fish dying

[roger1]

we try to take care of fish and let it grow for its desired lifespan in an aquarium. Unfortunately we fail our target. Fish dies with a maximum of 5 days. We keep on buying new a one with a high rate but we still fail.

We feed the fish and we change the water twice a week... But they still never survive. We are using a fresh water directly from our faucet. And we use a detergent soap in cleaning the aquarium, then we let it dry first before pouring a water. Then we put some accessories like plastic fishes,seaweeds sea sand and stones, then the breather.Can you help me out of this?

[plah831]

ack! First, don't ever use soap in aquaria, it will kill fish. Second, you MUST treat your tap water with tap water conditioner, otherwise the additives (chlorine and chloramine) will also kill fish.

Third, do you know about cycling? http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

[Importskyline22]

you MUST treat your tap water with tap water conditioner, otherwise the additives (chlorine and chloramine) will also kill fish.


Not always true. My dad puts straight tap watter into his 55g aquarium. The fish have been going strong for several months now. Parameters are perfect.

[fishcatch22]

Not always true. My dad puts straight tap watter into his 55g aquarium. The fish have been going strong for several months now. Parameters are perfect.your dad lives in the boonies, doesn't he? they only put chlorine in big city water supplies. if you live far out enough, chances are it's safe.

[Importskyline22]

your dad lives in the boonies, doesn't he? they only put chlorine in big city water supplies. if you live far out enough, chances are it's safe.

Nope. We live right in the city :)

[CaptnDan]

OK, as Paula said, no more soap. Ever.

Be sure to dechlorinate the water, unless you on well water...

You need to rinse everything thoroughly.... over and over to remove all traces of soap residue. Throw away the filter media and replace it.

Once you get the tank set back up, fill it, but do not add fish right away.

Decide which method of cycling you want to use.. with or without fish. Cycling is a natural process that will happen whether you want it to or not, but you can decide HOW it will happen.

Cycling refers to the Nitrogen cycle where decaying food and fish waste produce ammonia, which is toxic - into Nitrite (also toxic), and finally into Nitrate (harmless in lower quantities). Nitrates are removed by water changes during routine maintenance.

Once the tank is established, it pretty much runs itself, all you have to do is clean (not by draining, etc... just a gravel vac and changing water) and periodic replacement of filter media...

Also, once it is established, fish deaths will be uncommon... you will be able to have healthy happy fish.

Read this : http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42633

and this: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

And post back with any questions you have...

[fishcatch22]

Nope. We live right in the city :)then you're darn lucky. like I said, it varies greatly. and you live in a small town, too. it is not worth the risk to not use it if he does not know if it's chlorinated or not.

[CaptnDan]

your dad lives in the boonies, doesn't he? they only put chlorine in big city water supplies. if you live far out enough, chances are it's safe.What? Any municipal water source, city, county, or community well is required by law to disinfect the water. Not just big cities.

[fishcatch22]

What? Any municipal water source, city, county, or community well is required by law to disinfect the water. Not just big cities.by boonies I meant far away from the center of a city, where chances are good he'd use well water.

[CaptnDan]

then you're darn lucky. like I said, it varies greatly. and you live in a small town, too. it is not worth the risk to not use it if he does not know if it's chlorinated or not.There are many factors that can affect the level of chlorine coming out of the tap in a water supply, as some of us are well aware.

This however has little bearing on the subject of the original post... The OP has a serious problem, or series of problems going on, and I think that trying to address those is far more important that debating with importskyline as to the quality of his dad's water supply, unless his dad was the OP...

Can we try to get back on topic now?

[fishcatch22]

There are many factors that can affect the level of chlorine coming out of the tap in a water supply, as some of us are well aware.

This however has little bearing on the subject of the original post... The OP has a serious problem, or series of problems going on, and I think that trying to address those is far more important that debating with importskyline as to the quality of his dad's water supply, unless his dad was the OP...

Can we try to get back on topic now?hey, i agree. we should get back on topic. just waiting for the OP to update us...

[Pheintz]

We feed the fish and we change the water twice a week... But they still never survive. We are using a fresh water directly from our faucet. And we use a detergent soap in cleaning the aquarium, then we let it dry first before pouring a water. Then we put some accessories like plastic fishes,seaweeds sea sand and stones, then the breather.Can you help me out of this?

I have some additional questions (aside from what people have already mentioned) after reading that.

1) you don't really mean "sea sand" right? Cuz you wouldn't use "sea" sand in a freshwater aquarium. When I think "sea" I think saltwater tank.

2) what kind of stones? Some stones leach minerals into your water.

3) are your decorations actually meant for an aquarium? Just puting a plastic toy fish, for instance, into your aquarium could be bad. Some plastics can give off toxins.