Always one or two a day. It just started 3 days ago. I don't know why. The water is crystal clear. Has little bit of a strange odor to it, but I thought it might be cause the tank is new. I have some guppies and neon tetras. They just died for no reason. Does anyone know what this could be? Should I change all the water?
When I put new water in I always use the liquid to get rid of amonia,etc. What can this be? Please, help! tks
2006-07-12 03:49:14 · 21 answers · asked by Dana B 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Probably new tank syndrome. All tanks need time to cycle - build up the beneficial bacteria necessary to convert fish waste into harmless nitrates. This process can take months to complete. If you have a friend with a tank, borrow some of his substrate, put it in a mesh bag or a piece of his old filter media and put it in you tank for a week to speed up the process. Your fish are probably being poisoned by ammonia of nitrites. You should do daily water changes of 15% for a few days and buy either distilled or reverse osmosis water.
P.S. This will also happen if you medicate your tank.
2006-07-12 04:00:50 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's a new tank you may have too many fish in it. It's important to cycle a new tank by starting off with just one or two hardy fish and gradually adding a few at a time. It's best to wait a few weeks after putting in the first fish before adding any more. Do not replace any fish right now. Get a kit for testing for ammonia and PH level and feed very small amounts of food. You will need to do a partial water change before adding your next fish, just be sure your water chemistry has balanced out.
2006-07-12 04:39:14 · answer #2 · answered by sadie27 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something's up with your water quality. Just because it's crystal clear doesn't mean the chemical balance is right for the kind of fish you have. If you're using tap water, it could be all wrong before you even put it in the tank! Go to, or call the aquarium store and talk them. You can buy test strips specifically for the kind of fish you have. A test will tell you what levels are in the danger zone. Once you know the problem a Google search or a knowlegable pet store employee can point to the best solution.
Good luck.
2006-07-12 04:00:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That strange smell is ammonia from your tank cycling. The ammonia level in your tank spikes as the tank reaches homeostasis and this spike kills less hardy fish. After the ammonia spikes the nitrite level spikes and kills more fish. It isn't until after this nitrite spike that the water is safe for fish.
Simply dechlorinating the water and adding an ammonia remover will not make a new tank safe for fish. Products like Ammonia Lock are not designed to combat a cycling tank.
2006-07-12 17:52:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try taking a sample of the water that is in the tank to a Petco or Petsmart.
when you get new fish,before you put them in the tank put the whole bag in and let it sit for 30 min. then put them in along with some of the water from the pet store.
this keeps them from having a shock to the different water temperatures.
there could be several things wrong
i don't have time to tell you everything i no but, if you need more info email me back beach_volleyball2@yahoo.com
my name is Carlie
2006-07-12 11:02:35 · answer #5 · answered by c j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have high ammonia in your tank. Do a 20% water change and for heaven's sake STOP using that ammo-rid, ammo-lock, or whatever brand. It does NOT remove ammonia. It changes the molecular structure of the ammonia, changing it to ammonium which is nearly impossible to get rid of (except with regular water changes).
You need to use a dechlorinator and any kind of biological "starter" liquid. It's full of bacteria that break down ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. You can also put zeolite crystals in your filter; they act as a sponge and soak up ammonia.
2006-07-12 05:01:06 · answer #6 · answered by metalchick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you cycle the tank, before adding the fish ???
"The most common way to do this is to place one or two (emphasis on one or two) hardy and inexpensive fish in your aquarium."
"Don't overfeed them! More food means more ammonia! Some suggested species include: common goldfish (for cold water tanks), zebra danios and barbs for warmer tanks"
"
To determine when the cycle has completed, buy appropriate test kits (see the TEST KIT section) and measure the levels yourself, or bring water samples to your fish store and let them perform the test"
"The cycling process normally takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks."
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html
2006-07-12 06:26:00 · answer #7 · answered by lilith 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you use soap to clean the tank. Neon's die very easily, when you test the tank do you pour the test water back in the tank i hope you don't. Change all of the water take 2 handfuls of aquarium salt and rub it all around in your tank then rinse it out. refill the tank, add salt then chlorine remover,test pH. check temp and set heater to 80F
2006-07-15 11:54:35 · answer #8 · answered by amira s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
New tank? Did you clean it first? Did you use soap or something? That will kill them.
If the water stinks, change it. Don't put too much water treatment in there.
Did you just put new fish in? One may have a disease and spread it.
2006-07-12 04:27:21 · answer #9 · answered by Honey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never clean your tank with soap sometimes you don't get all the soap out, I have about 5 fish and 4 frogs and I can't remember the last time my fish died
2006-07-12 04:01:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