First Post....Fish and Plants Dying

J

jason372923

AC Members
May 8, 2007
16
0
0
47
Plano, Texas
My search function isn't working so forgive me if this is a reposted topic.

I have a 46 gallon tank that i have cycled and everything tested well.

Bought several varieties of plants (aquarium expert didn't inform they'd need huge amounts of light). I've had everything in for about 2-3 weeks and the plants are all looking horrible, leaves falling off right and left. I figured this is due to the bad lighting (20 watt 1 bulb hood standard). I've added two add-a-lights to get that to 60 watts but was told that's still not nearly enough. I'm resigned to the fact my $60 worth of plants are gone and will restart with java ferns and moss.

Now onto the real issue i'm having.....the fish. I have/had about 20 fish total (including 10 neon tetras). I'm now down to 5 tetras and of my 8 guppies 4 are left. I keep testing the water and everything is good except one thing....hardness. i'm at between 25-450 ppm. I was told adding some salt could help but then read that will kill the plants. Please let me know what i'm doing wrong?? :( I love my new tank but can't seem to get it going. Anything simple i can do to make the water softer and do you think that's the reason i'm losing my fish? I've done 1/3rd water changes once a week for the past 2 weeks and still nothing. Thanks!!! and sorry for the long post. I'm glad i found this place.
 
test readings please and also :

have you been removing dead plant matter as it comes off & and are your plants rotting in there ?

how did you cycle the tank ?

have you been gravel vaccing ?
 
PH is around 6.8-7
Alkalinity is around 80
Hardness is i'd guess 350 or more!
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40

I've only been removing the leaves that are floating at the top. Most of the plant are in bad shape, should i just take them out for good?

I cycled the tank with 5 tiger barbs that didn't make it after about 1 1/2 weeks. Then it sat, i had it tested at the shop and he said my Nitrate or Nitrite (can't remember which one) was obviously off and that was why they died. He then said i don't need to add more fish, that the "cycling" had taken place and now just do a water change and test again, once it's good i can add fish and plants.

I have gravel vacumed where i could when i did the water changes. Plants make it tricky as i'm sure you all know.

I have noticed the past few days i'm now getting lots of algae growth.

I really hope i can solve this as i don't want to give up on a new hobby.
 
Are you testing for ammonia? Any strange fish behavior or odd appearence of the fish?

How long did the tank sit empty after it cycled with fish?
 
no i guess my little strips dont test for ammonia.

well i can tell when some of them aren't doing well, then the next morning they are belly up or half eaten.

I'd say the tank sat empty (no fish) for 2 weeks after the cycle fish died.
 
If it sat empty that long, it probably wasn't cycled anymore, since the biofilter would not have had any ammonia source to feed off of.

You might want to invest in a liquid test master kit. The strips just aren't very reliable.

If your nitrate is 40, you're due for a partial water change.
 
****. i just did it less than 5 days ago. almost half the water. i had a little 10 gallon tank as a kid and don't ever remember having this kind of trouble.

so should i remove my plants that look bad and just chunk them? i have a piece of drift wood on order that i'm going to put in and attach java moss to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom