Am I Doing Something Wrong With My Water Change?

Okay so I used to have Goldfishes but they died now I have Tiger Barbs. Now this is my 2nd set of tiger barbs. My first set died when I did a water change. I checked the tap water from the water change and it clears out with 0.3-0.5 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0nitrate, and PH lvl of 7.6 from the TAP. I usually add a few small drops of Prime Conditioner matching the temperature of the tank. Water change is usually 30% and when I did it the first time they died instantly. So, my 2nd set just died after having them for 2 weeks and did a water change only for them to die again. This time I added a PH reduction chemical about 1/3 capsize to see if they were just having hard trouble breathing but NOPE, they died too. So I am curious on what I am doing wrong. Any tips will help out thanks.

 

Are you adding dechlorinator? There are harmful chlorines and chloramines in tap water that causes unclear death. They die without a sign. What is the ammonia level in the tank as well?

 

You need enough of the conditioner to treat the water your putting into the tank. Although I don't use Prime, I'm going to guess a bit more is needed than a "few drops".

 

With sudden deaths like that it's something to do with the water. So it could be temp, a chemical in the water, etc.

Could any sprays or soaps be on the bucket you're using?

 

Are you adding dechlorinator? There are harmful chlorines and chloramines in tap water that causes unclear death. They die without a sign. What is the ammonia level in the tank as well?

Current tank conditions before water change:
PH Level: 7.0
Temperature: 76 Degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

Current tank conditions after water change:
PH Level: 7.3
Temperature: 76 Degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia: 0.3-0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 13-15

And No I do not add any dechlorinator or anything like that to the tank. This is City Water so it's not from any wells or reservoirs. Never had any of these problems with my goldfish until tiger barbs.

You need enough of the conditioner to treat the water your putting into the tank. Although I don't use Prime, I'm going to guess a bit more is needed than a "few drops".

I added 20 drops of the conditioner in there yet they still died. Your saying I should increase that even more? How much?

 

It looks like your tank has not been cycled. Read Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle.

I wouldn't do anything with your pH. Mine runs steadily at 7.8-8. You need to be concerned with your lack of nitrites and nitrates in addition to the elevated ammonia. Whet are you testing with? Many suggest the SPI Freshwater Master kit. It's what I use. Also, are you adding any supplemental "liquid" bacteria such as SeaChem Stabolity, or another starter bacteria? This is also recommended.

Need more info. What size tank, what filter(s), and more...

Fish Emergency Template

 

Read the label on the bottle of Prime and add as much as is needed for the quantity of water you are adding.

 

Current tank conditions before water change:
PH Level: 7.0
Temperature: 76 Degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

Current tank conditions after water change:
PH Level: 7.3
Temperature: 76 Degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia: 0.3-0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 13-15

And No I do not add any dechlorinator or anything like that to the tank. This is City Water so it's not from any wells or reservoirs. Never had any of these problems with my goldfish until tiger barbs.



I added 20 drops of the conditioner in there yet they still died. Your saying I should increase that even more? How much?

Use the reccomended dosage on the bottle. For example, my dechlorinator says one teaspoon for every 10 gallons. I have a 20 gallon, so I add 2 teaspoons of it.

 

Has your tank fully cycled? We had the same problem, and our tank had been set up for 7 weeks! Fish were still dying. Took water to pet store to have checked (our test kit indicated the water was good), and pet store said our nitrites were too high. We were told our tank had not fully cycled.

 

Okay so I used to have Goldfishes but they died now I have Tiger Barbs. Now this is my 2nd set of tiger barbs. My first set died when I did a water change. I checked the tap water from the water change and it clears out with 0.3-0.5 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, and PH lvl of 7.6. I usually add a few small drops of Prime Conditioner matching the temperature of the tank. Water change is usually 30% and when I did it the first time they died instantly. So, my 2nd set just died after having them for 2 weeks and did a water change only for them to die again. This time I added a PH reduction chemical about 1/3 capsize to see if they were just having hard trouble breathing but NOPE, they died too. So I am curious on what I am doing wrong. Any tips will help out thanks.

Yes I agree u r not using enuf water conditioner U need to dose as per size of ur tank.... x amount per litre/gallon as a few drops is nowhere near enuf and if ur nitrates are 0ppm ur tank is not cycled or has crashed if it was already cycled

 

Current tank conditions before water change:
PH Level: 7.0
Temperature: 76 Degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

Current tank conditions after water change:
PH Level: 7.3
Temperature: 76 Degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia: 0.3-0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 13-15

And No I do not add any dechlorinator or anything like that to the tank. This is City Water so it's not from any wells or reservoirs. Never had any of these problems with my goldfish until tiger barbs.



