candicakes
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- May 3, 2023
- Messages
- 1
Hello everyone!
Long time aquarium lover, over 20 years of experience. I've owned several basic-moderate freshwater tanks and some aquatic turtles. I've never had super complicated setups, but I've dealt with live births, had a few tanks simultaneously, and was getting into the 100 gallon range. I had to give up my tanks during COVID and am just starting my first one since then, but I'm totally stumped.
I'm going small (office) 10 gallon, used tap water, water conditioner, stress coat+, have some live plants. Everything is brand new from the store. Normal setup- heater at 76* F, 20 gal Fluval filter, standard small bubbler, LED light. And some plastic decor alongside live plants. I've let that cycle for a few weeks.
I put in two Neon Tetra and two Dalmatian Molly's last night. Bought from PetSmart, no signs of illness, from 2 different tanks. Did a water test before hand, only some moderate hard water, to which I've been mixing in distilled water to lower the hardness. No nitrite, normal low-level nitrate, ph was slightly basic but normal ranges, alkalinity was ideal. Like I said, only hardness was high.
Acclimated 45 minutes in the bag in the tank, mixed in half water, waited 15 minutes. Then let them loose. The tetra's died within 4 hours. The first Molly died overnight. The other Molly is currently dying. I tried pulling it out and using pure distilled water at 75*F with a few drops of water conditioner and stress coat, but she looked worse in it.
I have no idea what happened. Any thoughts? I feel like I'm going crazy...
I'd love to save this one, but have no idea how. Please help!
Long time aquarium lover, over 20 years of experience. I've owned several basic-moderate freshwater tanks and some aquatic turtles. I've never had super complicated setups, but I've dealt with live births, had a few tanks simultaneously, and was getting into the 100 gallon range. I had to give up my tanks during COVID and am just starting my first one since then, but I'm totally stumped.
I'm going small (office) 10 gallon, used tap water, water conditioner, stress coat+, have some live plants. Everything is brand new from the store. Normal setup- heater at 76* F, 20 gal Fluval filter, standard small bubbler, LED light. And some plastic decor alongside live plants. I've let that cycle for a few weeks.
I put in two Neon Tetra and two Dalmatian Molly's last night. Bought from PetSmart, no signs of illness, from 2 different tanks. Did a water test before hand, only some moderate hard water, to which I've been mixing in distilled water to lower the hardness. No nitrite, normal low-level nitrate, ph was slightly basic but normal ranges, alkalinity was ideal. Like I said, only hardness was high.
Acclimated 45 minutes in the bag in the tank, mixed in half water, waited 15 minutes. Then let them loose. The tetra's died within 4 hours. The first Molly died overnight. The other Molly is currently dying. I tried pulling it out and using pure distilled water at 75*F with a few drops of water conditioner and stress coat, but she looked worse in it.
I have no idea what happened. Any thoughts? I feel like I'm going crazy...
I'd love to save this one, but have no idea how. Please help!