inari

Also please define what you do as 'cleaning' because there are certain no-no's when it comes to aquarium cleaning.

~inari

summersquash

Do as they say. Read about the cycle, and do it. Be patient, it is hard and you will get frustrated, but after a couple of months you will see that it was all worth it. You won't keep fish living if you don't cycle the tank. I have been keeping fish for 5 months now and I almost gave up because like you I was rushing things. Good luck. We have all been there. Just read and ask questions. There are some very knowledgeable people on this site to walk you through it,

Barb44

Well.... I lost one of the three discus, but my new catfish is dooing great and is beutiful! I read about cycling and have been swapping oout water ervey week and I think its good now. I'm feeding 2-3 times a day and everyone seems happy.

summersquash

Good luck. Just keep doing a water change, & if you don't have a test kit try to at least get one to test the ammonia. That is the main thing that will kill your fish.

Angela_96

Discus need a 50% waterchange at least every week, a lot of discus keepers do it every day.

joy1125

and if your tank isn't cycled, it needs a 50 percent water change every day, if not twice a day!

As Steveangela pointed out earlier, discus need pristine water conditions-- and that doesn't mean 'clear' water, it means 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and low nitrate readings. Ammonia and nitrite are colorless, so you can't see it in your tank. The water may look clear, and yet be full of toxins.

since the fish keep dying every month, you need to get to the root of the problem, or else this will keep happening. My guess is that your tank isn't cycled, and the fish are being poisoned by ammonia and nitrite.

But if you could answer the questions we've asked, we could help, and not just guess at what's going on.

How many gallons is your tank and how long has it been set up?
Do you have a water testing kit?
What is the ammonia, nitrite and nitrAte readings?
How are you "cleaning" your tank, and how often?
What water conditioner are you using? Suggestion> using Prime will detoxify any ammonia and nitrite in the tank for 24 hours between water changes.

AlyeskaGirl

Going to the LFS for supplies and checkout the new arrivals!!!!

orangetablesrock

I know the feeling. we bought so many fish and they died and died. Check the pH balance in your water. thats why ours died. use half distilled water or buy tablets at the store and they dissolve right away

inari

pH isn't a huge problem if you acclimate them properly. I have some fish that lived in slightly basic water and they were fine, infact they loved it. But you have acclimate them proplerly as well. Now when your water goes suddenly from a 7.5 to a 9.0 then they are going to start dropping like files. Trust me it happened to me once. and the sick thing is, it wasn't even a mile apart and from the same water supply. Odd huh? anyway best of luck

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore!
I agree with inari. Normally Ph isn't a problem if the fish acclimated slowly.
Of course there are exceptions.

Instead of looking at the Ph, I'd suggest you read up on the nitrogen cycle
Since your tank is so new, my guess is your fish were feeling the effects of a cycling tank.

Good luck

zowie717

Barb,

Hi, Please answer the questions about your tank that everyone has asked of you. I feel you do not have the experience or knowledge yet and may be in for more of a diaster with your tank.

1. what size tank do you have?

2. What fish do you have in the tank?

3. How many fish do you have in the tank?

4. Do you have testing kits? if so what kind? (liquid or dip sticks?)

5. What are your cleaning your tank with? and how do you clean it?

6. If you understand the nitrogen cycle, then what are your current tank readings

Barb, a tank that is CYCLING needs water changed EVERY day, not once a week. Discus are very, very, very hard to keep and often die because the water is not keep in pristine condtion. and other fish you may have in that tank may be harassing or biting or fin nipping your discus.

I wish you luck and eveyrone on here is very knowledgable and wants to help you and help you learn. As I KILLED alot of fish until i learned, but the people on FISHLORE , SAVED alot of fishies lives by giving me knowledge and preventing me from getting anymore until my tank was cycled and i had the appropiate tank mates.

best of luck, but please, please, please answer the questions.

Thank you ; )