My little zebra danios are dying fast!! HELP!!

[thursyanna]

I bought 8 zebra danios to help cycle a starter tank. 5 gal, I know its small but I'm just getting some media ready for my 55 gal I'm still setting up.
I lost 1 on Sunday, 2 today, and I have a sick one tonihgt. I ran tests on my tanks and I came up with Nitrate 20, Nitrite 0, GH 300, KH 180, PH 7.8.
I don't know much about these things except Nitrite is bad, nitrate is good, and my PH needs to be around 7(?).
I was going to attach his picture but for some reason the attachment part is not working.
He's loosing his color just like the other 3 did.

 

[KevinMT]

So what is your ammonia level?

 

[KevinMT]

Also how long has it been set up?

 

[CharlieKlein]

Yeah ammonia needs to be known. Also, I think 8 may be too much even to cycle a 5 gallon.

 

[Hholly]

Some useful info:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/fish-in-cycling-step-over-into-the-dark-side-176446.html

Good luck!

 

[CharlieKlein]

Some useful info:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/fish-in-cycling-step-over-into-the-dark-side-176446.html

Good luck!

Always there with the links!

 

[thursyanna]

Yeah ammonia needs to be known. Also, I think 8 may be too much even to cycle a 5 gallon.

You're probably right about the number. I'm new to this so I thought since they were small, I could have 8. I'm down to 4 now.
I'll check my ammonia level. I don't know what it is.
I appreciate the help on this. I love my little fish!

 

[thursyanna]

Also how long has it been set up?

I set it up Sat morning. I was trying to do a fish-in cycle. I guess I'm not too good at that. I've been checking my levels twice a day and my ph was a little high at first but it's 7.8 now. I don't know my ammonia levels. I did a pwc of 20% so we'll see what it looks like tonight.
Lost my 4th fish last night. Sad, he was a beautiful danio.
Here's a pic of what he was looking like before he died. He was starting to lose his coloring.

 

[Oceangirl]

looks like he has a body fungus, I would be doing 25% to 50% daily. Also your not going to cycle a 55 off a 5 gallon tank. Beneficial Bacteria grow or shrink to the size of tank and inhabitants. You could cycle a 5 from a 55 gallon. But it might not really matter. sorry. I'd take a few more picture, you may have a few cases of sickness going around plus cycling.

 

[thursyanna]

looks like he has a body fungus, I would be doing 25% to 50% daily. Also your not going to cycle a 55 off a 5 gallon tank. Beneficial Bacteria grow or shrink to the size of tank and inhabitants. You could cycle a 5 from a 55 gallon. But it might not really matter. sorry. I'd take a few more picture, you may have a few cases of sickness going around plus cycling.

Thanks for the input. I did a 20% pwc last night and will do another one tonight. I have a friend who's got a 100 gal tank and he's going to give me some media from it when I'm ready also. I think I was just too excited to wait and decided to start my own little "spare" tank. LOL! But I am glad you told me about that media ratio anyway because I didn't know that. I learn something new everytime I get on here!