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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Another of my babies dead... the tank is cursed.
I got this tank over a month ago off someone on Craigslist. It's about 30 gallons, I purchased it when I rescued a pair of goldfish from my neighbour who was keeping them in a 1 gallon bowl.
I thought that I was doing right by them, and putting them in a better home. They seemed to be okay and then almost overnight, fin rot struck so hard that I didn't have time to react before one was already dead. It literally took under 24 hours for my fantails to go from fine to no tail at all and dead.
Now I have cleaned the tank, cycled it again, and stocked with three Tiger Barbs. Everything is fine except a little ICH that I was treating for... I come home tonight and one of my Green Barbs dies on me.
I have been doing 50% water changes every single day and treating the water, I've also been using Cycle but not much else. There's Melafix in there now to try to save my last two from the fin rot... I just don't know what to do. At this point I'm tempted to say there is some kind of hex on my tank... if these two die it will be the 7th death in a month. | 
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Addict
| Is your tank cycled if your dousing with cycle i imagine your tank is not cycled.
What are your water parameters do you have a test kit? (preferably liquid)
It can take 4 weeks (or longer) to cycle a tank and if you can't test it you wont be able to tell if it is cycled. The water changes help if its ich turn up the heat on the tank to 82 help battle the Ich. Test your water it's probably ammonia that is the root of this problem. http://www.fishlore.com/WaterChemistry.htm and http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
Last edited by ThisGuy; July 15th, 2008 at 01:59 AM.
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| I'm treating with heat for the ich and do a 50% water change daily. I was assured that my tank was fine by the pet store, but they have the same junky test strips that I do and I'm starting to feel rather betrayed.
The heater will only get the water up to 79-80, I'm going to get a new heater this weekend, I can only hope my last two fish will hold on until I can get them what they need.  I'm just so frustrated and I don't want any more sick/dying fish! | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| I agree with thisguy..cycle isnt the product to use unfortunately..its something that you have to use everytime you do a water change or the bacteria die off...so yes id say you werent cycled after the LFS said you were ..once you get the API test, you will know your own readings and never have to rely on anyone else...soooo sorry for your fishies dieing | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| I'm sorry you've lost fish, it's especially hard when you're trying to everything right and still something goes wrong.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll get it straightened out. | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| is it possible the tank was used to house rodents/snakes in the past ? I have heard sometimes bacteria can get into the silicone from them and cause all kindsa probs. | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Shawnie I agree with thisguy..cycle isnt the product to use unfortunately..its something that you have to use everytime you do a water change or the bacteria die off...so yes id say you werent cycled after the LFS said you were | That is the product they handed me and I trusted the guy to give me what was right. This is why I am NEVER asking questions of people at PetCo any more... it's here or the Fish Store and nowhere else... Quote: |
Originally Posted by sqrlyshrly1 is it possible the tank was used to house rodents/snakes in the past ? I have heard sometimes bacteria can get into the silicone from them and cause all kindsa probs. | I was told that it had been used for fish, and it came with a water heater, water conditioner, filter, etc... so no, I am not 100%, but there is a good chance it was for fish only.
This morning a huge chunk is hanging off the other Green Barb's tail. It makes me sick to see him suffering like that... especially when all I can do is change the water, put in MelaFix, and watch it get worse. And to think that all my fish would probably be okay right now if someone at the LFS would have known what they were talking about. | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Devon  And to think that all my fish would probably be okay right now if someone at the LFS would have known what they were talking about. | I know, it's sad isn't it?
Makes me wonder if the guy you got the tank from had a sick tank and that's why he gave it up. | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Addict
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy I know, it's sad isn't it?
Makes me wonder if the guy you got the tank from had a sick tank and that's why he gave it up. | i don't know if there is truth to that sick tank theory, i has ich three times in my 5 gal a couple of years ago and i haven't had any problems since. If a tank was broken down and allowed to dry it should be good... Just keep fighting it and you will get through it i know it sucks when you have sick fish but sometimes they pull through...  | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| like mentioned before, cycle is a horrible product that just stops working whenever you stop using it. It does not cycle your tank.
the only thing you can do now is daily 50% changes until it really cycles...
sorry for the loss of your fish | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thanks for all your kind words and support... I just feel like a horrible person taking in these sweet little creatures that depend on me to love and care for them, only to watch them die of what equates to a horrific flesh-eating disease... I keep looking at their little fins falling off and imagining how terribly painful and scary it would be to be losing my limbs like that. 
Yesterday I swore that if the rest of them died in there, I was going to sell the tank... but I don't really want to get rid of it. Maybe I'll do as Ryan suggested and break it down, clean the holy heck out of it, and then try again with more educated information. I'm angry that the PetCo Aquatics employee handed me something that wasn't going to work and said, "This is what you want." Sometimes I have gotten good advice from them but it really seems that for the most part, they have no idea what will be best and I suspect that at least 90% of the good suggestions they give are by accident. Anyway, now I'm ranting... | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Don't give up...if you can get past the cycle then it is a very rewarding hobby. I have had fish die on me thru my own ignorance to and it is very frustrating . You need to start over if they all die and get the cycle finished and then add fish...a tank that is healthy and happy is a great thing to own!! | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| It just seems like this is the only tank that gives me problems... Bowie got ich but I cured him in a week, since then I have had NO problems with him... I have Black Neons in a QT because they're brand new as well and no problems there either... but no matter what I do, everything that goes into that big tank dies... my Black Moor, my Pleco, my two fantails, and now the Barbs. | |
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July 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Addict
| Trust me wait for the cycle it takes a long time, but after that its a lot easier and you have learned a very important lesson, don't trust the sales person at the fish store thats what they are there for is to sell not to guide you into make informed decision.
Hang in there 
Ryan | |
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July 16th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Update: the other Green Barb dead. The regular Tiger seems fine actually, no signs of the ich or fin rot (though it would be harder to see on him). The other Barb was positively INFESTED.
I feel so bad, I have to wait until Friday before I can afford to get better equipment (need a new heater), and it has cost a life. | |
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