Glow Tetra Fish - Help!

I'm pretty sure this is a very common question here.. But I'm at my wits end.. And honestly, I know absolutely nothing about setting up an aquarium.

So....

Can anyone explain to me step-by-step what I need to do to keep my tetra alive? I've gone to PetsMart several times to get help and everyone seems to be giving me different answers. I thought starting an aquarium would be a really cool hobby/mom-and-son bonding experience for us to do together, but it is no longer fun. I'm frustrated and at my wits end. I really, really want to do this right. I would love to raise these beauties.

I currently have a 10 gal tank with a hood that has bright white LEDs and blue LEDs (I can switch between them). I have a water heater, thermometer and water heater. Gravel is black with the neon colored specks. Water temperature is set at 75F. Food I was given to feed them is API Tropical flakes. I've got Top Fin Water Conditioner, Top Fin Bacteria Supplement and API Accu-Clear. This is a new tank. I filled it with tap water, but in the 10mL of the conditioner then 15 minutes later 10mL of the bacteria supplement (all of this I did on Sunday evening).

I currently do not have test strips but just ordered the API Master Test Kit suggested on the begginers thread (the associates at PetsMart discouraged me purchasing test strips as they said I can take a sample of water there and they would test it for free).

At this point, I need the most basic explanations on what to do and how to do it. I currently have 4 small tetras still alive. I tried to keep it at 6 but I can't seem to keep them alive and its breaking my heart. Currently, they're only hanging out at the top as pictured below. I purchased the fish on Sunday as well. I asked the lady helping me if it was safe to purchase the fish at the same time and she said yeah, just to let the water cycle for a couple of hours. Same night, 3 of the 5 I originally purchased died. I realized later that it takes much longer to cycle the water, and putting them in so soon is what killed them. My mom went back on Monday to PetsMart - they replaced the fish + 1 more (so 4 new ones total), tested the water and gave the OK to add more. I wasn't home when my mom introduced them to the water, but from what I understand she put them in the water inside the bag still for 2 hrs, then slowly released them into the tank. This morning 2 more died... So I really really want to get this right, even if it means I start from square one. Please be gentle and please, please, please, someone help me in this endeavor! I am devastated and I don't want to hurt anymore fish.

 

Sounds like they weren't acclimated properly. Did you slowly add water from the tank to the floating bag with fish or just let them float for two hours and then dump all the water and fish in? Also tetras are schooling fish and really need a tank larger than 10gal

 

Sounds like they weren't acclimated properly. Did you slowly add water from the tank to the floating bag with fish or just let them float for two hours and then dump all the water and fish in? Also tetras are schooling fish and really need a tank larger than 10gal

Thanks! From what my mom said, it sounded like she just let them float, then dumped them in. I'm starting to realize the 10 gal tank is likely too small for the glow fish.

 

Did you have a filter for the tank? Hard to see in the pictures on my phone sorry. I'd recommend getting tetra safe start (it is a better version of live bacteria to cycle) and seachem prime water conditioner. Dose the tank with prime and wait 24hrs then add the TSS bacteria and then in 14 days your tank should be cycled. It should be noted that you should not be doing water changed during the 14 days

 

Did you have a filter for the tank? Hard to see in the pictures on my phone sorry. I'd recommend getting tetra safe start (it is a better version of live bacteria to cycle) and seachem prime water conditioner. Dose the tank with prime and wait 24hrs then add the TSS bacteria and then in 14 days your tank should be cycled. It should be noted that you should not be doing water changed during the 14 days

Yeah, I do have a filter for the tank - it's the one that came with the starter kit for it. What do I do with the fish (hoping they don't die on me!) if I follow your recommendation? Can I keep them in the water during all this or should they b removed in the meanwhile?

 

TSS is meant to cycle the tank with fish still in so yes you would keep them in the tank. I would do a water change after getting prime and wait 24 hours then add the TSS. 14 days later you should be good to go

 

Real panic setting in here. I'm sorry I sound like a complete idiot. Water change? How much? And do I change the water first, then add prime? Or after?

 

No problem, it's easy once you get prime get a bucket or something to use to empty some water from the tank making sure they don't have soap residue on them. I like to designate my supplies for only my fish tank so I don't accidentally transfer any soap residue. Then empty like 30-40% of the water (some people might recommend 50% or 75% but I feel 30-40% should be fine)

Next you want to fill the same bucket with tap water making sure the water temp is as close to the temp in the tank as you can get.

Before adding the water back into the tank you need to dose it with prime, 2 drops per gallon and then give it a swish to mix it.

You are now safe to add the water slowly back I to the tank.

That's it. Just be careful not to get soap and oils from our hands into our tank so give them a nice good wash in some hot water.

24 hrs after doing this, dose the tank with Tetra safe start (TSS)

Wait 14 days and you should have a newly cycled tank

 

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! I just printed all of this out! Last question (maybe, I can't make promises, though)! Would you recommend getting more fish and/or replacing the ones that passed away this morning? I know you mentioned a 10 gal is too small. I do realize they're schooling fish. I'm trying to make an earnest effort to keep them alive.

 

If you decide to get another fish you shouldn't go past 5, 10 gal is quite small and would really recommend upgrading to at least a 20 or larger if you can in the near future. They will be much happier and more enjoyable to watch in a larger tank and proper schooling numbers. Big chain pet store employees I'm sure mean well, but they don't usually know what they are talking about when it comes to fish care. I was told my tetras would be fine in a 10 gal and only 3 of them. It's a good thing you found this forum so we can help you learn properly

 

No kidding! I have been in a full on panic since Sunday about caring for these fishies. The associate told me about the same thing - minimum of a 10 gal though she recommended 6 fish for it at the start and I went with 5.

I'm ecstatic I found this forum, actually! I have spent the better part of the past two nights fretting about what to do. Granted, the info sites available are great resources but when you know nothing about this it's hard to keep up with some of what they're trying to tell you. Unfortunately, there are no local stores out here that specialize in aquariums/fish. I really can't thank you enough. All your suggestions have been super helpful and I felt that knot in my chest ease up a bit. I plan to go tomorrow to purchase prime and TSS and hopefully do the water change tomorrow night after work. With them being so tiny is it worth using a hose to empty a portion of the tank? I'm worried they'll get sucked up on accident or something.

 

No problem, I was in the same situation and you can't blame yourself because of the stores telling you improper advice. Be sure to read up on the nitrogen cycle as that is the most important aspect. Honestly I would be more worried about what the hose has been exposed to rather than sucking up fish. When I gravel vac my tetras don't come anywhere near the tube lol.

 

Ok that makes sense. Also.. Do you happen to know anything about appropriate lighting for the tank? I asked at the store and I got a bunch of different answers. Should the lights stay on all the time? Can I shut if off for a period? Which light is better for them - blue LED or white LED? I'll stop pestering with questions after this. haha.

 

Don't quote me on this but I think colored lights are fine if you don't have live plants. I might be wrong though lol. They need a rest period just like we do. 9 hours is plenty of light

 

Ok that makes sense. Also.. Do you happen to know anything about appropriate lighting for the tank? I asked at the store and I got a bunch of different answers. Should the lights stay on all the time? Can I shut if off for a period? Which light is better for them - blue LED or white LED? I'll stop pestering with questions after this. haha.

Light is really a personal preference if you don't have plants if it's too bright you may have algae issues though.

 

Light is really a personal preference if you don't have plants if it's too bright you may have algae issues though.

Hey! Thanks! No real plants. But that's great to know. One less thing to fret about!