Need Help!!!!fishes Life At Steak!!!

[Ryanlives]

Glass fish started acting weird and looked like he was gasping for air, when he just sunk to the bottom of the tank and layed sideways. I caught him with the net and he moved, barley. i put him in another tank for now, with tap well water. he seems stable, when he(out of no where) jumped up in the tank. Tested water, all levels normal. any help?

[Northernguy]

What is considered normal?
Please list your perameters.
When was your last water change?

[Ryanlives]

ammonia=.25
nitrite=0-.3
nitrate=5

water changed today= 30%

[pinchyboy]

how many fish are in the tank? the tank may be ver stocked and he could be really stressed out

[robflanker]

do you have an air pump?

And hate to say we told you so, but we did tell you fishless cycle is easier on your fish (cos there aren't any)...

[Dixie]

I think something is wrong with your water. Were those readings before or after the water change? In a cycled tank I don't think you should have any ammonia or nitrites. I'd try to figure out the cause of these showing up in your water. I don't know if the amounts are high enough to damage the fish but I would want to figure out the cause.

[robflanker]

I think something is wrong with your water. Were those readings before or after the water change? In a cycled tank I don't think you should have any ammonia or nitrites. I'd try to figure out the cause of these showing up in your water. I don't know if the amounts are high enough to damage the fish but I would want to figure out the cause.

He isnt cycled. He is in the process of doign a fish-in cycle

[Ryanlives]

no the tank is not over stocked, there are two others, and they're fine, and what do you mean you told me so, its been half and half, ive talked to many who have completed cycling with fish and followed there every direction. It doesnt matter anyway now, the fish has passed..:(..I tried my best but there was nothing i could do..

[Shotgun]

What is the pH? If it is 7+, then the glass is probably stressed from good old nH4 (Ammonia), however, it is under 7.0 then it could be a number of things, although nH3 (Ammonia in soft water) could still be stressin' him out... Glass are def. not the best cycling fish.

[robflanker]

Half and half still resulted in a dead fish...

Fish-in cycling has been done many a time, without problems but it can result in fish death. Like now.

Fishless = no fish death even if somethign does get screwed up

[Ryanlives]

alright smarty pants, what happens when i do a fishless and then confinrm its completed, put fish in and they die, what are you gonna tell me then? i know exactly what your going to tell me, i did something wrong, well im going by people on this forum(like you) told me to do.

[robflanker]

Ryan - dont get snappy its the simple truth.

I'm not sure many people have fish die from fishless cycling due to the cycle... they may die due to it not being acclimitized properly or sick when they got it.

I would have told you to do fishless - thats what i did and i only lost 1 fish cos he jumped out of the tank, and another one that was just sick when i got it.

The list of the fish that died fish-in is far far far great than fishless....

[Northernguy]

Back when I cycled my tank with fish it took a lot of testing and water changes daily just to keep the toxins down.It is possible to do without killing fish.Many people have done it and still do.
You must do water changes every time you see ammonia or trites.It takes longer but thats what you have to do.Stock up on dechlorinator and do large water changes.Up to 50% daily if you have to.It works best with large water changes.Small ones do not remove enough toxins.

[Aeonflame]

Please, leave fishless cycles to people with more experience. If you ask for advice on a forum, and choose not to follow said advice, then you have only yourself to blame.

[Ryanlives]

robflanker,

I apologize for the quick temperedness , I plan on taking the fish back to the store tomorrow, not for a replacement but an in store credit. I plan on doing a fishless cycle on my next aquarium, you were right. It's a lot easier on everyone:especially the fish.

[robflanker]

no problem man - fishless is the easiest way to go for sure. Easier, safer and less work (no WC!)

we've all been in your shoes - i made some really dumb mistakes at the beginning so i'm not perfect.

If you want a laugh read my first ever thread, but the trick is to learn from your mistakes and for the most part you'll see people arent giving you advice to screw you up - just to make get the most out of this hobby
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good luck and if you need anything, feel free to PM

[MonkeyPox]

I highly encourage you to take some seeded media from your uncle's tank. That will save time and stress

[Northernguy]

I highly encourage you to take some seeded media from your uncle's tank. That will save time and stress

I didn't realize you had access to a practically instant cycle!
Go that route for sure. Every new tank you get will be started that way.

[Aeonflame]

robflanker,

I apologize for the quick temperedness , I plan on taking the fish back to the store tomorrow, not for a replacement but an in store credit. I plan on doing a fishless cycle on my next aquarium, you were right. It's a lot easier on everyone:especially the fish.


Very awesome. It takes a big person to say that... and your fish will thank you for it. thumbs2:

[Dixie]

What a great ending. Sorry about your fish but you're now on the right path towards responsible fish keepingthumbs2:
Good luck with your next attempt. The cycling will go alot easier if you can get some used filter media from an established tank to put in your filter. Be sure to keep it wet with dechlorinated water while transporting and get it from one filter to the next as quickly as possible.