I do 20%. I use conditioner before water goes in, check temp, ph, water quality. I slowy put the new water in, vaccum the gravel. I'm doing it textbook and always have 1 fish die a couple of days after the water change. What on Earth am I doing wrong here? I haven't changed it in 3 weeks because I'm scared I'll kill another fish. I'm pretty sure the water quality isn't bad because wouldn't all or most of my fish die then? I'm talking one fish ! I have an Angel, 5 tetras, 2 platys (had more), a mystery snail, and 2 rosy barbs (had more) in a 30 gallon tank.
2007-05-25 15:30:08 · 13 answers · asked by ♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥ 7 in Pets ➔ Fish
I don't take the fish out, I don't mess with the filter , I've had the tank 2 months. The fish are dying randomly. The latest to die was a Rosy Barb I had for a month. I cycled with media from another tank and that was a whole back.
2007-05-25 15:41:44 · update #1
A while back, I mean. Yes, it's water conditioner.
2007-05-25 15:44:18 · update #2
Maybe your cat scars them. Just kidding. I have more luck with taking care of my cats then I ever had with fish. I once had a fish jump out of the small tank I had as I was trying to drain it over a sink. The fish committed suicide. I gave up after that.
Call your pet store and do more research on the internet.
Good luck.
2007-05-25 15:40:12 · answer #1 · answered by sherrylynn1965 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A few things come to mind.
Make sure your conditioner will treat for both chlorine and chloramines, not all do but most will.
Be sure your freshwater is at the proper temperature. Within 5 degrees of the tank is good.
Check the pH of both your tank water and tap water. If they are more than 0.3-0.4 off then that could well be the problem. If that the case you will need to determine what is causing your tank to change so rapidly and how to prevent it. Email me and I'll be glad to help with that.
If you are changing the water with a really good gravel cleaning and changing the filter media at the same time ammonia could be to blame. If you have been doing this change the water without cleaning the filter and see if that helps.
MM
2007-05-25 15:54:02 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is because you waited too long to do a water change. pH naturally decreases over time from such biological elements like waste, respiration and uneaten food and with a lack of buffering to your water such elements will decrease your pH rapidly within time. If the clean water you put in there has a much higher pH, which it usually does, then you can expect such losses.
A fish's body naturally adjusts it's own aquatic environment's pH level within the tank. If the adjustment is too fast then this can critically damage organs; as cell tissue within the organ explode within the cellular level.
Water changes need to be done frequently on a weekly basis otherwise you'll risk having fish become stressed out or dead from pH drops/jumps. A 10-20% works fine.
Check your pH and but most importantly check the buffering (kH). Your buffering ability is what keeps your pH stabilized.
2007-05-25 16:52:25 · answer #3 · answered by rian 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you tested your water right out of the tap, before conditioning? Use a liquid high quality test kit. Those "dip" tests are not very accurate. The water you add in to the tank needs to be exactly matched for pH, alk, temp. A pH of 7.1 is ten times higher than 7.0. That's stressful.
Where are you buying your stock? Healthy fish just don't keel over after a water change. Consider buying from private breeders if you can, and of course, use the "Q" word (quarantine).
2007-05-25 17:49:25 · answer #4 · answered by mollymonticello 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your water quality were bad it wouldn't necessarily kill all of your fish at once. Water changes do stress the fish out a little and if a fish already had a weakened immune system then it wouldn't be able to handle the extra stress. How often do you change the water? It should be 25% every 3-4 weeks
2007-05-25 15:35:11 · answer #5 · answered by Me Y 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i have always just ajust the water to what i think it should be and hook it up to the sink 20% is right maybe you adding to much dont take the fish out i always suck some out then add some back then check it out ive never killed any yetin a 30gal it would only be a few inches on the tank side check this site out im sure they can help you out they will tell you everything you need to know about fish there really great site with alot of great info and the people there are great
2007-05-25 15:41:29 · answer #6 · answered by infoman89032 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you take the fish out and return them to the tank after changing and cleaning? If you do, the water temperature in the tank may not have had time to adjust.
2007-05-25 15:33:40 · answer #7 · answered by sonofstar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you watched the fish and seen signs that the fish where in distress or die? One of your more aggressive fish might be getting upset about the water change and taking it out on another fish. How long have you had the tank? How long have you had the fish that died after a change?
2007-05-25 15:37:34 · answer #8 · answered by floridacrain 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sparkling the fish tank , verify your water is risk-free (purchase some water risk-free chemical compounds from the puppy save) and purely make certain you get fish that have compatibility with one yet another. additionally make certain you feed them known then go away sometime a week have been you dont feed em, and you'd be nice -and so will the fish
2016-10-13 22:06:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you say conditioner, are you talking about water conditioner??? you have to wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before you put the fish back into the tank...Also its important to clean the gravel and treat it also with conditioner and wait the 5 to 10 minutes before putting them in.
2007-05-25 15:37:05 · answer #10 · answered by la negrita de Brooklyn 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