APHEX52

I just bought my 1st tank 10 days ago, Its 60litres which is around 15gallons I. After setting it up and leaving for 7 days I brought a sample of my water to shop where I bought it and assistant said the water was safe.After asking him what fish to get he said it would be alright to get 5 neon tetras and 2 angel fish which seemed a lot to me. Well that was 3 days ago and all I've left are 4 tetras I'm beginning to think the people working in the store haven't a clue and just want to sell products I knew from the start that it would take some time to get my 1st tank right but felt guilty when fish died basically im looking for advice on how long i should wait before getting more fish.Also which fish would go well with surviving tetras i like the look of clown loaches?
pH;7
ammonia;.25
nitrite;oppm
nitrate;5.0

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!! im sorry for your losses and your right, they gave you lousy advice....you need to do daily water changes with some prime or amquel + to detoxify the ammonia ...do that ever 24 hours until you are cycled....once that is done, you can go from there for adding fish..in a 15 gal, that doesnt leave you alot of room but im sure other members will have some suggestions...cories and otto's are great bottom dwellers but need a mature tank first...goodluck!

ynaggo

Great info above.

Try buying bacteria culture to help you with your daily water changes.

I suggest waiting until your ammonia levels drop to 0, or buy a ammonia detoxifier like Ammo-lock.

When you added your fish did you just pour the bag into your tank?

Clown loaches can get very big, up to 16 inches, if you are going to get one I suggest getting a bigger tank sometime later on

APHEX52

cheers mate

APHEX52

no i kept the bag floating for 30mins before releasing them tetras 1st thought they might need a place to hide before releasing angels

joy1125

hi and welcome ! You also may want to get some water testers of your own, I recommend the API brand, to test ammonia, nitrite, ph and nitrAte. If the pet shop doesn't have the API brand, just make sure you ask for liquid test kits , not the paper strips, as the paper ones aren't accurate.

also, when you do the water changes, make sure that the new water you're adding in is dechlorinated, and is the same (or very close to) the existing water in the tank. Water temperature fluctuactions , as well as ph fluctuations, can stress or even kill fish, so try to be careful about that. You may want to pick up a thermomenter at the pet shop just for this, as it will make things a lot easier. Also, the ph test kit.

here's an informative link that explains the nitrogen cycle of aquariums. It provides great info for beginner fishkeepers!

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

sorry for the fish losses, but hopefully you'll have no more. Just keep diligent with the water changes , as Shawnie suggested !
Good luck with your new tank !

ynaggo

In my years of an aquarist, I was taught to add a cup of water to the fish in the bag so they can adjust to the water chemestry in the tank. Somethings telling me in the back of my head that they died because of shock because of the sudden change in water chemestry?

kimb

Great advice re changes and nitrogen cycle. If I am reading right from your first post, you let it run for 7 days empty? Doesn' t sound like your tank cycled. Read the link to the nitrogen cycle, then like Shawnie said water changes everyday with Prime will help keep your existing fish alive. If you can get some filter media, or gravel from an established tank, that will help things along. So sorry for the loss of your angels, good luck with your tank

ynaggo

When you did set it up the first time and left it run for 7 days did you add pure ammonia?

mckcomplex

I'm so sorry for your loss! Don't feel bad about the fish store advice, though--just a month ago they told me I could put two angelfish in a gallon-sized fish bowl with no filter, heater, etc! I'm surprised the babies lived long enough for me to get them into a 29 g tank (which is what a pair of angelfish must have, size-wise--they get very tall, and a 15 g would have ended up being much too small for them).

It can be very nerve-wracking to cycle a tank before adding a fish, but it's worth it to have healthy angelfish who can live up to 12 years! If you can't wait, you can always try Tetra Safe Start. That's what I had to do since the fish store workers gave me such rotten advice; it can help you cycle a tank while adding fish.

summersquash

Believe me, it takes a while to get your tank cycled. Your fish may live through it. Some of mine did, but when it all gets cycled it is so worth it. I read about how people hate the water changes and mainteneance, but I enjoy it. Just be patient and don't give up. Finally your fish will have a great place to live. I know when I started I began to wonder if I hadn't made a big mistake. It does cost a good bit to get all the supplies you need, but just get a little at a time while your tank cycles. Good luck.

APHEX52

well Im happy to say two tetras have made it so far after buying an API testing kit i discovered my Ph was 7.4 needless to say i'll never go back to that store. I've benn changing water every day and two remaining fish look much better. Still looking for advice on what fish to get? I'll defo getting a few more neon tetra but as my tank is small 15g would it be wise to get any other type of fish for time being? ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU TO EVERYONE

ph:7
ammonia .25 due to over feeding i think
nitrite:0ppm
Nitrate 5.0
temp 26c/78f

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore
IMO, you should wait until the tank finishes cycling to get more fish.
Wouldn't want any more fishies in harms way.
I'm glad your two are looking better.

Good job on the water changes. Have you tested your tap water for nitrates?
I ask because you should have a nitrite reading before nitrate.