Todd Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi, I've just set up a coldwater tank. Specs and details are: It's 2ft, about 42 litres of water in it. We're on rainwater here pH 6.6 I'm using a dolphin 400 internal filter (bloody noisy) which pumps 300l/hour. Yesterday afternoon I bought 3 giant danios and 5 white clouds from hff along with a bag of tank gravel, and some plants. In the morning I had filled the tank with water to let the water come up to room temp. When I got back in the afternoon it was sitting at about 17c. I chucked the gravel in - water instantly went very cloudy so I left it to settle for about an hour, then skimmed the surface rubbish out and put some filter wool in the pump 'til everything looked clean again. In the meantime I had transfered my new fishies into a bowl of water in case of ammonia build up. My brother also added a teaspoon of conditioner to the tank (contains stress-coat) and a few drops of Magic Clear to help the filter wool clean the water. With everything looking good I introduced the fish to their new home and they all seemed happy enough. I had wondered if there was too much current from the pump, but there are areas where the current is quite slow so figured the fish would work it out. Around 11pm when I checked the tank again the danios were all dead at the bottom of the tank. They had been okay at around 10pm, so whatever it was that they died from happened within a short space of time. The white clouds are all fine (fingers crossed) but I'd like to know why the danios died. The water temp at time of death was 20c and the ammonia level was 0.1- 0.2 ppm which is the level it is from the tap. If anyone can shed some light on what might have been the cause I'd appreciate it. I really liked the look of the giant danios and would be keen to get more, but not until I know what went wrong. Cheers, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Todd! Read the forums here on cycling for a new tank. If I read your post correctly, you put your fish in the tank the same day you set it up??? Tank should stay empty for a period of time, then add a couple of fish which helps in the cycling process, you need fish to produce waste to produce ammonia...and so on. Did you wash everything, tank, gravel, etc. before you put them in the tank? Wash with clear water that is NEVER use soap on fishies' things. Rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse! the ammonia level was 0.1- 0.2 ppm which is the level it is from the tap Ammonia in your tap water??? The cycling process....fishie produce waste...ammonia...nitrites...nitrates. Do you have test kits? You should have at least test kits for ammonia, pH, nitrites, and nitrates. You will probably need to do frequent (small) water changes till your tank gets cycled. But those with more experience will guide you on that. Too many fish too soon...recipe for trouble! Take care...and the people here are great to help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 One thing that I noticed that sticks out like a burnt hole in a blanket. You didn't wash the gravel before you added it to the tank. What made the water cloudy instantly?? The dirt in the gravel. Ever considered how that gravel is picked up. Not carefully with a shovel, but with big machinery, they can leak so many contaminants into the gravel. I have had a bag of gravel with hydraulic fluid spilled in it. I always wash my gravel, then i put it into a big preserving pan and sterilizing it by boiling for an hour or so. Any contaminante can be picked up through these processes. I noticed the intials where you got the fish. That is one of my pet hates that they say this fish and that fish are cold water ones. Uh Uh I've had a go personally with them, but to no avail. Never mind, people will learn from experiances shared in here and by research on the net. Better luck next time with the G. Danios Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted August 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback re the gravel - I'd assumed that tank gravel sold by a lfs would already be sterilised etc Guess this isn't the case huh?! Makes paying $10 for a wee bag a bit silly if it's the same as the gravel a landscape supplies place would sell for a fraction of the price. re tap water ammonia - yup. Bear in mind this is rainwater collected from the roof which passes through dead leaves, bugs etc The level is really low though, and yup have test kits for pH, ammonia & nitrites I appreciate the help you've offered. Having since researched G Danios, it seems they tolerate water from 21 - 28c so I'm guessing that was the key factor as my water went from 17 - 20c Without wanting to sound too whingy, gotta say I'm a bit disappointed at the lack of info from the shop when I made it clear I was a newbie after a simple setup. My brother has tropicals but I was after something a lot easier to look after. Makes choosing the fish tricky when you have to go to the shop to see whats available, go home to look up each species on the net, then go back to buy them (rant, rant, rant :roll: ) anyway, the white clouds are happy hopefully my posts in future will be about the more positive experiences... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback re the gravel - I'd assumed that tank gravel sold by a lfs would already be sterilised etc Guess this isn't the case huh?! Makes paying $10 for a wee bag a bit silly if it's the same as the gravel a landscape supplies place would sell for a fraction of the price. Next time go to "Stone and water world" - it's _exactly_ the same stuff.. .and a heap cheaper EDIT: Well.. whichever place is closest to you, there will be somewhere forgive my instant assumption you lived in Auckland hehe, possibly a phonecall to the above place will tell you a local supplier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Only one pet store here and a dept. store that sells fish...they know little...but compared to the people here...well, no comparison...learned more here than anywhere! I still browse the net for information but still end coming back here to check with the all knowledgable NZ'ers Let us know how your white clouds are making out...and don't forget to post pics of your tank! Oh...rainwater...cool! Gee, we had a couple of downpours today...probably could have had a few buckets for my fishies...but I'm not going there :roll: :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Beat me to it Mis. I was just reading down and was gunna say the same thing I think a bag of gravel should be about $40 But that's just guessing. Perhaps some of the locals can set that on the dot. