Help new tank fish dying

[jaekari2]

I have a new 26 gallon bowfront aquarium. I let it cycle for 2 weeks before adding fish. We added 4 African Cichlids yesterday and 2 were dead this morning and the water is cloudy. The petstore tested my water and said it was good. Now the levels are Ammonia 0 nitrites 0 ph 7.8 but my nitrates are now 0. How can I raise my nitrates? We also have 2 10 gallons with mollies that have done great.

 

[hdultra]

Nitrates are a product of ammonia turning into nitrites. Then the nitrates come from the nitrites. Sounds to me that your tank is not yet cycled. What kind of test kit do you have. Liquid test kit are the best. If you have strips, well basically they are junk. IMO

If I were you I would do my own testing of the water. Go get a API Master Test Kit. And then post your readings.

Acclimation could be a part of the problem.
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/artic...you-need-to-know-about-Acclimation/Page1.html

 

[jaekari2]

I do have a liquid test kit but I didn't acclimate them like it said to do. We just let the bag float for about 30 minutes and netted them out. I guess my question now is do I go get replacements and try again or just try with the 2 that are still alive? Thankfully we have a 14 day guarantee but I really don't want to keep taking them back.

 

[fort384]

Agree with HD. Setting up and running the tank for 2 weeks before adding fish is not cycling.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...ady-have-fish-what-now-116287.html#post983258

Check out that post and read up on the nitrogen cycle. It will give you a better understanding of what you are doing, and where you are headed.

 

[fort384]

I do have a liquid test kit but I didn't acclimate them like it said to do. We just let the bag float for about 30 minutes and netted them out. I guess my question now is do I go get replacements and try again or just try with the 2 that are still alive? Thankfully we have a 14 day guarantee but I really don't want to keep taking them back.

Don't add any more fish until your tank is cycled properly.

 

[jaekari2]

Thankyou so much for the advice! I am definitely a beginner but loving it so far. I have 2 established 10 gallons full of mollies. I did read on the cycling thread to put rocks in the filter from an established tank can speed things up. Has anyone tried this? Does it work? And what's the best way to do it? I would be afraid to mess up my filter.

 

[fort384]

It will help quite a bit if you can take some established filter media from one of the other tanks and put it in the filter of your new tank. If you are going to use substrate or gravel, that can help too. Just put it inside some pantyhose, this will help contain it and keep it from being a mess. They need to be new pantyhose though so there is no soap or detergent in them...