Water Changes?

[joeyg2100]

I have done two water changes so far in my new tank. The second time I killed 4 fish and I had the water temp the same as the tank before I put in the water. I was wondering why my fish are dead. Should I be conditioning my water before I put it in the tank? Is there someway I can test the city water for chemicals or anything like that? I need help with this before I go out and get some expensive fish. Thank

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Make sure your water conditioner neutralizes chlorine and/or chloramines if you are using city water.

 

[hobie237]

Make sure your water conditioner neutralizes chlorine and/or chloramines if you are using city water.

Thats the only thing I can really think of, the chlorine/chloramine...

Or just the stress of the tank being drained and refilled... are you doing so gradually or just dumping in a whole lot of water?

 

[Roan Art]

Yes, you should be using something that will remove chlorine/chloramine in the new water. IMHO, even if you have the city give you a water analysis and it doesn't have chlorine or chloramine, they could change that later on and start adding it to the water to make it "safe" to drink.

How long have you had the tank and how often are you doing water changes? How much water are you changing out?

Roan

 

[joeyg2100]

I have a 55 gal. that I have been cycling for 2 weeks now. I have been doing 50% water changes every week. The ammonia levels have stayed right at .5ppm for the two weeks. I just have been doing the water changes to keep these numbers down. I take out the water then I put the water in a bucket and let it get to the temperature of the tank water. After it gets to this temp. I put it in the water. It took about an hour to fill the tank after I got the water out. So yes I take my time putting the water back into the tank.
Also I woke up this morning and 6 more of my zebra danos had died. I have no clue why they are doing this. Next time I change my water I am going to condition it and then let it sit for a couple days. I hate killing the fish and I feel like crap for doing it. I was getting attached to those little guys, and I felt really bad when they all started to die. Let me know what else I can do to save my fish in the future. :huh:

 

[Roan Art]

I have a 55 gal. that I have been cycling for 2 weeks now. I have been doing 50% water changes every week. The ammonia levels have stayed right at .5ppm for the two weeks. I just have been doing the water changes to keep these numbers down. I take out the water then I put the water in a bucket and let it get to the temperature of the tank water. After it gets to this temp. I put it in the water. It took about an hour to fill the tank after I got the water out. So yes I take my time putting the water back into the tank.
Also I woke up this morning and 6 more of my zebra danos had died. I have no clue why they are doing this. Next time I change my water I am going to condition it and then let it sit for a couple days. I hate killing the fish and I feel like crap for doing it. I was getting attached to those little guys, and I felt really bad when they all started to die. Let me know what else I can do to save my fish in the future. :huh:

Joey, please read the sticky on cycling your tank: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26051

Please test your water with a liquid test kit (not strips, they are not accurate). We need to know the ammonia, nitrATES, niTRITES and pH.

Most likely your fish are dying from a combination of high nitrites and ammonia and possibly chlorine poisoning. Possibly shock from waterchanages as well. Hard to say as there are so many factors that it could be and we cannot narrow it down until we know the state of your tank and tap water.

We'll be able to advise better once we have your test kit results. Please test your tap water, too, and post that.

If you are doing a fishy cycling, a 50% water change a week is not enough.

Thanks
Roan

 

[minnesotagal866]

You definitely should be putting the conditioner in the bucket before you add it to the tank. For a fishy cycle, I'd do water changes at least twice a week and add some plants.

Jackie

 

[joeyg2100]

Ok here are my tank numbers from last night after I did the water change, and I do have a liquid test kit. It is the same one that a lot of people on here recommended.
Ammonia = .5ppm
n2 = 0ppm
n3 = 0ppm
I have not tested the tap water yet, but I will get a tester for that tonight when I get off of work.
Another thing is. The first time I changed the water I had 4 fish die in that one two. 3 fish survived, so I got some more friends for them. So I changed the water last night and had all the fish die again except for 3. I have no clue what I am doing wrong, but I need to get this figured out before I go out and get the rest of my fish after the cycling is done.

 

[Roan Art]

Ok here are my tank numbers from last night after I did the water change, and I do have a liquid test kit. It is the same one that a lot of people on here recommended.
Ammonia = .5ppm
n2 = 0ppm
n3 = 0ppm

The absence of nitrates indicate that the tank is definitely not cycled. A .5 ammonia reading is harmful to your fish.

Since you were not treating the water, I would guess that you either have chlorine/chloramine OR ammonia in the tap. Or both.

My tap water has no chlorine, BUT it has 1.0mg ammonia.

One thing that would have been helpful would be numbers *before* a water change, then after the change, and the tap water.

How long have you been leaving the bucket sit? I believe it takes at least 24 hours for water to "age". I honestly don't know what the effect aging has on ammonia.

Get some conditioner, Prime is the best, ASAP. Use it in your bucket and start doing daily water changes until you get that ammonia down. Unless the fish are stressed all to wack or there is something REALLY wack about your tap water, I think you'll find that Prime will correct the situation.

Have you shown nitrites at all yet?

I have not tested the tap water yet, but I will get a tester for that tonight when I get off of work.

Call the water department and ask them for an analysis.

Another thing is. The first time I changed the water I had 4 fish die in that one two. 3 fish survived, so I got some more friends for them. So I changed the water last night and had all the fish die again except for 3. I have no clue what I am doing wrong, but I need to get this figured out before I go out and get the rest of my fish after the cycling is done.

I suggest you not add anymore fish until you find out what's in that tap water, kay?

Find out and post. Don't forget to get some Prime!

Roan

 

[joeyg2100]

Ok I will call the water company and get an analysis. Does the company need to come out and do this or should they have it on records?
As for showing any Nitrites yet. No They haven't registered at all. I thought that after two weeks that something should show up.
Also I am done with the fishy cycling. I will just keep the three that are in there, and hope that they make it. Thanks for the help