I added 20 drops of the conditioner in there yet they still died. Your saying I should increase that even more? How much?

I would say it is the water.you have to add dechlorinater with every water change. City almost always treat there water with chlorine or chloramine

 

With sudden deaths like that it's something to do with the water. So it could be temp, a chemical in the water, etc.

Could any sprays or soaps be on the bucket you're using?

I keep water changer stuff isolated from any soaps or spray. Usually stays underneath the tank in a cub-bard. Doubt any soaps or sprays got in there.

 

You need enough of the conditioner to treat the water your putting into the tank. Although I don't use Prime, I'm going to guess a bit more is needed than a "few drops".

Depends on the size of the tank. If you have a 10 gallon tank, and are only replacing 3 gallons or so, a few drops is enough. You only need 2 drops per gallon. The stuff is super concentrated.

 

Yes I agree u r not using enuf water conditioner U need to dose as per size of ur tank.... x amount per litre/gallon as a few drops is nowhere near enuf and if ur nitrates are 0ppm ur tank is not cycled or has crashed if it was already cycled

Nitrate is 20 down to 13. I think your reading Nitrite as Nitrate instead. and I added 20 drops to a 30 gallon tank which had a 30% water change. According to the instructions on the Prime Conditioner, it says to add 2 drops to every 1 gallon so I added 20 drops for a 10 gallon water change since I changed out 30% from a 30 gallon so that should of been 10 gallon. So you saying I should of doubled or even tripled that?

I would say it is the water.you have to add dechlorinater with every water change. City almost always treat there water with chlorine or chloramine

I'll have to check into that. What product would you recommend?

 

Depends on the size of the tank. If you have a 10 gallon tank, and are only replacing 3 gallons or so, a few drops is enough. You only need 2 drops per gallon. The stuff is super concentrated.

I fully accept I could be wrong, which is why is I said I've not used Prime.

 

I fully accept I could be wrong, which is why is I said I've not used Prime.

Prime is super concentrated! 5ml treats 50 gallons.

 

I fully accept I could be wrong, which is why is I said I've not used Prime.

Not correcting you at all, just throwing the info out there.

Nitrate is 20 down to 13. I think your reading Nitrite as Nitrate instead. and I added 20 drops to a 30 gallon tank which had a 30% water change. According to the instructions on the Prime Conditioner, it says to add 2 drops to every 1 gallon so I added 20 drops for a 10 gallon water change since I changed out 30% from a 30 gallon so that should of been 10 gallon. So you saying I should of doubled or even tripled that?



I'll have to check into that. What product would you recommend?

Prime is dechlorinator.

 

Nitrate is 20 down to 13. I think your reading Nitrite as Nitrate instead. and I added 20 drops to a 30 gallon tank which had a 30% water change. According to the instructions on the Prime Conditioner, it says to add 2 drops to every 1 gallon so I added 20 drops for a 10 gallon water change since I changed out 30% from a 30 gallon so that should of been 10 gallon. So you saying I should of doubled or even tripled that?



I'll have to check into that. What product would you recommend?

I use prime as it dechlorinates instantly. Just make sure you read the bottle cause. Chlorine and Chloramine are super bad for fish.

 

I switched from tetra to prime, liked it. It's 1ml for 2 gallons water, but I use slightly more dechlorinator always.
Roughly count 12 drops for 1 ml, and always dechlorinate your water first before adding them to the tank.
Saw some videos will add water and add dechlorinator prior or during the water adding, not a huge fan of that.
But if you want to do that, try to add water and prime the same time, and you absolutely need to add more than needed to guarantee no accidents.

 

Okay so Prime Conditioner is a dechlorinater and I added 20 drops into that water change. WAS THAT ENOUGH or should I have doubled it is my question?

 

I'm a little confused. Your first post said 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates, but 20 minutes later you said 20 nitrates...not trying to be mean, but which is it? Makes a lot of difference...

 

So it looks like your tank is cycled, but your tap water has ammonia in it? While 0.3-0.5 isn't a ton of ammonia and shouldn't be killing your fish that quickly you could definitely get away with using more Prime to turn it into the non-toxic form.
Also, if you are adding Prime directly to your tank you should dose for the full 30 gallons, not just the water you are replacing.

That being said, if it isn't the 0.3-0.5 ammonia in your tap killing the fish (which seems unlikely given the timeline you provided it has to be something else in your water. Have you ever tested the TDS, GH, or KH of your tap?

