Help: is my fish sick

eventSecurity · June 1st, 2009

hi

recently i got a fish tank for the first time

it is a 60L tank. fish were first entered may 23rd, 3 male guppies (one died straight away) with tetra safe start to cycle the tank.
fish seemed to be doing fine. one is a lot fatter than the other, the skinnier one never seems to eat when i feed them.

on saturday i added four neon tetras, they are doing fine.

i have noticed the skinnier guppies skin/scales have started to go black. near his tail, on both sides.

i have just tested the water

pH: 7.6
ammonia 0
nitrate 5ppm
nitrite 0
temp : 79/26

i have yet to do a water change

any idea what could be wrong?

Chewyoda · June 1st, 2009

Well...I can honestly say that from experience the water is not what is killing your fish or giving them the sickness. Your tank has probably still not gone through the nitrogen cycle so the test will probably be all over the place during the next few weeks. As for the sickness I've never seen what you're describing but, whatever it is, he probably got it from the transfer of aquariums. I would strongly recommend that you do a 5-7% water change once a week until your tank has gone through the Nitrogen Cycle, even after that I would still do a 5-7% water change once a week which is better than a 25% water change once a month.

Hope this information helps you.

saqib · June 1st, 2009

6~7 days is not enough for an aquarium to cycle completely...unless your seeding your tank with mature filter media...

i woudl recommend do daily water changes of 10~15% and watch out for any signs of stress...that would indicate you need an even bigger water change...just keep this going for a bit and things will finally settle down.

maybe you can get some filter media from the LFS...thats what i did with my first ever tank setup.

Shawnie · June 2nd, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chewyoda

Well...I can honestly say that from experience the water is not what is killing your fish or giving them the sickness. Your tank has probably still not gone through the Nitrogen Cycle so the test will probably be all over the place during the next few weeks. As for the sickness I've never seen what you're describing but, whatever it is, he probably got it from the transfer of aquariums. I would strongly recommend that you do a 5-7% water change once a week until your tank has gone through the Nitrogen Cycle, even after that I would still do a 5-7% water change once a week which is better than a 25% water change once a month.

Hope this information helps you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by saqib

6~7 days is not enough for an aquarium to cycle completely...unless your seeding your tank with mature filter media...

i woudl recommend do daily water changes of 10~15% and watch out for any signs of stress...that would indicate you need an even bigger water change...just keep this going for a bit and things will finally settle down.

maybe you can get some filter media from the LFS...thats what i did with my first ever tank setup.

the tank did cycle with TSS (instant live bacteria) but adding fish during the cycle process, could have been what killed them....or a drastic change in ph (compare the bag they came in to your tank water for levels) ...its time to do a partial water change and see if you can get the sick guppy in a breeder box to target feed him and use some stress coat on him ..if there are too many males and not enough females , 1m/3-4f , he could be picked on even more.....dont add any more fish until you have a stable cycle for at least 2 weeks...

eventSecurity · June 2nd, 2009

cool, ill do the water change today

i thought i had to wait until its cycled to do that but seems like im wrong on that.
doesnt look like he is being picked on, they all seem to get on fine

Shawnie · June 2nd, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by eventSecurity

cool, ill do the water change today

i thought i had to wait until its cycled to do that but seems like im wrong on that.
doesnt look like he is being picked on, they all seem to get on fine

IF i read it correctly, you added TSS on the 23rd right? its now the 2nd ...so yes its time for a small change...if i read it wrong, clarify before doing the water change? you want 7-10 days of TSS and no changes...if you are cycled after the 7,8,9, or 10th a small change is good

eventSecurity · June 2nd, 2009

yeah thats correct

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