Sylorna

Hi all,
I've had my tank up and running for about a month now. It's a 20 gallon, and I have a 2 rosy barbs and 2 yo yo loaches in it currently. All was going well with the tank after cycling for awhile, and now in the last week I've lost 2 barbs...most recently this morning
The thing is that there aren't any symptoms except that they loose some of their colour and start to swim sideways a bit. No growth formations, no eyes bulging, no gasping for air, nothing.
I did a dipstick test and all of my levels were very normal with the exception of the water hardness which was one grade higher than the "average" range.
I have been changing 2 gallons once every week, as has been recommended and using the anti-chlorine drops combined with some good bacteria starter.
I looked on the freshwater fish disease part of the site, but nothing really correlates to the symptoms. Any advice or suggestions?
Don't worry, I'm not buying more fish till I have this figured out and also none of the current fish look sick.
Thanks

COBettaCouple

The strips are very inaccurate, so you may have toxins that it's not showing. A liquid testing kit would be best, like the API freshwater test kit.

what are you treating your tap water with? if you've not been treating it, then you are probably looking at death due to heavy metals (which would also be retarding the good bacteria).

The only working bacteria starter is BioSpira.. the others pretty much are water that costs a lot.

Sylorna

well, I'm a student and can't afford the $100 for the liquid testing kit right now...honestly I got the strips because that's what my dad uses for his 10 gallon.

I use some water treater from "big als"....I'm at the school right now so I can't go and look to see if it does anything for heavy metals.

As for the bacteria stuff...also big als.

Sylorna

sorry if that sounded sharp...wasn't intended...friday and all that you know.

I've only been able to find the real test kits for around $100 (I've looked) and I'm not sure what to do about it, or where to look for a cheaper option.

I got home and the one that was almost dead is schooling yet again. it's dorsal fin is a bit mangled, but it's alive and swimming again. Doesn't petsmart do water testing for you? maybe I could bring some in there...

any other ideas?

Butterfly

Sylorna -Where are you looking that the test kits are $100? Petsmart carries the freshwater master test kits for $21. http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...earch&keepsr=1
Actually it is 22.99 online so it is probably cheaper in the store.
You might also want to do closer to 25% water changes each week. This is about the normal size for a water change but if you notice a problem and extra water change is always a good idea. Hope that helps.
Carol

Sylorna

really? I thought the normal amount for once a week was 10%!
I've been looking for information on heavy metal deaths, and I can't find any symptoms. grr.
I've been looking in the local petsmart stores, but I'll look again...they've only had the big big master test kits in cases and stuff OR the single purchase (like just ammonia) ones. Maybe I'll luck out and they'll have revamped their fish stock since I last looked.
Every little bit helps...i've had bad luck with fish in the past, and been accused of overloving them. if I could get a tank to work, I'd be a very happy lady.

Butterfly

Petsmart isn't the only place that has them but since you mentioned them I sent you a link for them.
Larger water changes will not hurt your fish and 25% of that tank is only 5 gallons. your fish will love it
If you do go to petsmart and let them test your water ask for the specific readings. Sometimes they want to just say "oh it's ok" but you don't know if it is or not.
keep us posted
Carol

COBettaCouple

I've seen dry agents testing kits for that much, but the testing kit we use is much less. we couldn't afford testing kits that expensive either.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113074
is what we use. It ends up being cheaper than strips to test with the API kit.

When your current water conditioner is low, for treating the tap water:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+112994
is probably the cheapest and best way to treat the water. It's so concentrated that a small bottle lasts quite a while. Plus it does so much, it's the best buy on a tap water conditioner.

COBettaCouple

yea, 25% seems to work really well, kind of the balance to not put too much stress on the fish and keeping the water clean.

well, since you're using a water conditioner, then i don't think you have to worry about heavy metals too much - just check that the conditioner removes chloramines as well as chlorine, since some don't remove the chloramines.

Sylorna

Ok, I'll try the 25% change, and try to get my buns over to get some better tests.
The one fish still lives....I don't know how but I'm happy.

Yes, the stuff does remove chloramines.

I think the fish gods just hate me...but I'm diligent. My boyfriend is trying to convince me to make it a lizard tank.

COBettaCouple

have your fish all come from the same store?

armadillo

Hi Sylorna

As the tank's been set up about a month, I'd say the problem is (hopefully) simply ammonia/nitrites playing up. So I'd even build up on Dave's advice (BettaCouple) and do 25% water changes 2x a week.

Did you get that kit? Great news that they're affordable. 100 USD was really steep.

Sylorna

well, I went to petsmart again, and got this:
http://pet-king.stores.yahoo.net/15561178655.html
I hope it will do, since there was either this one for $35 or the one in the case for $109, otherwise there were the dipsticks or the individual tests.
is it ok?

Butterfly

Looks good those or the aquarium pharmaceuticals master test kit are good. the dip sticks are really inaccurate.
Now you can become a testing maniac
Carol

Sylorna

Ok, I just wasn't sure if it tested for enough stuff..
Ammonia
PH high and low
Nitrates
General hardness
Carbonate Hardness

Good enough?
I wish they had the ones in our stores like they have online :P oh well!

Butterfly

Need Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and ph basically.
Carol

Sylorna

Hi
Well, I changed the water and did the water tests today. 5 Gallons just like you said.

I tested just before and just after the water change, to see if it made any difference. The results were the same. They were:

PH low: 7.6

PH high: 8

General and Carbonate hardness normal

Ammonia: 0

Nitrate: 0

I left the filter in to help with the biological balance too.

"sicky" is still swimming...still barely...he's one resilient fish!

Sylorna

Actually no.
half of the barbs came from a small town store (they're the ones who have survived) and the other half are from petsmart and have been the ones who have/are died/dieing.
My loaches were also from petsmart, and are happy.