GypsyGirl71

First off, forgive my newbie stupidness!
New 55 gal tank, set up on 1-19, added Stress Coat to get going. FLS tested water on 1-20, results fine, suggested starting with 3 serpae tetra. Sister jumped the gun and bought me 4 small silver dollars and a pleco. Pleco died one week later with blood around fins and anus. Everybody else doing fine except for smallest of the silver dollars which is being eaten alive by somebody(s). I suspect the tetra. I have tested water everyday this week with strips (I know!) and Nitrates are good, Nitrites are below .5 (sorry no exact number) but alkalinity and pH are high. I havent done any water changes and water is nice and clear. What next?
Have I cycled?
Do I worry about alkalinity and pH?
Should I wait before I add anymore fish? I am wanting some sort of scavanger, think about pictus catfishes.
Thanks so much!

CHoffman

Hi, No question is a bad question, It's great your wanting to learn.
What are you reading for ammonia??...Since you have a reading for nitrites you aren't cycled yet. You fish probably died of ammonia or nitrite poising. Since your not done cycling it's a good idea to do daily 50% water changes. Prime or Stress Coat plus are really good water conditioners that make ammonia and nitrite less toxic to the fish for 24 hours. You'll need to do the daily water changes until your reading are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and some nitrate. It would also be a good idea to invest in a liquid test kit. API makes a great one. You get way more for your money. It's more expensive at first but you get allot of test out of it. You don't need to worry about alkalinity and pH. Fish usually will adjust as long as it stays stable. I would advise against getting anymore fish until your tank as completely cycled, adding more fish at this point would just make the problem worse.

agabr123

I agree with CHoffman on all of that

When your tank IS cycled, it would probably be a good idea for you to get three more serpae tetras. they prefer to be in groups of six or more.

Pictus catfish are great, but you'll definitely need to have more than one. I've heard of some getting so depressed and stressed by themselves that they've died.

Also, these links will give you a better understanding of the nitrogen cycle, what's going on in your tank, etc.
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/Articles/TheNitrogenCycle.htm

seedy

Hi gypsygirl71
Silver dollars are usually very placid , so I would probably blame the the other tetras . They can be quite skittish at times so it is possible he has injured himself by crashing into something .
Keep up on your water changes but wait on adding more fish till your cycle is done .
PS ... He must be tiny if getting picked on by serpae tetras , but dont worry , they grow quite quickly and then I dont think it will be a problem .
Hope this helps

GypsyGirl71

Thanks for all the great advice. I am wanting more tetra, but the LFS are out right now! The other 3 silver dollars have grown in the 2 weeks I've had them but I'm afraid the picked on one isnt going to make it. I feel bad leaving him in there but I dont have a QT yet. I'm going to have my water tested by LFS this weekend just to get a second opinion. There are 2 LFS 30 minutes away from me and one is actually very knowledgeable, the other - not so much!