Dead guppy

[Wayne487]

I checked on my tank around 2/3 hours since and all was fine I did a water test after checking the tank and ammonia was up to 0.25 but trites and trates were both 0 the fish has been in the tank around 5/6 week and the tank is around 8 weeks old. The stock is currently
4 mollies
6platties
2 BN plec
4 amano shrimp
Some snails that hitched a ride on plants 4 weeks ago
And I did have 9 male guppies but now I'm down to 8

My tank is 125L juwel rio with live and fake plants Its the standard pump to come with this tank (bio flo 3.0 I think) I haven't changed anything to what I normally do which is feed flakes once a day and I throw in 2 algae wafers at night for the plecs

Please help I don't want to lose anymore

P.S I can't see any signs of disease on the guppy

 

[Wayne487]

Really need some advice here please someone

 

[YoungGuppy]

How old are the guppies?

 

[Wayne487]

How old are the guppies?

Not sure, I've had them around 4-5weeks but I don't know how old they were before that

 

[YoungGuppy]

If the other fish look fine then I wouldn't worry about it. Could just be old age or natural causes. Just keep a close eye on them for disease. You could do a 25% water change every day until the ammonia levels go down. They should be at 0.

 

[Cactuspixie]

Sometimes fish just die with no apparent cause. It may have been weak/poorly bred.
On another note- your tank doesn't appear to have cycled yet.....

 

[Wayne487]

Sometimes fish just die with no apparent cause. It may have been weak/poorly bred.
On another note- your tank doesn't appear to have cycled yet.....

I'm new to this but how can it not have cycled yet? :-S its been running around 8 weeks I've only lost one fish in it before now and I think that was due to it being sick when bought

 

[Cactuspixie]

It can take more than 8 weeks to cycle. Have you taken regular reading throughout to monitor the progress of your cycle? Have you had any readings for nitrAtes?

 

[Wayne487]

It can take more than 8 weeks to cycle. Have you taken regular reading throughout to monitor the progress of your cycle? Have you had any readings for nitrAtes?

I take readings and keep a log, I've had a reading for trite but not trate? Didnt do that reading until the first week after having guppies in it though

 

[YoungGuppy]

Not to sound like I know it all (I really don't) but I've NEVER actually cycled a tank before and have always done 100% water changes and haven't lost a fish yet. I know I'm doing it all wrong but for some reason it's working for me. So I don't think the guppy death was a result of not cycling, but it could be.

 

[Cactuspixie]

Not to sound like I know it all (I really don't) but I've NEVER actually cycled a tank before and have always done 100% water changes and haven't lost a fish yet. I know I'm doing it all wrong but for some reason it's working for me. So I don't think the guppy death was a result of not cycling, but it could be.

I don't think the guppy's death was related to the tank being uncycled either.
May I ask, how long you have kept the 6 goldfish in a 16 gal tank? That tank is okay for the fancy for the time being, but the commons and comets are pond fish.

 

[YoungGuppy]

I don't think the guppy's death was related to the tank being uncycled either.
May I ask, how long you have kept the 6 goldfish in a 16 gal tank? That tank is okay for the fancy for the time being, but the commons and comets are pond fish.

I actually had them in a 5gal for about a month when I first got them (they were about an inch long) and then upgraded to the 16 gal with a really good double filtration system, and they've been in there for about 4-5 months. I'm aware they need a bigger tank, but I'm waiting until they're big enough to where they can go in someone's pond and not be eaten. (Probably 4-5in) So in another 6-12 months I'll definitely find them another home in someone's pond.

 

[tarpon]

a tank cycles whether you do anything or not. it refers to a natural process that occurs in nature. what you did was a fish in cycle and the reason nothings died yet is probably because you do large frequent water changes to keep the levels down. (which is what you do in a fish in cycle) to the op. im willing to bet the guppy died bc of your ammonia levels, .25 can be harmful to fish. just keep up with your water changes. have you changed any of the filter media? that could delay, or completely start over the cycle. if you know anyone with a fish tank, see if they have any old cartridges (that must remain wet or the bacteria dies) that you can put in your tank, and that could speed up or even complete your cycle. in a cycled tank your readings should be 0amm 0trite and any number of nitrAtes, preferrebly under 25ppm. (in natural ponds its normally around 5 but dont quote me on that i just read it somewhere)
theres an article on the full site about cycling for those interested

 

[tarpon]

youngguppy, im not sure that many goldfish will even grow to 4-5in in a 16 gallon

 

[Wayne487]

I just had to separate one of my guppies as it was being picked on by another if I see the bully at it again I will take him out and keep him separate, maybe put him with my danios would this be ok or would he pick on those or vice versa?

 

[YoungGuppy]

youngguppy, im not sure that many goldfish will even grow to 4-5in in a 16 gallon

A friend had a couple Comets grow to 4in in a 10 gallon without any filtration. My water quality is excellent so I'm betting that they will very soon. They've ready grown a lot.

 

[YoungGuppy]

I just had to separate one of my guppies as it was being picked on by another if I see the bully at it again I will take him out and keep him separate, maybe put him with my danios would this be ok or would he pick on those or vice versa?

I think if you got some female guppies it would keep him from getting too aggressive with the other males. Just be prepared for lots of babies

 

[Wayne487]

have you changed any of the filter media? that could delay, or completely start over the cycle. if you know anyone with a fish tank, see if they have any old cartridges (that must remain wet or the bacteria dies) that you can put in your tank, and that could speed up or even complete your cycle. in a cycled tank your readings should be 0amm 0trite and any number of nitrAtes, preferrebly under 25ppm. (in natural ponds its normally around 5 but dont quote me on that i just read it somewhere)
theres an article on the full site about cycling for those interested

I haven't changed any filter media since I first set it up. Why hasn't it already cycled is what I don't understand :-S

 

[Wayne487]

I think if you got some female guppies it would keep him from getting too aggressive with the other males. Just be prepared for lots of babies

I have 3 females (seperate) but I didn't know if 3 females and 8 makes would result in them being barraged with too much attention from the males?

 

[YoungGuppy]

I have 3 females (seperate) but I didn't know if 3 females and 8 makes would result in them being barraged with too much attention from the males?

Yes possibly. I would get a couple more females and just keep an eye on them. I think with 5 females it would be okay.