 

Okay so Prime Conditioner is a dechlorinater and I added 20 drops into that water change. WAS THAT ENOUGH or should I have doubled it is my question?

You can always us a small syringe without the needle to dose prime that’s what I do and it works great

 

I'm a little confused. Your first post said 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates, but 20 minutes later you said 20 nitrates...not trying to be mean, but which is it? Makes a lot of difference...

The first set of numbers was his tap water readings

Okay so Prime Conditioner is a dechlorinater and I added 20 drops into that water change. WAS THAT ENOUGH or should I have doubled it is my question?

That was plenty. Since Prime is so concentrated a little goes a long way. I add 1/2ml to 4 gallons of water (I use buckets for water changes so treat one 4 gallon bucket at a time before pouring it into my tanks. Each bucket gets 1/2ml.

 

Okay so Prime Conditioner is a dechlorinater and I added 20 drops into that water change. WAS THAT ENOUGH or should I have doubled it is my question?

If you are adding prime directly to your tank water and not to buckets or whatever during the water change you should be adding enough Prime for all 30 gallons. Since you have ammonia in your water I would even add a little more. I'm not sure what it would be in drops, but if you are adding directly to the water I would estimate you should be adding about 4ml each time you do a water change.

 

I'm a little confused. Your first post said 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates, but 20 minutes later you said 20 nitrates...not trying to be mean, but which is it? Makes a lot of difference...

I think you read it too fast, it's always been that number I didn't edit it or anything.

If you are adding prime directly to your tank water and not to buckets or whatever during the water change you should be adding enough Prime for all 30 gallons. Since you have ammonia in your water I would even add a little more. I'm not sure what it would be in drops, but if you are adding directly to the water I would estimate you should be adding about 4ml each time you do a water change.

I use the Python Hose to change the water and add the Prime directly into the tank while the water is being added. Maybe that might be it instead of just using it to add water directly, I should just use it in a bucket. Probably...

 

I think you read it too fast, it's always been that number I didn't edit it or anything.


I use the Python Hose to change the water and add the Prime directly into the tank while the water is being added. Maybe that might be it instead of just using it to add water directly, I should just use it in a bucket. Probably...

Okay so I used to have Goldfishes but they died now I have Tiger Barbs. Now this is my 2nd set of tiger barbs. My first set died when I did a water change. I checked the tap water from the water change and it clears out with 0.3-0.5 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, and PH lvl of 7.6. I usually add a few small drops of Prime Conditioner matching the temperature of the tank. Water change is usually 30% and when I did it the first time they died instantly. So, my 2nd set just died after having them for 2 weeks and did a water change only for them to die again. This time I added a PH reduction chemical about 1/3 capsize to see if they were just having hard trouble breathing but NOPE, they died too. So I am curious on what I am doing wrong. Any tips will help out thanks.

I didn't edit anything either!

 

I think you read it too fast, it's always been that number I didn't edit it or anything.


I use the Python Hose to change the water and add the Prime directly into the tank while the water is being added. Maybe that might be it instead of just using it to add water directly, I should just use it in a bucket. Probably...

If you dose the entire volume of the tank with prime when you are filling it back up you will be fine I use a phython and I have never had issues.just make sure to add it a little bit before you add water give it time to mix in

 

Okay so Prime Conditioner is a dechlorinater and I added 20 drops into that water change. WAS THAT ENOUGH or should I have doubled it is my question?

Forget what I said, just checked mine and it was API stress coat, not prime.
Follow the above guy's directing, 5 ml to 50 gallons, so 20 drops treats up to 15 gallons safely.
I don't know how it could be so concentrated, and I would not try those type of dechlorinator. lol

 

I have a question. Is possible that the Tiger Barbs are sensitive to water changes and the huge change caused them to die? Is it possible that they didn't like such a huge change and rather than change 30% I should be changing out like 5% to 10% in the course of over 3 days or something?

 

I didn't edit anything either!

That explains it, let me correct that first post.

 

I have a question. Is possible that the Tiger Barbs are sensitive to water changes and the huge change caused them to die? Is it possible that they didn't like such a huge change and rather than change 30% I should be changing out like 5% to 10% in the course of over 3 days or something?

They should be fine but you have to make sure that it’s the exact same temp that is coming out of your python as the tank because they can go into shock if it there is a huge fluctuation in tank temp

 

They should be fine but you have to make sure that it’s the exact same temp that is coming out of your python as the tank because they can go into shock if it there is a huge fluctuation in tank temp

I always make sure I have the same temp in the tank from the tap. Hence the reason why I have 2 thermometers. 1 for the tank and 1 for water changes. And your certain they are fine with the 30% water changes?

