Fish keep dying - New tank syndrome? What to do??

Question

I have a 55 gallon tank and I don't think I overcrowded it. I asked a million questions when purchasing the fish and chose good "starter" fish such as platy's, guppies, mollies, guarami's, etc. I have a Bio Wheel 350 filter which I cleaned
but am still seeing the cloudy water. I have about 6 fish left including a sicilian worm and a corey. My daughter has always treated the water before we poured it in and will test the water again before adding more fish. Thganks to all the help and if there is anything else I need to be doing, please let me know because I am clueless at this point. Thanks. Ally

Answer 1

The problem is you cleaned the filter. You have an AWESOME filter I think, the bio wheels are super at giving you more surface area for your bacteria to colonize. Leave the wheel alone. It's going to look like it's getting dirty and it's supposed to do that. That is your bacteria colony. Every time you clean that, you are basically starting your cycle over again because the bacteria has not had enough time to populate there and establish in your gravel yet. Long term wise, yeah it's going to establish and the majority is going to live in the gravel because it has more surface area, but that bio wheel needs to get established first. Just be patient, continue your testing, try to cut down your water changes unless you see your ammonia and nitrite rising to lethal levels and it's going to cycle out eventually. I do not agree with some other posters saying 3 weeks, I think accurately it's more like 2 months to be stablized. Keep treating your tap water on water changes, try to reduce your food during feedings and leave that wheel alone and you should be just fine in about 4-6 weeks I'd imagine :) Keep us posted.

Answer 2

The problem is that a 10 gallon tank is not big enough for even a single goldfish. The 'feeder' goldfish (aka common goldfish) and what I am assuming is a shubunkin, all can grow up to a foot in length (not including tail). Strictly speaking these are pond fish, as they grow so big and are so active it is difficult to keep them happy and healthy in an aquarium. The three of them that you have left will (as adults) require nothing less than a 100 gallon tank. No joke. Fancy goldfish (which includes the blackmoors and fantail) don't grow quite as big, but they can still reach 8-10 inches. A single fancy goldfish needs 20-30 gallons, with an extra 10 gallons for each additional fancy goldfish. From what you've said, it doesn't sound like your tank was cycled before you added the fish, which means that there was no good bacteria to help get rid of the fishes waste. Then you added a heck of a lot of very messy fish all at once, which will have caused the ammonia and nitrite to skyrocket, effectively poisoning the fish. What you need to do is daily 50% water changes. Goldfish produce an awful lot of waste, and four goldfish in a 10 gallon tank will make the water toxic in a matter of hours. Then you need to either get a much bigger tank, or return the fish. They will not survive in a 10 gallon tank.

Answer 3

The first problem is cleaning the filter and killing the good bacteria. This good bacteria can take weeks to cultivate and until it does any weakness in a fish can be exposed and death usually happens. Also when buying your fish make sure that you look them over real good. Most retail pet stores dont really know how to take care of fish properly. The things to look for are cold tanks, this will put the fish in a weak state. Dirty tanks with a lot of excess food floating around. Also when you go up to the tank the fish should be very responsive going to the top thinking you are going to feeg them If they are not then pass on them. Look for mark on the bodies that should not be there. If you are buying angels or discuss make sure the eyes are red. This is a sign of a heathy fish to those breads. Ask the store when the fish came in, if they have not been there for more than a week also pass. Good Luck !!

Answer 4

Cleaning the filter took out all bacteria and interrupted the cycle.
Six fish left? How many did you start with? Six is more than enough to cycle a 55 in 4-5 weeks. I suspect overcrowding. You can't add a bunch of fish until AFTER the tank is cycled, which it obviously isn't.
Stop cleaning. Leave it alone. If you want to speed it up slightly, use a bacteria suplement like API StressZyme or Kordon Zyme•Bac. They will shorten the wait by about 20-30%.

Answer 5

Mkae sure you have cleaned out ALL the dead fish. My friend had about 8 dead in 2 weeks becasue one of the dying ones got caught in the plants and started to rot, but they didn't notice until maybe a week after it died. Did the water begin to cloud when you started the tank, or after you put in new plants, used different fish food etc.? if so, try and find out what's up and change it back to the way it was before>

Answer 6

if the water is cloudy then its not right and should not be any fish in it. take a sample to the nearset fish store have it check fast... and check out this site after they have answers to most of your questions 135 gal three 55gal they keep me going...

should clean filters weekly... water change should be less than a half of tank weekly or by weekly never suck all the water out. go read more about the care of fish sound like you didnt wait long enough after filling tank up am i right go check out the site it should help you alot ... have the water check fast.... good luck

Answer 7

my god today alone there has been 3 beginners in here with new tanks that all say I cleaned my filter but My water is still dirty.

so again
when you set up a tank you have to
cycle it.
you only put a few fish in to cycle it.
you dont change the water durning your cycle.
you dont clean the filter durning your cycle.
If your tank is in the cycle and your water gets dirty you put to many fish in to start the cycle the dirty water is a sign your filter can not yet handle the bio load you put on it yet.
I dont blame the beginners I blame the pet shop that sold you to many fish to cycle your tank.

Answer 8

I would suggest the potential of two significant reasons. 1) The Ph balance in your water might be to acidic. 2) The quality of fish bought may be substandard. I bought several fish from WalMart and they all died. I started buying fish at Pet-Smart or from other exclusive pet stores and I found a significant increase in the number of fish that would survive. Another thing to consider is that certain fish do not do well combined with other species of fish. A good pet store could help you get fish that cohabitate well together.

Answer 9

You should get a baby food jar, put some of your water in it, and take it to your nearest pet store for a free analysis (petsmart does it, so do many other chains). They can probaly steer you in the right direction better than advice you get on here, I bet. Good luck.

Answer 10

do you have an air pump and air stone? many stores sell you everything you need and sometimes forget to inform you, if you are un-educated, that oxygen is essential. must be to make a few extra bucks out of ya, then suddenly they realise they never sold you a air pump!