Kaynaydian
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I have a 10g tank that has been established for several years. It has an Aqueon QuietFlow 10 filter. Tank temp is 72 degrees. Consistent GH 180ppm (we live in an area with particularly hard water), KH 120 ppm, PH 6.5-7 as tested with API 5-in-1 test strips.
For most of the pandemic, the tank contained one clown pleco and a lonely neon tetra (the others died gradually over the course of several months) since the local fish stores were closed to in-person (aka live fish) shopping for most of the year.
Fast forward to two weeks ago - water parameters were stable, but I did replace the filter cartridge and do a pretty thorough cleaning (vacuumed the gravel, cleaned the plants and rocks) and did a ~50% water change in anticipation of adding new fish to the tank.
Bought 2 guppies and 3 neon tetras to add to the tank. All was well (despite one guppy not doing so well.) Nitrites and Nitrates did spike somewhat over the next couple days which I expected, given the addition of the new fish and I did daily water changes of ~25-30% to keep the nitrites and nitrates down enough so the bio cycle could get caught up. Lost the one guppy (which wasn't surprising because he was pretty small and seemed really stressed from the get go.) All other tank inhabitants were doing great! My original neon loved having new friends, the other guppy was lively. Pleco was even more active.
A few days later, I was getting readings of zero nitrites and nitrates. I should have expected something was amiss at this point, but I didn't. I continued to do daily/every other day water changes though.
I also added a new waterproof/underwater LED light to the tank around this time.
Suddenly, on Wednesday, I lost all 4 neons in the span of several hours. They went from being fine to dead. Some erratic swimming upright, then swimming on their sides before ultimately dying.
I checked water parameters again. Hardness and PH was unchanged, zero nitrites and nitrates. At this point I'm starting to get suspicious that the tank has NO nitrites or nitrates. I check the Ammonia levels. Ammonia tests at .25ppm. Nothing outrageous, but not great. I continue with 30% water changes and added a low dose of aquarium salt - 2 tsp in 10g.
The following day the pleco was dead. Still no sign of nitrites or nitrates and ammonia is ~.5ppm. I'm starting to suspect the ammonia was the silent killer in the tank, though it was still testing fairly low. The lack of nitrites or nitrates is a concern. Again, a water change and I added Aqueon Pure in the attempt to boost the bio bacteria.
This morning, the guppy was fine though lethargic. A few hours later, he too was dead.
Water tests again showed the same hardness and PH, zero nitrites and nitrates, and .25ppm of ammonia (which should have been neutralized though obviously still present by the Aqueon Pure by this point.)
What killed my fish and the beneficial bacteria in my tank? Was it the ammonia? I should be seeing nitrites and nitrates right? I rinsed the LED light before putting it in the tank. Is there any way that contributed to the fish loss?
The fish themselves had no outward signs of illness and went from being relatively fine, to slight lethargy to dead very quickly. I'm at a loss.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
For most of the pandemic, the tank contained one clown pleco and a lonely neon tetra (the others died gradually over the course of several months) since the local fish stores were closed to in-person (aka live fish) shopping for most of the year.
Fast forward to two weeks ago - water parameters were stable, but I did replace the filter cartridge and do a pretty thorough cleaning (vacuumed the gravel, cleaned the plants and rocks) and did a ~50% water change in anticipation of adding new fish to the tank.
Bought 2 guppies and 3 neon tetras to add to the tank. All was well (despite one guppy not doing so well.) Nitrites and Nitrates did spike somewhat over the next couple days which I expected, given the addition of the new fish and I did daily water changes of ~25-30% to keep the nitrites and nitrates down enough so the bio cycle could get caught up. Lost the one guppy (which wasn't surprising because he was pretty small and seemed really stressed from the get go.) All other tank inhabitants were doing great! My original neon loved having new friends, the other guppy was lively. Pleco was even more active.
A few days later, I was getting readings of zero nitrites and nitrates. I should have expected something was amiss at this point, but I didn't. I continued to do daily/every other day water changes though.
I also added a new waterproof/underwater LED light to the tank around this time.
Suddenly, on Wednesday, I lost all 4 neons in the span of several hours. They went from being fine to dead. Some erratic swimming upright, then swimming on their sides before ultimately dying.
I checked water parameters again. Hardness and PH was unchanged, zero nitrites and nitrates. At this point I'm starting to get suspicious that the tank has NO nitrites or nitrates. I check the Ammonia levels. Ammonia tests at .25ppm. Nothing outrageous, but not great. I continue with 30% water changes and added a low dose of aquarium salt - 2 tsp in 10g.
The following day the pleco was dead. Still no sign of nitrites or nitrates and ammonia is ~.5ppm. I'm starting to suspect the ammonia was the silent killer in the tank, though it was still testing fairly low. The lack of nitrites or nitrates is a concern. Again, a water change and I added Aqueon Pure in the attempt to boost the bio bacteria.
This morning, the guppy was fine though lethargic. A few hours later, he too was dead.
Water tests again showed the same hardness and PH, zero nitrites and nitrates, and .25ppm of ammonia (which should have been neutralized though obviously still present by the Aqueon Pure by this point.)
What killed my fish and the beneficial bacteria in my tank? Was it the ammonia? I should be seeing nitrites and nitrates right? I rinsed the LED light before putting it in the tank. Is there any way that contributed to the fish loss?
The fish themselves had no outward signs of illness and went from being relatively fine, to slight lethargy to dead very quickly. I'm at a loss.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.