fish dying

**ericsc** · 03-08-2008, 01:51 PM

Ok, I finally got my tank cycled a couple weeks ago after 8 weeks so I went and got 5 gold danios and 1 long finned danio and the next morning the long finned was dead. Next day I lost 4 gold danio, they were all stuck to the filter intake. It is a 46 gallon bowfront and my readings are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 5 nitrates and have been like that for over a week now. I went back to Petsmart and got 2 kuhli loaches and 3 sunburst mollies and 1 of the loaches seems like he is dying also, laying there kind of sideways, moves around a lillte and then lays there again on his side. No signs of ick or any other disease that I can tell. Why are most of l my fish dying?? I have the temperature at 80 degrees.
The only ones that seem to be ok this whole time are the 5 zebra danios I have had for awhile now to do the fish cycle. I have an Emperor 400 and a Whisper 60 filter on it. Any ideas??? Why would they die so quick when the zebra danios seem to be ok, the lady at Petsmart said they keep there tank temps at 76 degrees..would my 80 degree temp be killing them that fast? HELP

**gm72** · 03-08-2008, 01:54 PM

How are you acclimating the fish to your tank? What is the pH?

**ericsc** · 03-08-2008, 04:17 PM

I leave the fish in the plastic bag from the LFS for 30 minutes then slowly let them into the tank. The PH is 6.0..it is usually 6.4

**gm72** · 03-08-2008, 04:23 PM

So do you gradually add tank water to the bag?

Ideally acclimation should be over about an hour. Float the bag for 15 minutes to allow temps to equalize. Than add about 1/4 cup of tank water to the bag once every 15 minutes for the next 45. Net the fish and put into the tank.

**ericsc** · 03-08-2008, 04:26 PM

no, I have never done that..I just add the fish to the tank after they get used to the temp inmy tank.

**ericsc** · 03-08-2008, 04:27 PM

do u think my ph is way too low at 6.0? It has always been around 6.4

**gm72** · 03-08-2008, 04:28 PM

Acclimation, or your lack thereof, is shocking the fish and is leading to their death. The pH is low but with proper acclimation you would probably be alright.

**ericsc** · 03-08-2008, 04:29 PM

I always added fish this way when I was cycling and they never died in less then 12 hours...but I will try it the way u have suggested. Very frustrating having them die like this when my tank is cycled.

**ericsc** · 03-08-2008, 04:30 PM

thank u very much, I will do it that way from now on for sure!

**gm72** · 03-08-2008, 04:30 PM

...but now that you are cycled the water chemistry in the tank has changed. I think you'll find you will fare much better with proper acclimation technique.