 

I always make sure I have the same temp in the tank from the tap. Hence the reason why I have 2 thermometers. 1 for the tank and 1 for water changes. And your certain they are fine with the 30% water changes?

Yes they should be I do 50-60-70 percent water changes most of the time and my fish are fine. As long as your tank is cycled they should be fine

 

I use the Python Hose to change the water and add the Prime directly into the tank while the water is being added. Maybe that might be it instead of just using it to add water directly, I should just use it in a bucket. Probably...

That is exactly how I do it, and never had an issue.

If you are adding prime directly to your tank water and not to buckets or whatever during the water change you should be adding enough Prime for all 30 gallons.

Where have you heard this? This is news to me. I only ever add enough Prime for the water I am replacing. Not the entire tank. I have a 75 gallon, empty 50%, and right when I start adding fresh water I dump a little under a capful of Prime in there. A capful treats 50 gallons.

 

That is exactly how I do it, and never had an issue.



Where have you heard this? This is news to me. I only ever add enough Prime for the water I am replacing. Not the entire tank. I have a 75 gallon, empty 50%, and right when I start adding fresh water I dump a little under a capful of Prime in there. A capful treats 50 gallons.

Some people say you should add enough for the entire volume others say only as much as you need. I personally add the entire tank volume

 

The first set of numbers was his tap water readings

That was plenty. Since Prime is so concentrated a little goes a long way. I add 1/2ml to 4 gallons of water (I use buckets for water changes so treat one 4 gallon bucket at a time before pouring it into my tanks. Each bucket gets 1/2ml.

Oopsops:. I did miss that. My bad.

Some people say you should add enough for the entire volume others say only as much as you need. I personally add the entire tank volume

Just re-read my instructions. If adding to the tank, go for the tank volume. If adding to each bucket, go for the bucket volume. I add 2.5ml either way, for my 20 gallon tank.

 

That is exactly how I do it, and never had an issue.



Where have you heard this? This is news to me. I only ever add enough Prime for the water I am replacing. Not the entire tank. I have a 75 gallon, empty 50%, and right when I start adding fresh water I dump a little under a capful of Prime in there. A capful treats 50 gallons.

Directly from the Seachem website: "Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new water. For smaller volumes, please note each cap thread is approximately 1 mL. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrite in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is > 30 °C (86 °F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low, use a half dose."

I was just basing it on my WC % at first too, but then someone on here pointed me to the directions and said if you are adding Prime directly to the tank you should be dosing for the entire volume of said tank. Granted, it's probably just a way to get us to buy more Prime, but I don't want to accidentally kill off my BB (or my fish).

 

Just re-read my instructions. If adding to the tank, go for the tank volume. If adding to each bucket, go for the bucket volume. I add 2.5ml either way, for my 20 gallon tank.

Agreed. Op should follow this

 

Directly from the Seachem website: "Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new water. For smaller volumes, please note each cap thread is approximately 1 mL. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrite in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is > 30 °C (86 °F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low, use a half dose."

I was just basing it on my WC % at first too, but then someone on here pointed me to the directions and said if you are adding Prime directly to the tank you should be dosing for the entire volume of said tank. Granted, it's probably just a way to get us to buy more Prime, but I don't want to accidentally kill off my BB (or my fish).

But this is Prime I'm using. Should I do the entire tank then? 60 drops is what your saying?

 

Directly from the Seachem website: "Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new water. For smaller volumes, please note each cap thread is approximately 1 mL. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrite in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is > 30 °C (86 °F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low, use a half dose."

I was just basing it on my WC % at first too, but then someone on here pointed me to the directions and said if you are adding Prime directly to the tank you should be dosing for the entire volume of said tank. Granted, it's probably just a way to get us to buy more Prime, but I don't want to accidentally kill off my BB (or my fish).

Yeah I just do this as a precaution to prevent my BB from getting killed by the chlorine or Chlromine

 

But this is Prime I'm using. Should I do the entire tank then? 60 drops is what your saying?

Yeah, 60 drops (Seachem is the manufacturer of Prime). I would definitely do that much since you said your tap water has 0.3-0.5ppm ammonia in it (unless I read your first post incorrectly).

 

I use apI conditioner not prime. But I thought it was always dose the amount per size of tank not for the amount of water being changed. The size of ur tank I would say u have done the right dose.

 

How exactly are you dosing drops? Is Prime available in a small dropper-style bottle? I just use the cap to measure. You can double does with no issues, so it doesn't need to be exact.