Dropping like flies!

[spocker]

I had eight tiger barbs in a new 20 gal. Three left, seems to be one dying each night. Test kit says everything is fine. any thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[jack36547]

How long did the store have them in stock before you purchased? How long has the tank been set up?

 

[Talvari]

What kind of test kit do you have, and what are the results on it?

How new of a tank is it?

Do you have any other fish?

 

[spocker]

Dont know how long the store had them Tanks been up about a week. There is a blue gourami and dwarf gourami in there as well and they seem ok. I used about 5 gal of water from an established 10gal tank during setup. the blue came from that tank. the test strips i have use colors so i dont know the actual readings. Thanks

 

[Talvari]

First, at a week old the tank woould not be cycled properly... Water doesnt actually contain a whole heck of alot of Beneficial Bacteria (which is what helps brake down waste and stuff). You would have been better of using drippings from your other filter.

Here is a great link that explain cycling... http://www.aquariumadvice.com/articles/articles/124/2/-I-just-learned-about-cycling-but-I-already-have-fish-What-now/Page2.html

Second... The test strips are kind of.. garbage. They are not nearly as accurate as a chemical test kit. Most people recommend the API Freshwater Masterkit - You can usually find it online for around $20.

Third... The test strip bottle should have a little guide on it to let you know what each color means. Usually you peel away the label a bit and it will tell you a little number.

At any rate... I would do an emergency 75% water change on the tank. That should help with any ammonia or nitrate problem that you are probably having.

 

[jack36547]

Did you use de-chlor on the new water? Most likely the tank has not cycled yet even with the 5 gallons from the old tank and the bioload from all the new fish has pushed your ammonia levels to toxic levels.

 

[spocker]

I did use use de-chlorinator. I'll def. try the water change! I do have the insert from the old filter. maybee i can put that in the new filter for a while?

 

[Talvari]

It would help the new tank, but then youd have to worry about crashing your other tank.

Id stick with doing your 75% water change today, and then try to do a 50% water change twice a week until your tank is cycled.

I would definitely recommend getting that master kit, too. It is alot more accurate and, in the long run, cheaper than the strips since they do so many more tests.

Amazon.com: API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT: Pet Supplies

 

[spocker]

test strip #'s Ammonia 0,nitrate 0,nitrite0.5,hardness75,alkalinity 120,ph7.0

 

[spocker]

Will do Thanks you!

 

[Talvari]

Are you making sure that you hold the ammonia strip in the water for 10 seconds, and then reading it after another 10 seconds?

And the Nitrate/Nitrite strips need to be dipped really quick, and then read after a minute.

 

[Rhino]

It would help the new tank, but then youd have to worry about crashing your other tank.

Id stick with doing your 75% water change today, and then try to do a 50% water change twice a week until your tank is cycled.

I would definitely recommend getting that master kit, too. It is alot more accurate and, in the long run, cheaper than the strips since they do so many more tests.

Amazon.com: API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT: Pet Supplies

Agreed here get the api kit. I would say there is probably a lot of ammonia with that much stocking especially since the tank is so young.

 

[spocker]

I will redo ammonia. just did a 2 sec dip like the nitrate one

 

[spocker]

ammonia 1.0