fisherless Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 I set up a tropical fish tank last week - (28 litres). I added guppies and neon tetras yesterday. However, 2 out of 3 of the guppies, and one neon tetra have died. Could my water temperature be killing them? It is currently at 26'F. The PH level is currently 6.6-6.8. I am trying to aim for around 7.0-7.2. I also have 1 male Siamese Fighter and 1 Algae Eater in the tank, and they appear to be OK. Any advice would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billaney Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 No your temp is fine how many fish did you add at once and did you treat the water with an ager (Aquaplus) to get the colrine out before you added the fish . This seems much more likely the course of the fishy deaths than the temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtman Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 is that 26 f or deg c? you want to aim for about 26 deg c(79 f?),mabye other fish died because tank was not cycled enuf.....jus a thought Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherless Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Thanks, that's a relief that I've got the temp right.... I added the recommended amounts of stress zyme and melafix, to remove anything "bad" in the water. So maybe just a case of some fish coping with the changes better than others?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherless Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Sorry - my typo - the temperature is 26'C - not "F" although "F" is on my mind a lot with the fate of my poor fish lately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 I don't think Stress Zyme or Melafix are dechlorinators, are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staplez Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Stress coat is but not stress zyme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Does Hamilton have anything added to the water supply, like chlorine? If so, you need to add chlorine remover. 28 litres isn't a very big tank. How many fish did you add at once? What sort of filtration do you have? Why is your pH that low? Is that the pH of your tap water? (It isn't too low though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandS Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 that sounds about right for hamilton water, 6.5-6.8, and very soft, somtimes less than 20ppm, my discuss and dwarf cichlids love it. as for clorine removers i have never used them and all my water changes come straight from the garden hose (not saying that they are no good though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherless Posted October 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Well, after much trial and error (having lost all 3 of my guppies), I now seem to have perfected my tank conditions! The pH is now about 7.4 - which is normal (I think!). I added Stress Coat when I added the new fish too. I've now got zebra and leopard danios, a corydora, albina glowlight tetras and swordfish in with my Siamese Fighter, neon tetras and bristle nose (algae eater). They seem, so far, to be good with each-other, and the tank looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Ummm Just checked some dates of your posts Fisherless. Your name is bang on. The way you have done things and poured those fish in, I'd say you are just about set for a melt down. But don't be discouraged. A lot have done the same thing. If the worst does happen, don't be in a hurry to load the tank, let it cycle first. If you do get away with it, it will be more by good luck than it will be good management. Sorry Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 woops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustcooktea Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Hi fisherless Welcome to the site. It sounds like you have put lots of fish into your little tank. I know they are probably all small now and so it doesn't look too full but you will need to work hard to look after them since your tank is new. Search the site for threads on cycling a tank. This will give you lots of information about what to expect while your tank is new. With so many fish added quickly you will have problems with ammonia and nitrite levels until the bacteria in the tank that convert these to nitrate can grow. You can get test kits for these at your local fish shop (lfs). Partial water changes can help to keep these levels down - you may need to do daily changes if the levels get too high. Best of luck and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. As Alan said there have been many of us that have been there before you. MCT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 It does seem like an awful lot of fish for a small tank, easiest solution would be to get a bigger tank as you will have problems as the fish grow with that size tank. What size heater and what sort of filter are you using? Do you have test kits for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? If so what are the levels of each? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Partial water changes can help to keep these levels down - you may need to do daily changes if the levels get too high. Yep...I agree. Too many fish...too soon...especially in a new tank...not a good mixture. But, I've made that mistake with my 2nd tank :-? :-? Water changes...tests...good start! And if your fish get too big for the tank...ah, great excuse for the beginning of MTS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherless Posted October 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 WOW! Geez, it shows how much of a "novice" I am in regards to tropical fish keeping.... I followed the advice of the fish shop man, and he said I could have 15-20 small fish (perhaps even 20-25 if they stayed small).... Nothing was mentioned about checking the different pH levels, or of letting my tank settle in before adding fish. Fortunately since my guppies perished I haven't had any more fatalities, but I guess it's early days yet... I'll read over the other posts and see what cycling a tank means, I've never heard of that before. I'm also going to attend the fish society meetings in my area when they are on, so I can find out more. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 7, 2005 Report Share Posted October 7, 2005 Fisherless...you'll learn lots here too...people here have all kinds of knowledge and are always eager to help us "novices" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Don't say the name of the shop. What area in Hammie was it in tho?? Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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