Killed most of them :(

[Chillie308]

Ok i had noooo idea i had to cycle my new tank until right after i bought my fish. I bought my tank on 2-14 and added 8 glofish tetras. I have a 20 gallon tank with led moon lighting by marine land. I bought my fish at walmart its the only place within a hour to get them And i saw no signs of unhealthy fish. Since i bought my tank i have been doing 25-50% water change every 3 days and feeding the fish minimal amounts every 2 days. Out of no where 7 of my 8 fish have died in the last 24 hours. Here are the results of my water test kit i realize the ammonia is high but i didnt think it was that high to kill them. Im at a loss where to go from here. Do i need to dump all the water again? I just did a complete change last night. I had a pleco also and it died today too. I just need advice where to go from here to get it corrected. Thanks

 

[SpaceFish42]

Changing out all the water will basically un-cycle the tank so you have to start all over again.

 

[Chillie308]

Yea i kind of figured i moved him in my small aquarium with my goldfish but he is acting funny so im sure by morning he will be dead also so i have a fishless tank running now i thought i included a pic of the water results but i dont see it i just need to get this tank up and running so i can restock

 

[Chillie308]

And i left the media filter i didnt change it just the water

 

[STYLO_23]

Hi chillie308
Im new here too but i'd suggest going to your local pet store and get yourself a bottle of live bacteria to kick start the cycle in your tank. Just make sure its freshwater bacteria not saltwater. Oh and it could also help if you have a friend or relative with a healty aquarium give you some of thier filter media or even a dirty filter cartridge, put that in your filter and run it for a month or so in ur filter. Oh and dont change the water so much let bacteria grow in the tank for a month then change 50% of the water every month.

 

[Chillie308]

I dont have any per shops in my town and i dont know anyone with an aquarium ive been using API stress zyme and stress coat since the get go and partial doses at big water changes

 

[STYLO_23]

I would try getting some online, or try fishless cycling.

 

[STYLO_23]

Site to store "walmart"
Walmart: S. T. International Gold Nitrifying Bacteria for Freshwater Aquariums, 3. 4 Oz.

 

[Pseudomugil]

Also, after the cycle is done, only add a few fish at a time according to the tank size. So in a 20 gallon, start with 3 glofish tetras so the bio-load in the tank is not overwhelmed. You can add a few more fish every week or so.

And don't get another pleco. They grow to about the length of an arm and need like a 60 gallon tank.