Fish keep dying

[Minnow1980]

After having our Betta for a year in a 2.5gal tank, we finally decided to upgrade to a bigger tank so that we could get more fish. We had been nursing the Betta with BettaFix for a week for Popeye and he seemed to be doing better. After doing some research on various fish forums I decided to do a fish in cycle and went do to Petsmart to get some fish, and so the saga begins.

Let me begin by first listing my equipment and then a timeline of what has transpired to date.

Equipment Walmart Aqua Culture starter kit
10 Gallon aquarium – 20”L X 10”W X 12”H
Hood with 2 Incandescent bulbs
Aqua Tech 5-15 power filter 100gph
Marineland Stealth 50 watt heater set @ 78 degrees



Timeline

1/27/2011 – Filled tank – Red Betta with Popeye added to tank

1/29/2011 – Red Betta died

1/31/2011 - replaced with 1 blue Betta and 5 platy’s

2/1/2011 - Blue Betta died

2/2/2011 - replaced with 1 purple Betta & 3 ghost shrimp

2/3/2011 - Lost 3 platy’s & 1 ghost shrimp

2/4/2011 - Lost 2 platy’s

2/4/2011 - Water change (20%)

2/5/2011 - Lost 1 ghost shrimp


As of the moment I'm left with a Betta who has been on the bottom of the tank, not moving most of the time since I bought him, along with one ghost shrimp. The dead fish have a 14 day guarantee and can be replaced. In total I had 6 fish plus the three ghost shrimp in a newly cycling tank and I believe that I overstocked going by the Petsmart associates recommendation. Each time I replaced fish I had Petsmart test a sample of my water and they said it was fine. They used the strips to do the tests.

My thoughts as to what to do now are, first I'm going to buy a Master Water Test Kit. I'm also thinking that I should replace the deal platy's with only 3 new ones as to not over populate the tank. I'm also wondering about a product called Tetra Safe Start along with replacing my power filter with a version made by Marineland. Folks on the web say that the Aqua Tech power filter is junk, but no one ever explains why, I have to wonder if the information is accurate.



Please advise and thanks for reading.

 

[Rbishop]

Get the liquid test kit for sure.

Do daily water changes, even if more than one a day to keep ammonia and nitrite below .25 ppm.

Never trust a store that uses dip strips.

Make sure you are using a good water conditioner like Prime.

 

[Minnow1980]

Well just got back from Petsmart with 5 new Platy's. I also decided to return the Purple Betta as he appeared to be sick and was not adjusting well. I replaced the betta with a new Blue Betta and he is much healthier so far.
I also picked up a Marineland Penguin 150 Power filter, a top Fin small gravel vacuum, a 2.5gal bucket from the dollar store, a freshwater Master Test Kit, and a bottle of tetra Safe Start. I got all the products in/on the tank and the fish are in the water.
Before adding the new fish, I did a 20% water change and did some vacuuming.

 

[fish-n-chips]

Minnows a much cheaper option to cycle with. You have already lost two bettas and 5 platys plus your ghost shrimp. Figure out how much you have already spent on fish and the fact that your cycle has yet to start. If you are intent on doing a fishie cycle you will have to do daily water changes like RB stated and Prime is your best option for a water conditioner. I wish you luck and hope that you don't lose any more fish. If you would have put the filter from your 2.5 on the new tank along with your new filter, you would have already had a jump start on your cycle since the old filter already had the nitrifying bacteria established which would have eliminated the need for Safe Start.

 

[sorberj]

What are your water parameters right now? I generally don't encourage a fish-in-cycle, but it's going to be important to test your water with the master test kit at least once per day until your cycle is established. Fish-n-chip's advice is correct for maintaining a fish-in cycle so make sure to keep up on those water changes.

One other note on the master test kit...the second bottle of the nitrate test requires quite a bit of vigor in the shaking, so each time you shake it, just get out any of your frustrations.

 

[ianab]

Main issue - too many fish added too fast.

5 platies and a betta are pretty much a full stocking for a 10gal, ONCE it's cycled and properly established.

To get the tank started (with fish) you only add one or two fish, a betta is actually a good started fish, low bioload and hardy.

New 10gal tank + betta + wait a month and your tank will be cycled. Add a couple of platies, wait another week, add a couple more. and you are done.

I think you can discount the first betta dying, it was sick when you added it, it was probably going to die anyway.

All the others are pretty much expected.

Don't worry about changing the filter, it wont magically fix the problem. Some filters are better than others as they contain more media, pump more water, or are more reliable, but if it has media, and water is flowing, it works as a filter.

So - do some extra water changes, up to 50%, to get that ammonia level down, that should keep your existing stock alive. Don't add any more fish for at least 2 weeks. do not change the filter or filter media. Get a good test kit.

Good luck.

 

[Minnow1980]

Using the API freshwater master test kit per the instructions, my water parameters as of 2/6/11 are;

PH = 7.8 PPM
Ammonia = 0.50 ppm
Nitrite = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 0 ppm

Will do a water change shortly and keep up with them to keep the ammonia levels as low as possible. From my research I am going to shoot for a PH level of 7.0. I'll see about picking up a bottle of Prime tomorrow.
Thanks for the advice everybody!

 

[ianab]

Ignore the pH, it's simply not that important.

The test results show the tank is not cycled, and that level of ammonia will be dangerous at that higher pH.

Water changes should keep your fish alive until the tank cycles.

Safe readings will be...

pH - 6.0 - 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0 - 30.

Only way to get there is to let the system cycle.

Prime is a good product as it neutralises any chlorine residue that may be in your tap water, but it wont fix your cycle issues.

Ian

 

[thebrandon]

PH should not be on your list of things to worry about. A stable PH of 7.8 is way more important than you constantly trying to adjust it to 7.0 and will stress the fish more than help them.

Right now focus on getting your tank cycled. That should be your most important task and it will be the deciding factor between successful fish keeping or not.

 

[Minnow1980]

Did another water change and Ammonia level was after the water change tested at 0.50 ppm.
Went to Petco and picked up a digital thermometer and a bottle of Micro-Lift brand ammonia remover. I came home, put a teaspoon of the remover per instructions in the tank and did a test about two hours later and the ammonia level went down to 0.25ppm. The other test reading are holding steady with PH still at 7.8 ppm and 0 Nitrites and Nitrates.