Hello! I bought my first tank a month ago...and i wish I knew tanks have to be cycled before putting in fishes.
Week 1: I set up my tank, a marina 10 gallon, with teh filter it came with. I purchased other accessories with it...like the heater, the gravel and set it running for a week with the solutions that came with the kit.
Week 2: I purchased 4 fishes, all mentioned to be hardy by the guy at the fish store, and brought them home. I introduced them in the tank and they all died in less than 8 hours. The next day I went to the close by petco; felt they were a lot better compared to the other shop and told them my story. They told that I had kept the fishes for over an hour outside on my commute back home and the shock must've killed them. So I bought 5 zebra danios and an aquatic palnt....went home in 15 minutes. I introduced them (floating; adding aquarium water little by little in 3 sessions. Still all of them died the very same day within a few hours. I went back to petco with my water sample the next day after doing some reading and they tested my water. My water showed nitrites...they suggested mt to run the tank empty and that the nitrites should be enough to cycle the tank itself. I made 1/3 water change every 2 days.
Week3: Water again showed nitrites when tested. The aquatic plant, sword, showed its old leaves dissolving; but new leaves sprouted...which meant it was not dying. I also bought a moss ball to increase the plant life in the tank that would help cycling.
Week4: I tested the water and the pet store guy rated it an A; no nitrites or nitrates or ammonia. I bought 2 fishes that he mentioned were hardy and brought them home this noon. Within 8 hours, again they are dead and I'm frustrated and feeling very very guilty for having started in the first place. I've spent so much beyond my budget this month and I dont want to give up. Please help me understand what's going on. Killing 11 fishes to setup a tank seems too much to me.
P.S. I noticed in week 3 that the chemicals, nutrafin cycle, that came with the tank kit had expired.
Week 1: I set up my tank, a marina 10 gallon, with teh filter it came with. I purchased other accessories with it...like the heater, the gravel and set it running for a week with the solutions that came with the kit.
Week 2: I purchased 4 fishes, all mentioned to be hardy by the guy at the fish store, and brought them home. I introduced them in the tank and they all died in less than 8 hours. The next day I went to the close by petco; felt they were a lot better compared to the other shop and told them my story. They told that I had kept the fishes for over an hour outside on my commute back home and the shock must've killed them. So I bought 5 zebra danios and an aquatic palnt....went home in 15 minutes. I introduced them (floating; adding aquarium water little by little in 3 sessions. Still all of them died the very same day within a few hours. I went back to petco with my water sample the next day after doing some reading and they tested my water. My water showed nitrites...they suggested mt to run the tank empty and that the nitrites should be enough to cycle the tank itself. I made 1/3 water change every 2 days.
Week3: Water again showed nitrites when tested. The aquatic plant, sword, showed its old leaves dissolving; but new leaves sprouted...which meant it was not dying. I also bought a moss ball to increase the plant life in the tank that would help cycling.
Week4: I tested the water and the pet store guy rated it an A; no nitrites or nitrates or ammonia. I bought 2 fishes that he mentioned were hardy and brought them home this noon. Within 8 hours, again they are dead and I'm frustrated and feeling very very guilty for having started in the first place. I've spent so much beyond my budget this month and I dont want to give up. Please help me understand what's going on. Killing 11 fishes to setup a tank seems too much to me.
P.S. I noticed in week 3 that the chemicals, nutrafin cycle, that came with the tank kit had expired.
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