Angelwhispers

I got an API Master Test kit yesterday and decided to check water condition today. All readings were perfect so my partner and I went out and got 10 neon tetra's and 4 ghost shrimp for our new 29GAL Tank. It's only been set up for 5 days, but with all readings being good (Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates etc) we figured we'd be okay with some fishes in there.

We got them home, floated the bags, then tipped them into the net and added them to the tank. Tonight, we've lost 3 of our neons with a 4th not looking so good. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. When I stuck my hand with the net into the tank to pick out the dead fish, it hit me. The heater!

When I checked the thermometer on the tank, it read 91 degrees! The heater is one that's not fully submersible, and it has an automatic thermostat that is supposed to shut off when the water reaches a certain temperature. The heater came with the tank, or I would have gone with a submersible one with a dial on it so that I could set the temperature control myself.

What I've learned - never go with a heater that doesn't have a temperature dial on it! I've fried 4 of my fish in the first day of having them home. Strangely enough, all my Ghost Shrimp are doing fine. I've shut the heater off for now, but will have to keep turning it on and off till a week on friday, which is when I'll have the money to replace the heater.

I just can't believe that the tank and heater has been fine all week, only to have it malfunction the day we bring our fishes home.

capekate

Hello Missy
I have also experienced fish loss due to a defective heater. Its awful to bring home fish and loss them to high heat. Im so sorry to hear that it happened to you. It really can be a let down for sure.
I was wondering tho, you say the tank has been set up for 5 days. I dont understand how it can be cycled yet. Unless you used a product like Tetra Safe Start or Bio Spira.
Also, even after a tank has cycled its not a good idea to add that many fish at once. The nitrogen cycle needs to catch up to such a high bio load from that many added fish. With ten + added fish at once, you are sure to get an increase in ammonia which is very toxic to the fish.
You may want to take some time and add only a small number of fish at a time. Like no more than 4-5 fish a week.

Lucy

I'm really sorry about your fish. There's not much you can do when your heater goes haywire.

Kate's brought up a few good points about cycling and adding fish.

Good luck.

Angelwhispers

I forgot to mention that I used Safe start when I set it up, and I do have 2 little dial things on the front of the tank to alert me if ammonia gets too high, along with Ph.

As I said, I did check the levels of everything in the tank before we went out and got the fish, because I know how important that is. Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and Ph were all fine when I tested them. They were also fine when I checked them again last night before I figured out it was the defective heater causing issues.

When I got up this morning, I've lost 2 more tetra's, and try as I might, I cannot find them in the tank at all, so I don't know whether the Ghost Shrimp had a feast last night or not. The temp was down to 84, so we've turned the heater back on, and we're going to monitor the temp. If/when it looks to be getting high, then we'll turn it off again.

clinton1621

Ummm 84 is still way too high for neons unless you are treating ich... you should let the water cool down to a constant 77 to 78 degrees.

Also, I recommend this heater, its one of the best....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=11368

Alessa

how long was it in between adding the safestart and the fish?

Angelwhispers

Clinton: Thanks for that recommendation. The lady in the store told us that 84 wouldn't be bad for neons because they're "hardy" and adjust well. I guess she was just after our money. Ugh. With the heater you've recommended though, what wattage would be best for a 29Gal tank?

Alessa It was 5 days between adding the safe start and then adding fish. I thought I'd be okay because the tank readings were all fine.

clinton1621

I think a 150 watt is recommended, but I have the 100 watt version in my 30g and it works fine.... most likely because when you have gravel and decor in the tank they actually make the water volume less than what the tank size is, so my 30g with all the driftwood and gravel in it.... probably ends up being about 26 gallons or so of water

Chief_waterchanger

Missy, I compliment you for being willing to take these people's constructive bits of advice.

I just thought I would ask, when you said the readings were fine, do you mean that Ammonia and Nitrites are a 0.0 and there are small amounts of Nitrates or is there just low amounts of Ammonia and/or Nitrites?

(I ask mainly because you mentioned a dial that alerts you if the ammonia gets too high, but any ammonia readings at all is not good. The beneficial bacteria is meant to "eat" the ammonia quickly enough to keep it from building up enough to even register on test kits. )

Thanks again for being so willing to learn.

Alessa

your tetra safe start probably died off. It has bacteria and the bacteria needs to feed of ammonia (i.e. fish poo) to work. If you left the tetra safe start for a week in the tank with no food it probably died, because youre supossed to add it at the same time with an ammonia source (fish, pure ammonia drops).

so, dont be surprised if you see the spikes comming....

Angelwhispers

Clinton: Thanks for the advice. I'm going to see if I can find that heater in the next day or so. Hopefully it won't set me back too much. I have had the heater on in the tank today, and so far it seems to be holding up. I just don't trust it to not go too high again.

Chief_waterchanger: There is no ammonia or nitrites at all, and just a little bit of Nitrates (around 10), which I thought was desirable. The dials I mentioned are like the little temperature gauges that can be stuck to the tank. The Ammonia one is reading as between 0 - 0.2ppm, though the test kit showed none at all, and the Ph is at 7.0.

I don't mind taking people's constructive criticism. It's how we learn, through experience and taking what other people say on board. If people start criticizing just for the heck of it, that's when I feel the need to get defensive lol.

Alessa: Is it worth adding Safe start to the tank as it is now with the Neons and the Ghost Shrimp in there? Or will it not work now that I already added the fish?

Devon

SafeStart will work as long as there is a source of ammonia for the bacteria to feed off of (in this case, your fish's waste). It's probably in your best interest to get it in there now to complete the cycle.

You're right about your water parameter readings, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5-10 nitrate is indeed a desirable reading.

If it's not cycled yet with fish in there, you want to keep a very close eye on ammonia and do water changes as needed.

Good luck!

Edit: By the way... welcome to the forum!!

Alessa

I would say, to be on the safe side, add tetra safe start with the fish in there. It can only help at this point.

Angelwhispers

Devon: Thanks for that advice. I shall add some right away. The 5 remaining tetra's that I have along with my Ghost Shrimp are looking lively and alert which I'm guessing is a good thing, which has put my mind at rest somewhat, but knowing what to do in a situation like this will ease my mind a lot.

Thanks for the welcome!

Alessa: Thanks! You've eased my mind a LOT now that I know what to do to be on the safe side. And hopefully, the heater will hold out till I can get a new one.