish less cylce for 6 days then add fish and that my nitrate, nitrite and amonia needed to be at zero. I guess they were wrong. Now I feel like a fish murderer. I hope my fish can make it trough, but I have a fealling that they wont. I guess from now on I'll go to an actual aquatic center where they know what their doing, and actualy quaranteen they're fish. As for my tap water, all I have is reverse osmosis water running trough all my drains pipes including the ones out side so there's not much I can do about getting water with more solid particles in it. See the water where I live is so bad it was getting me and my family very ill, and causing us all kinds of skin problems.

[Kasakato]

Dont fell bad. This is how most people start out. From now on, things can only improve. Wow, that water must be really, really bad. If you are getting sick from it, the fish maybe too. Whats the pH of it? As a "life support" for the fish, you will need to be doing 50-75% daily water changes for the next month or so. During this time it is important not to touch the filter. Just do the water changes and gravel vacs. Also try to get your own test kit. USe it daily and make sure the ammoina and nitrites are below 0.25 at all times.

[mishi8]

Don't feel like a fish murderer. You're now doing a fishy cycle, so just be prepared to do the water changes to ensure your fish stay healthy.

I would expect most plumbing systems would have a bypass to get water from the main line before it goes through the RO filter. If not, you may be able to get a product to add the necessary minerals back into the water for your tank. Here is some info on "pure" water and aquariums: http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/purewatr.htm

Regarding going to another fish centre, quarantine is important...you definitely don't want to be buying a fish that was just delivered to the LFS...they should be watching for disease for a period of time before they release the fish for sale. In terms of fishless cycling, you will likely have a hard time finding someone who advocates it...I've found the staff at most LSFs will give you a blank stare when you ask about it, or will say "why would you add ammonia to your tank?" before they try to sell you a hardy fish for the "only way to cycle your tank."

[Larissa]

Don't know much about it and most people on this site say only to use a water conditioner (but most people on this site don't have R/O water). There are powders made to remineralize R/O water without adding the bad chemicals and heavy metals that you removed. I've never used this stuff but Kent makes one called R/O Right and Seachem makes one called Equilibrium. You can order them online or buy them at a large fish store.

[dolly777]

I've just tested my water again after doing a 50% water change 5 hours ago here are the results:
NH3/ .0 ppm
NO2/ .25 ppm
NO3/ between 0ppm and 5.0 ppm ( my kit doesn't read anything between 0 and 5.0ppm. But the color is not yellow but not dark orange)
PH/ 7.6

I'm not sure what these results mean but I hope its good since I'm starting to read some trace of NO3 and the amonia is at .0 ppm

I also noticed that one of my fish who was a very active when I first got him was a bit letargic, but now seems to be super active again. Does this changes in bahavior good or should I be concern about it?
Also is it ok to treat them for fungus while the tank is cycling? I've noticed they're developing fin rot, septicemia and pop eye. I hope it's not too late to save them. By the way,thanks to evryone for helping me out and walking me trough this. All of the imfo. give has been very useful.

By the way I got a python and its a dream to use compare to the old bucket and syphon ordeal. Any body else have one or a similar system.

[Kasakato]

Nh3(nitrite)- You want to keep it at 0
N02(ammonia)- You want to keep it at 0
NH3?(nitrates)- Perfect level

Its a bit strange that you are seeing nitrates and ammonia at the same time. I would do some water changes to bring that ammonia down to 0. Then keep testing for a week, and post them back here. Your tank MAYBE cycled. But that's still a may, and only time will tell.

Your fish being active again is a good thing. The more active, the better.

I would hold of the meds for a week, or at least a few days while you get this cycle sorted out. Others may not agree but if you add meds and do many, water changes whats the point.

Pythons are great! Some of us around here only use them. I can do all of my water changes in 10 minutes flat.

[daveedka]

I did a fishless cycle with Aminia drops and some substrate from the pet shop's tank.


IF you borrowed enough substrate from an active tank it could be cycled already. However i would still be cautious as said above.
Dave