Barb44

It seems like i have to buy new fish every month or so. I give the tank a real good cleaning everymonth like the guy at the shop said to. any ideas what might make them die in a clean tank?

Lego2Theos

Hi Barb welcome to Fishlore

I would have to guess that your tank hasn't cycled yet. Here is a link explaining the nitrogen cycle. http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Do you have a test kit? If you have one test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. If you post your results we will be able to help you determine your problem easier. If you don't have a test kit I would suggest an API master kit. It is an excellent testing kit. It is more reliable than the strips. It may be a little more expensive but will last a lot longer.

Lucy

Hi Barb, welcome to Fish Lore
If you could fill in your aquarium info (at the top under My Settings) it will help the members help you.
I'm really sorry about your fish.
What size tank do you have?
When did you start it?
How many and what kind of fish do you have?
Is it cycled? How did you cycle it?
What are the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?
What kind of test kit are you using?
What's the temp. of the water?
Do the fish shw any symptoms before they die?

Sorry for all the questions, the answers will help us help you

bolivianbaby

Hey, Barb. Welcome to fishlore!

What do you mean by thorough cleaning? Pet stores have been known to give incorrect information.

After your tank goes through the nitrogen cycle, the main "cleaning" is weekly water changes (I do mine based on my nitrate levels) and to rinse your filter media in used tank water because there is no chlorine in it, which would kill your nitrifying bacteria.

Beth1965

Barb; Welcome to Fish Lore, you're going to learn alot from this site and it's members. I would strongly suggest you read about the nitrogen cycle which is on post #2.
Beth

gmen4life

cycle that tank wooohoooo

aquarist48

Welcome to Fish Lore!

SCUGrad

Hi Barb!

Welcome to the forum. And yes, as you will soon find out, the people here are incredibly knowledgeable and VERY friendly. They answer questions in a snap.

Makes me wonder what they do with their time when they're *not* answering questions.

bolivianbaby

We try to figure out where to put more tanks

MizRamzi

I found my bathroom will hold 2 5g tanks, one on each side of the vanity! Hair driers be dang!!!

Welcome to FL! We got the knowledge, we got the experience and we all got the MTS!

Barb44

thx for replying. I went to the shop today and picked up some ammolock and a few new fish. i've been watching the algae eater all day and he seems very happy.

Lucy

Cleaning tanks and planning for more.

ifixoldhouses

probally not as bad as this

http://www.simplydiscus.com/library/...om/index.shtml

Barb44

I saw some discuss today and they were beutiful! I want one so bad! i think i'll do a good cleaning tomorrow and check if they still have them.

joy1125

barb, before getting more fish, you really need to find out why the ones you have are dying.

it would help if you answered the questions about your tank.

How long has your tank been set up, how many gallons is it, do you know about the nitrogen cycle, how many fish are stocked? also, how are you "cleaning" your tank?

inari

barb,

I know you are new but the questions we ask for a reason. If your tank is not cycled at all I'd suggest that you DO NOT use ammonia lock it will hinder your cycle. once you have ur cycle going you're tank will do much better. I would throw that stuff out and never buy it again. You need to cycle your tank and you need a test kit to tell the age of it. Also for the sake of your fish, check out the profiles about the various fish many of them (even freshwater) get very large or need a ton of room to roam around. Other need to be kept in schools of 3 or more which will limit how many you can have in your tank or what your smallest tank can be. the general rule of thumb for fish size is 1" per US gallon. some fish will want more, just be aware of that. I'd had to have you lose more fish.

one a side note; does it make me a sick person for wondering if I could do that same thing in my bathroom....but my aunt and uncle won't let me i'm sure of it? lol

~inari

Lucy

Hi Barb, I agree with Joy, I wouldn't recommend getting anymore fish until you have a good idea why the others have passed.
If you could answer the questions in post #3 and fill in your aquarium info it would help the members give more accurate info.

Good luck

Angela_96

If you don't have a mature cycled tank with pristine water discus will not survive.

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 ; )