Tanktool
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hi! I need help with my fish mystery. I've had my 10 gallon tank for a few years. Usually have 3 guppies in it but I lost my oldest ones so I had one left, wanted to get him some buddies. But every time I try getting two more, they do great for a few days, then start hanging out at the surface and swimming in the moving water only, pretty much, and eventually die within 2 weeks of getting them. I've tried adding 2 twice now, both the same result so I don't want to try again until I know why this is happening and can fix it. They don't look sickly, but they do stop eating once they start staying at the top of the water, something clearly is causing this but I don't know what. I'm not a super educated aquariest but I try to do right by my tank. I do 20-25 % water change and vaccum the gravel every week, I have a filter and an air stone. My tank isn't planted but I have an anubia and java fern living happily in there, I add fertilizer every week for them. I test my water regularly...I have no ammonia, GH of 60, KH of 80, ph of 7 to 7.5, no nitrites or nitrates. Tank is not heated, but temps are generally between 73 and 75. I do live off grid, and we heat by wood, so temps in the house do dip overnight, but I've never seen the tank temp lower than 72. I also have in the tank...two bamboo shrimp, had them about a year, seem super happy. And two african dwarf frogs, one is at least 4 years old, the other about a year. Both doing awesome. Can anyone suggest why I can't keep new guppies alive? My lone guppy seems great, albeit maybe lonely. There is some brown algae that grows in the tank, I clean it off things every other week or so. I appreciate any thoughts or ideas, thanks for reading!