Need Some Help

[slingham64]

Hey Everyone,

Well I'm kinda lost, I've had a 10 gallon tank for a month now, cycled it and had 3 Tiger Barbs, after last night, I'm down to one. Before I go about re-stocking, what are some things I need to check for in the water to figure out why my fish are dying. Thanks for the help.

[AquaQueen]

Do you have a test kit? You should be checking your Nitrates, Nitrites, Ph & Ammonia

[Chrona]

Did you cycle it with fish? What is your pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? When did they die? What was their behaviour before they died? What is your water change schedule? Have you touched the gravel since cycling?

[kimmers318]

Sounds very much like you were using the tiger barbs to cycle, and they are at the point in the cycling that the ammonia and nitrite poisoning is going to kill them if not seriously cause other health issues which may make them weak for life.
As suggested, get your test kit, if you have any ammonia or nitrite readings that is most likely what your fish are suffering from. Read the free aquarium ebook, research the cycling process and you will understand so much more. There are things you can do right now to help the toxicity of the water, you can do water changes without disturbing the gravel or filter media where the good bacteria is trying to culture. This will dilute the toxins making it safer for the fish, but will also lenthen your cycling process. Keep us posted and we will keep you going and hopefully save your existing tiger barbs.

[Lauren B.]

Did you cycle it with fish? What is your pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? When did they die? What was their behaviour before they died? What is your water change schedule? Have you touched the gravel since cycling?
What color are your eyes? What size shoe do you wear? What kind of car do you drive? What type of underwear do you have on? What brand of toilet paper do you use?

Hehe! Just kidding chrona. It just sounded really funny when I read off all your questions like a spanish inquisition! :ezpi_wink1:


By the way Slingblade, Chrona's right. Just because I'm making fun of his staccato tone don't think that his questions aren't valid.

[Chrona]

What color are your eyes? What size shoe do you wear? What kind of car do you drive? What type of underwear do you have on? What brand of toilet paper do you use?

Hehe! Just kidding chrona. It just sounded really funny when I read off all your questions like a spanish inquisition! :ezpi_wink1:


By the way Slingblade, Chrona's right. Just because I'm making fun of his staccato tone don't think that his questions aren't valid.

Well, I was going to ask those questions too, but I figured I should wait at least until the second date. I mean, I wouldn't want to rush things. ;)

[slingham64]

I cycled my tank for 2 weeks with Goldfish, the fish store told me that should be fine (which I'm guessing was wrong). My water changing is 20% every week, been doing that since the beginning, possibly shouldn't change it yet cause it's still cycling? I don't have a test kit, an at the time do not have the funds to purchase one, but I can take it in tomorrow and have it tested. Then I'll be able to give all my readings. The gravel I've cleaned with the 20% water change, using the suction thing.

[Incredulous_Ed]

You shoudn't change the water while cycling because it slows things down. That is prbab;t the cause of the deaths of the barbs.

[Chrona]

You can do water changes during cycling, but Ed is right, it slows it down. However, you should never touch the gravel or disturb it in any way during cycling because the bacteria is housed there.

[slingham64]

I just checked my NO2 levels, it's reading <1, so I'm guessing that the tank was in fact not cycled completly. What would be a good remedy to this? There's only one tiger barb left, I'd like to see him make it through this but we'll see. Should I reduce feeding? I'm currently once every morning.

[Chrona]

I just checked my NO2 levels, it's reading <1, so I'm guessing that the tank was in fact not cycled completly. What would be a good remedy to this? There's only one tiger barb left, I'd like to see him make it through this but we'll see. Should I reduce feeding? I'm currently once every morning.

Feeding one fish once a day is fine. Make sure no food is left to rot though. After ammonia and nitrites are both at zero, do a 50% water change, making sure again not to touch the filter or the gravel. Then you can add one or two fish. Wait another few weeks (or until ammonia/nitrite drop to zero), and repeat.