Purchased aquarium week ago. Water levels OK...ADDITIONAL DETAILS!!!?

Question

Additional Details

14 minutes ago
*10 gallon tank
* ran 48 hours before adding fish
*all fish were added with the water they came in, sat in the bags floating in the tank for 30 minutes before being opened
*bought tank new in a kit with the filter and heater
* bought a top fin pump and bubble stone for max 10 gal tank to help circulate air.
* heater stays between 74 and 78 degrees
* all fish bought are those I have had success with in the past
* no insecticides set off (bug bombs)..tank is in my 1 year old's bedroom for her to watch
* tank now been running 11 days
Tests done for alkalinity, pH, nitrite, nitrate, hardness, and ammonia. Also the chlorine and chlorimides. (Dip and read test strips).

All Tropical Community Fish
Non Aggressive

3 Black Neon Tetras
2 Dwarf African Frogs
3 Male Gold Guppies
1 Feather Tail Mail Guppy
2 Male Black Mollies
3 Algae Eaters (start with an O) don't even get me to attempt to spell it ( 2 have died now)
1 Spotted Cory Catfish (died, replacement died as well)

oops! should be MALE Feather Tail Guppy, not mail LOL

None of these fish that I purchased get over an inch and a half...hence why I have so many in a 10 gallon tank. I used to have a tank years ago for several years, but being a college student for 10 kept me from being able to take care of one properly. Now, I'm a Mom and I have the tank for my daughter. Just never had this problem before. Luckily, the last 24 hours, no more fish have died and all the fish are doing fine.

Also, I was able to get the tank to cycle as fast as I did by using boiled water that was cooled to room temperature before adding to tank. Also, cleaned the tank with a mild detergent and rinsed. Let the tank soak in the bathtub with water straight from the tap for 24 hours before filling with the room temp boiled water to clean out impurities.

Answer 1

Sounds like things are ok, except that you should never add the water the fish came in because it could contain something really bad that you don't really want, like diseases. Don't worry, as long as the fish are ok and seem healthy, just don't do it again. Hope this helps!!!!!

Answer 2

Okay, you are going to have several problems here. First of all you can NEVER put mild detergent in a tank. The detergent hangs out in the silicone and will poison your fish! Even if it was rinsed well. Your fish are most likely doomed! Big NO-NO! You can place bleach in a tank, soak your plants in bleach. You have to rinse them well. But, this WILL NOT harm your fish, If your rinsed them good....
Your second problem is your 10 gallon tank is OVERSTOCKED, big time!! You will have a HUGE problem with the mollies. They are terroritial and will reap havic on your other fish. The fish per gallon is so be for every one inch of fish, they need 2 gallons, those mollies will get about 2 1/2 inches, the guppies and others will remain about 1 - 1 1/2 inches. When you buy fish you have to figure the size the fish will be at full grown status. Not the size of the fish when you get it. If you buy a fish that is a 1/2 inch and will be 2 1/2 inches full grown. You need to figure that fish will need 5 gallons alone.(Thats just one fish) You need a 35 gallon tank for the fish that are still alive. That doesn't include running out and getting 3 more for the three that died!You will need a bigger tank. fast. If you insist on keeping that amount of fish in there your daughter will be heart broken as they begin to die! You can not keep the water clean enough for that many fish either. The waste build up will be ammonia heaven. Just because things are good now does not mean they will be good in a week or a month from now........The fish that died and the replacement fish most likely died from the detergent you used. Some fish are a lot more sensitive to thins than other. Those frogs are another problem. If they are the white african frogs they will catch and eat your fish, while your fish sleep. Those frogs will be awake at night while your fish sleep, They will enjoy an early breakfast! Over crowding those fish is cruel. That is like you living your entire life in your small bathroom. Try having everything you need jammed in the bathroom. And never leave your bathroom. Put your bed, clothes, table, TV, ect in there and see how they feel. Remember you can't leave the bathroom, because they can't leave the tank that you are forcing them to live in. How does it feel to think about it like that. You probably thinking, Who does the B----, Think she is. Well, I am basically an expert on the subject, since I have been raising and breeding fish now for over 20 years!