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 I got a large bag (that I struggled to carry) of brightwater for urm... $16 from memory, two of those covered my 4x2x2 tank quite happily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Sheeze True?? That's wholesale price Don't tell them you want it for a fish tank though. I saw that done a few years ago when I went there with a fish club. They went MAD on the Fruit Salad gravel. When they found out it was for aquariums, the price at a later date doubled. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 hahahahh yeah, fruit salad is about twice the price imo the Brightwater looks better for fish anyway, gf has a tank with a mixture of 80% brightwater, 20% fruit salad, still looks like fruit salad, just a heap cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearlyred Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Guys, Without wanting to sound too whingy, gotta say I'm a bit disappointed at the lack of info from the shop when I made it clear I was a newbie after a simple setup. My brother has tropicals but I was after something a lot easier to look after. Makes choosing the fish tricky when you have to go to the shop to see whats available, go home to look up each species on the net, then go back to buy them (rant, rant, rant :roll: ) From this I assume you bought the fish and the tank together from the pet store, is that right? If not, did they at least ask if you'd cycled your tank properly? Did they advise you that giant danios were cold water fish? If the above is true I'd be heading back to that shop with the dead fish and asking for my money back, thats just not on. And get a free heater whilst you are there too! And yes, whilst most danios can live in cooler water, the giant's are a bit more fussy about the heat they receive. LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Todd Some fish shops give really good advice while others don't seem very knowledgeable. I've started checking fish out here and on the web before I buy - but I have to admit I didn't do that when I first started :lol: Sorry you got off to a sad start but I am sure with all the help available here things will keep getting better. I am planning a cold water tank for my desk at work and will be putting wcmm's in it. I think if I add any others I will put in a small heater because our office gets icey cold overnight. Cheers Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 I would definately take them back and tell them what you have found about the danios on the net and that they gave you incorrect information, ask for Rebecca, shes the owners daughter and runs the Albany branch. They should at least either give you your money back or a credit (on a heater maybe) there's little difference between tropicals and cold water, about the only differences are tropicals need a heater and there is a much better range of tropical fish available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted August 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi pearlyred - I didn't buy the tank at the same time - I got that off trademe for $30. Yesterday I bought the gravel, plants and fish, all from the same place. The Giant Danios were definatley sold as cold water fish, and I said I was setting up a cold water tank (at that stage I hadn't decided on which species to get). Having looked into temperature requirements a bit further I've found that other fish they're selling as cold water - like guppies with really colourful tails - need 25c+. I would have thought cold was more like 15 - 20c. No mention of cycling, although I had read about cycling but thought that wasn't needed 'cos I'm using rainwater. I will go back and let them know what happened, but probably next week. It's an hour each way to the store, plus I want to leave the tank for a bit before adding more fish. I don't really want to slag the store off too much as they've been good to my brother, I think I was simply unlucky and got the young guy who is big on enthusiasm and keen to sell fish (was kinda implying that I wasn't buying very many). Chalking it down to experience.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted August 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Jude, a tank at work sounds cool. I work from home so sort of have that already What are wcmm's (white cloud somethings?) Any ideas on what other fish would be okay to put with my white clouds? Cheers, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted August 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Snowman, could be a bit tricky taking them back - would involve searching through the septic tank I've seen Rebecca at the store and yup she seems pretty on to it. Better luck next time eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 LOL Mention it to her and you should at least get a discount on your next purchase and yes she is very on to it, first time i went in there she confused the h#ll out of me with all the scientific names etc LOL Mentioning it may also avoid the same thing happening to someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Todd, Why do you need a fish tank?? Go for a dive!! :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearlyred Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hi Jude, a tank at work sounds cool. I work from home so sort of have that already What are wcmm's (white cloud somethings?) Any ideas on what other fish would be okay to put with my white clouds? Cheers, Todd White Cloud Mountain Minnows. Glad you're getting it sorted. I Hope they've compensated you. Regards LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 awww Pearly, you beat me with the answer :lol: :lol: :lol: Funny thing is, now I have the tank all set up on my desk, minus the fish, and I'm on leave for an extended period while I recover from all the stress and overwork during the year. Guess it will still be there when I return :lol: Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Leopardfish are a cold water fish I like. Also, rosy barbs, golden barbs, torpedo barbs, guppies, platys, zebra and leopard danios all will tolerate cooler temperatures of 18 - 25C. This does NOT make them a cold water fish as some lfs seem to claim! The giant danios need tropical temps of at least 24C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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