They're Dying ... Help! - Aquarium Advice

EasternCanuck · 10-22-2009, 07:25 AM

Hi there,

I'm not a total noob at freshwater fish keeping but it has been a long time since I had my old 33 gallon set up back in Canada.

I live in Singapore at the moment and since I am living in a tropical region I figured I would try my hand at fish keeping again (it's much cheaper here than I remember it being back in Canada).

I just set up a new 20 gallon tank, purchased from one of the many aquarium shops on my street. I have it planted with 8 different plants, have a piece of treated driftwood in it, and have a soil substrate (little brown balls of dirt I guess? I never had this in Canada but it is common here and I am told it is good for plants).

I have no canopy but have a double light on top (12000K each light) and the lights are on for about 12 hours per day (probably too much).

The filter is an in-tank filter (comes as a kit, Juwel Rekord 600), which I have never used before (I had an aquafilter before, which is like a little waterfall).

One problem here is temperature and I have a little fan that blows over the water surface to help keep it between 26-28 Celsius.

I have a CO2 tank hooked up with a diffuser at a rate of one bubble per second (the little bubble counter). I have never used a CO2 tank before but they are common here (they weren't back home).

I hope that gives a better picture of my tank. My PH is below 6 at the moment, but I am attributing that to the CO2, driftwood and soil substrate.

At the advice of my local aquarium shop, I put in 8 cardinal tetras and 4 Rams 2 days ago.

I was getting hair algae so I added in about 40 little shrimp (Japanese name I can't remember). Again at the advice of my local aquarium shop.

It all seemed fine until today when I came home and all my fish were swimming at the top of the water? My water seemed a bit cloudy as well.

I did a 50% water change as nitrate/nitrite levels were very high and it seemed there was no oxygen in the water. I have lost 4 of the 8 tetras and I am fearful for my Rams.

Even with the 50% water change the tetras are still at the top of the water. The Rams are hiding.

I have turned off the CO2.

Help?

dkpate · 10-22-2009, 07:32 AM

Did you cycle the tank before you put the fish in? I am guessing not since your nitrate and nitrite levels are so high. What is your ammonia level? You can search articles on here on fishless cycling. Or you can go the way I did my first time and use established disease-free media from another tank and stick that in your filter or in the tank and it will speed up the cycling process. That is the only answer I can give you, sorry I can't be of more help. Good luck!

EasternCanuck · 10-22-2009, 07:34 AM

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply. I had thought it was cycled but apparently not at all. I was too eager I guess, which I know is a downfall of lots of new enthusiasts. I feel bad for the fish.

I'll keep on the water changes and see see what happens.Hopefully some live.

dkpate · 10-22-2009, 07:48 AM

Don't worry, I did the EXACT same thing when I started a month ago...I felt the same way you did, but thankfully all my fish pulled through! I have done SO MANY water changes in the last 4 weeks....lol. And have also gotten from 1 fish, to 17...lol! And from 1 tank to 4. Would it be possible for you to get some filter media or possibly some gravel from an established tank? I had to do that with mine, and it REALLY sped up the cycle. Like from 6-8 weeks, to 1 week. If you get some gravel, buy a new pair of pantyhose (no soap on them) cut the foot off and put the gravel in there and set that in your tank. It has the bacteria you need to get everything going. And squeeze it once in a while to "set them free" lol. Do you have a liquid test kit? I hope everything works out for you!

EasternCanuck · 10-22-2009, 08:11 AM

Thank you again for such a quick response.

I suppose I could ask my local aquarium shop for a handful of gravel. The plants that I put in should have had some culture on them to help but I guess not enough.

The panty hose sounds like a good idea, LOL. I'll see if they will give me some gravel or even sell me some.

Even with the 50% water change the little tetras are still at the top of the tank.

It's hard because I want it to be 'fixed' right now but I just have to wait, and waiting sucks.

dkpate · 10-22-2009, 08:21 AM

Oh I understand all too well lol! you will be doing plenty of water changes in the next few weeks or so, depending on if you get the gravel or not. Do you have bubbles or anything in there? I have a lot of bubble wands in my tanks. Well, not the bettas but they don't like them lol. I wonder if they have enough oxygen? I am still a newbie so I don't know everything, YET! LOL! I am sure in the next few hours there will be people with more experience who will chime in with their suggestions. People on here are SUPER nice and have a lot of knowledge on anything to do with tanks and fish.
You are welcome for the responses. Like I said, I was in your boat a few weeks ago, and I couldn't wait for someone to give me some sort of answer!

EasternCanuck · 10-22-2009, 08:56 AM

*sigh*, is it OK to do another 50% change in the same day? I've just lost another 2 tetras, so I have only 2 left of the 8. The Rams have not come out form hiding.

My shrimp seem to be enjoying themselves though.

dkpate · 10-22-2009, 09:09 AM

You are treating your water right? Getting the chlorine and chloramine out? I would think it would be okay do do 2 water changes in one day. I wouldn't do them one after another but space them out. The tetras could have already had their gills burned by the ammonia at that could be another reason they were hanging out at the top.

EasternCanuck · 10-22-2009, 09:11 AM

Hi and many thanks for the frequent posts!

One more question ... if I have CO2 being injected into the water through a diffuser, can I ALSO hook up a pump with an air stone to add oxygen, or will the two cancel each other out?

dkpate · 10-22-2009, 09:19 AM

Well, that I can't help you with lol. I have no experience with the CO2. I have never used one. I only have filters and bubbles in my tank. You may be able to search articles on here though. Just use the search bar up on top. I will be getting off work here in about a half hour though, and I won't be on for about 8 hours lol. So I REALLY hope someone answers your questions about the CO2 and whatever else.