Answer 3

You made several errors. don't ever use any detergent or soap to clean a fish tank. The residue will kill the fish.
Floating the bags before opening them is fine for balancing the temperature. However never add the bag water to the tank. Bacteria,water chemistry and waste from the transported fish will harm all the fish in the tank. Pour the new fish into a net,over a pail,and then gently intrduce them into the tank. Some fish should not even be put into a net. Use a container to catch the fish and pour it into the tank.
A f4rog eats fish. If it can't catch the fish it will stioll bite it or frighten all the fish.
Male guppies without females is a recipe for trouble. You should have about 2 females for each male.
Tetras,:black neons,should be in a school of 6 or more with plants to hide in,especially when other company is in the tank.
When you have catfish and algae eaters,you must add a little sinking food because they are bottom feeders.
You overcrowded the tank.
You'll learn from trial and error and from reading about the fish before you choose them.
Use a little koshering salt or aquarium salt and baking soda to clean the tank.
Make sure to maintain the filter and do 20% water changes each week.
Make sure the temperature is 74-78 degrees. Use a thermometer and heater to regulate.
Don't boil the water or use distilled water. You can use spring water or use faucet water that has been out for 2 days to let the gasses evaporate. Be careful when adding additives to the water for removing chlorine,ammonia and PH corrections.
Make sure to only get fish that are compatible with each other.

Answer 4

If the water levels are ok, and the fish are fine you are off to a good start. My question would be how did you get your tank to cycle so quickly!

It is fine to add the fish in the water they came in provided you purchased them from a reputable source. The only possible down fall to this will be any unwanted hitchhikers. i.e. snails. mostly.

Now comes the maintenance of your tank. You may wish to purchase a gravel siphon. this will make water changes and cleaning your tank much easier.

The gravel siphon is gravity fed and will suck up the debris from the bottom of the tank.

NEVER empty all the water from your tank to clean it. This will rid the tank of beneficial bacteria living there. Change no more than 2.5 gallons at any one cleaning. The siphoned water from rock (bottom ) cleaning will do this for you. Use a sponge or soft clean rag (Used only for your tank) to wipe the sides of your tank allowing the debris to fall to the bottom of the tank. (This can be done either once a week or once every two weeks, depending on how dirty the tank gets and the water quality when testing.)

Don't forget to clean the filter at least once a month as well.

Feeding your fish depends on your fish. Feed only what they can eat within a 3 minute period. No more, usually a small pinch if using flake food. This can be adjusted to how your fish eat.

Keep an eye on your fish. Be sure they all look healthy and remember at the first sign of Odd behavior, investigate why. Ie water quality, parasites infections etc. Your tank and fish will be much happier and live a longer life.

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Well, first off, it takes longer than one week for a tank to cycle. And if you cycle with fish, this is what happens. They die. So, regardless of what the store said about the water quality, these are classic symptoms of poor water quality. Probably due to overcrowding. You didn't say what size of tank you have, but based on an average size of fish, using the 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water, you have about 28 inches worth of fish, which means you should have a 30 gallon tank. Do you? I hope so, but if not, this is the reason. If an algae eater is trying to jump out of the tank, it means it is trying to escape a toxic situation. Your water quality is not fine. You need to get a bigger tank or take back some of these fish. And you need to get your own master test kit and test the water yourself. It should read 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites and 40 or less nitrates. Also, are you detoxifying your water to take out the chlorine and other bad elements that are in tap water? And don't replace the filter. This prevents the beneficial bacteria from being able to grow and the tank never has a chance to cycle. Just rinse the filter in the old water you remove during your 25% water changes. Filters only need to be replaced 2-4 times a year.

Answer 6

I believe that some of the answers posted here are very rude and uncalled for. If you have had experience in the past with fish or not, at least you're willing to ask when you have problems. I suggest possibly taking the fish that you have had died back to the place of purchase and ask for a refund. Possibly look into some test kits that can check for parasites or what not. If that doesn't help, best of luck to you and your tank. I've listed a few links below that may come has some help to you should you choose to view.

Answer 7

liquid test kits are better than test strips, the strips are notoriously inaccurate.

you are cycling your tank with fish, they will boost ammonia levels and you will have to do daily 20% water changes until the tank is cycled, this usually takes 2-4 weeks. you may suffer fish losses.

your ammonia will peak and drop off and then the nitrite will peak and drop off then the nitrate will rise, nitrate must stay below 40ppm, over 50ppm is as lethal as ammonia readings.

what fish do you have in the tank?

Answer 8

that is the problem I'm surprised all of your fish are not dead. you don't put detergent in a fish tank to clean it you use aquarium salt.and you should not boil the water

Answer 9

There are way too many fish for a ten gallon. You should get rid of some or else they will all die.

Answer 10

just make sure that you clean regularly and change filter refills !!! they key /most important thing to do ... is test the water everytime you introduce new water add your chemicals and test the nest day !!! test test test!!! keep yours levels correct and temparature correct and fish will be healthy!!