Can't keep fish alive, need help!?

Question

Hi there! I have an established fish tank. I had a swordtail and a molly, some gouramis and danios, and a bottom feeder. My fish started dying on me about a week apart, so I suctioned the rocks and half the water in the tank. I also changed the filter. After I let the tank sit a few days I bought 2 opalescent gouramis, 2 angels and a parrot fish. I lost an angel immediately! So I took a water sample in to Petsmart and they told me that my PH was off and that angels like a ph of 7.0. They sold me a product that buffers the water to 7.0 no matter what your PH balance is. I bought a test kit and when I test my own water the alkalinity is always too low and I don't know how to fix that problem! And two weeks later the parrot fish died.

I need help! I would love some info on controlling the alkalinity and also how to keep my fish alive. Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer 1

Here is my advise to you:

1) Research cycling and what it is all about - cycling a tank is the founding of the bacteria culture that converts the toxic elements produced by the fish - ammonia and nitrite - into something much, much less harmful - nitrate. You just changed your filter, so try to get some established media to put in it, from the fish store or a friend or where ever, media that has already been in a tank for a while and has healthy bacterial already on it.

2) Don't go to the fish store for advice - they rarely know much of anything, and all their advice is geared to sell products.

3) Don't worry about your PH. The more you start messing around with the water, the harder it will be to keep it stable. The water is more alkaline because of the elements in the water. Those additives don't remove these elements, it merely tries to fight them, usually ineffectively. Fish are more adaptable then often given credit for, and tap water with nothing more then dechlorinator will work well for all but the most delicate of species. It's much better to have a PH that is too high then one that is fluctuating all the time.

4) Hop on the internet and learn about fish you have an interest in. Once you learn certain things, like how a parrot cichlid can grow as large as 12", or how certain species, like gourami's and cichlids (angels and parrots) are not the best of tank mates.

5) Whatever else goes wrong, don't change the filter - the filter is the lifeblood of the tank, it's where the greatest portion of healthy bacteria preside. Whatever reason the fish are dying, the chances of the problem being in the filter is so slim that it's not worth removing it. Clean the filter media instead of replacing it when you can, and try to replace it in portions and not all at once (the reason I always avoid cartridge based filters).

Follow the KISS rule (keep it stupid, simple) and you'll find more success. Additives are rarely necessary and if you use them, be sure you know why, not just because a salesman said so. Good luck.

Answer 2

Well where to begin here, what brand of buffer are you using? If its a crap brand, expect a crap result. Crap brand like Wardley, good brands good results like Hagan, Tetra, Aquarium Pharmeceuticels, SeaChem or Sera.

These are not the best tank mates and the gouramis might have killed your angel. They are cousin to bettas and fight the same way. They will go after angels for the pectoral fins. (looks like a gourami)

For angels and parrots, use peat filtration as a buffer in your filter or add black water extract.

The mollies and the danios would prefer a higher pH and cooler water to the S.A cichlids you're using.

Parrot fish are also not really wonderful in a community tank, many at territorial and they grow huge.

If you vacumned gravel, did massive water change and changed filter your tank is cycling again. Since you added new fish there after, you're going to get all kinds of spikes.
I don't know why your fish were dieing before, but I'd bet anything this is why they are dieing now. Go double up on doses of Cycle and Waste Control.

The best way to keep chemicals out of the tank and control pH is use peat to bring it down and baking soda + aeration to bring it up. SMALL dose of baking soda, though I like using crushed coral, but its pricey for the little bit you'd need.

If your pH is out of whack, your nitrate/nitrite, ammonia and GH probably is too. Generally low pH = high nitrate/nitrite = low GH when the tank is cycling.

Remember to not change the filter in the same week as doing a water change. Only change one filter media at a time and unless in case of illness, not more then 25% water change at a time.

Answer 3

The intent of the law is to discourage movement of species from one habitat to another. The activity of bait bucket biologists has created problems all over our nation. Using live wells to keep fish fresh might be difficult sell to persuade a judge. Davis Lake in northern California has been poisoned twice in an effort to rid it of northern pike. People in Portola who rely on the lake to draw tourists have had their economy crippled. Portola would be a bad spot to get caught in violation of this law. Current laws also stipulate that a boat be completely dry and clean before it can be launched in some waters. These rules are intended to stop the spread of mud snails and other noxious creatures.

Answer 4

that is really sad.
you need to do some major research about your fish tank.
i do know that if you have new fish you don't put them immediately into the tank with the old fish, they need to be isolated a week to make sure they don't have bacteria or virus to pollute the whole tank. Once tank is diseased it needs total disinfecting. Best to have two tanks for rotation when these upsets happen. I feel your loss

Answer 5

Your problem is that you did not cycle your tank. Read up on cycling here: http://bryce.t31g3n.googlepages.com/cyclinganaquarium

Don't worry about Ph or hardness, angelfish will handle it just fine. Trying to change it will cause much more harm than good. Just leave it alone and they will be just fine. Do not use chemicals to try and change things. Water conditioner is the only chemical you should be using.

Answer 6

hello:

I have a fish tank too containing edible fish. My water comes from the river where i took the fish. maybe you should do that too. All the fish were alive before christmas.

Answer 7

OMG my mom had fish and she did everything right i think some of us just arn't meant to have fish. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!! :-)