I can't keep my fish alive!!

[moxy1030]

I can honestly say I have no idea what to do next. Here's the story- three years ago, I had a great tank set up (20 gallons) with guppies and java moss- it was great- looked like a jungle. That tank went downhill when green slimy algae took over and basically ruined the tank. Ever since then- I've been trying new combinations and I keep killing my fish. For a little while I had banana plants and java in together and it was working out fine- then the water went cloudy and there was a green water problem and ever since then I have'nt been able to get it right. I've had (and killed) angel fish, loaches, golden algae eater and gourami- the only ones who are still alive are the guppies. So finally, two years later, I said enough was enough and took everything out (two days ago) - removed all of the water, rinsed out the gravel several times and am now trying to start all over again. I got a new filter- Penguin 100 w/ Biowheel. Right now the only fish in there are my 5 guppies and a rock that has two java plants growing on it. What should I do next? The water is still a little bit cloudy but I'm hoping that eventually once the tank starts to settle that that will go away. Any and all advice will be a really big help!!! I'm really determined to have a successful tank again with live plants and (hopefully) a nice variety of fish.

 

[Sammyboy15]

well idk wat to say u might want to test ur water and maybe add some cycle which will help add helpful bacteria to ur tank, do u use solutions which make tap water safe for fish :huh:

 

[Chuck_T]

im pretty sure you have to cycle it

 

[cyborob]

If I were you I'd buy a freshwater master test kit right away so you can keep track of your water. Depending on how much good bacteria if any you have left from your gravel, you might want to pick up some bio spira too.

 

[Paccula]

yeah, maybe the water comming out of your tap is tainted some how. some places have ammonia already in the water. or maybe it is extreamly hard or an extream pH or something like that.
If you have plants in your tank you shouldn't need to cycle it, the plants will absorb the ammonia from the fish (I wouldn't count java moss though, but java fern is excelent, and I've had good luck with hornwort and lugia)

 

[budrecki]

What are you water parameters, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?

 

[LunchBox]

what budrecki said, plus how often do you do water changes? is the tank in front of a window?

one thing is for certain: don't waste your money on "Cycle". It's nothing but snake oil. your plants should replace cycling, so that shouldn't really be a concern, but be sure to keep an eye on the parameters budrecki suggested as they can often point to the source of problems in your tank.

 

[AnnieH]

Have you by any chance checked the rock your java moss is attached to.

I had a really bad water problem and luckily only lost one fish before a kindly soul directed me to check a rock I had put in with new plants. Darned if it wasn't one of those layered rocks and one most miniscule layer was IRON. It was sending my Ph readings way up. I took it out and did a 25 % change twice and it's all good now. Has been a week and no re-occurance. :troll:

 

[dorkfish]

angel fish, loaches, golden algae eater and gourami

Gouramis can be finicky about water stability/quality, the rest are just plain inapropriate for the tank.

Read this article, and tell us if there's anything you haven't been doing that needs to be done.

Then use the following links to research anything else you may want to put in the tank and other things (such as water quality,why some fsh won't get along, how to make your plants grow extremely fast,ect.).

Age of Aquariums

Fish Profiles

Pandora's Aquarium

Wetwebmedia

Aquatic Concepts(plant site)

 

[twig]

That slime algae is due to a lack of Nitrates imo ... You need to start adding nitrates into your tank if it happens. I had a serious slime problem. Did a 3 day blackout then started added nitrates i got from www.gregwatson.com