My new fish died what can I do to prevent it from happening in the future?!?

Question

I set up my aquarium over a week ago and thought I'd done everything right (left filter and heater on for a week, filtered tank water before it went in, added chlorine / chloramine remover, and left it to settle in.) The water was set to the correct temperature for my fish. (24 celcius)

The contents of the tank is about an inch thickness of new gravel, a sterilised old plant pot, and a few cleaned sea shells (I didn't use any soap / detergents when cleaning these or the tank).

I purchased three neon tetras and two zebra's today and did as the shopkeeper suggested ; let the bag float for 10-15 minutes then partially changed the water from the bag and poured some of the tank water into the bag until they were in mostly tank water then netted the fish and put them into their new home.

after leaving them for an hour they seemed happy, but 3 hours later they were all dying and are now all dead.

What have I done wrong, this is my firs freshwater aquarium ever, HELP!

Answer 1

I would not use the sea shells.

See if that makes a difference.

They come from exactly that, a sea or ocean.

They can s***w up freshwater tanks.

I'm guessing that's what spiked the water and killed them.

Sorry about the fish dying =/

Answer 2

It is possible that the fish you bought were already sick. Many pet stores have a hard time keeping up with all of the tanks, and keeping them healthy. However, if this is not the case, the stress of the move could have been a trigger. If you did not check the pH of your water and the pH of the water from the bag of your new fish, it could have very likely caused pH shock. This happens when the fish are stressed out due to a pH change greater than .2. When you are transferring fish into their new homes, next time, make sure to check your pH to see if this is a factor. If the pH is any more than .2, you need to slowly adjust them by gradually adding water from your established tank before adding them to the aquarium. No more than .2 change each hour is suggested.

Another helpful hint for starting new, successful aquariums, is to add Stress Zyme or a bacteria solution that will help jumpstart the bacteria colony in your tank. Certian types of bacteria are helpful to fish, and help keep the conditions in your aquarium stable.

Only buy 1-2 fish next time your tank is ready. The tank is not used to such a large load of ammonia. Gradually build it up by adding a few fish each month until it is at your tank capacity. (1" fish per gallon of tank) Otherwise, you'll end up with tank water looking like green pea soup!!!

Good luck!!

Answer 3

Yea, seashells. They can alter your chemistry in your tank. Only use things marked as aquarium use, some things not marked as aquarium use can be used, but it is best to be on the safe side. The pot is ok, I have pots in my tanks with no ill effects, so they are good. Take out the seashells, replace all the water since the chemistry is messed up, let it sit. Then go but 3 zebra danios and cycle the tank using them. Once the tank is cycled add the neons and other fish you want. Sorry that happened!:-/

Answer 4

if the plant pot is clay, that could of hurt it too. i heard that the glaze from the clay pots seeps into the water and makes it poisonous, i recommend using only store bought fish tank decorations.

ps. you have to cycle your tank before adding fish, just look up fish less cycling in the yahoo answers search bar.

EDIT: here's a good site with info about cycling your tank.

http://www.aquariumlife.net/articles/beg...

EDIT: also the fact that they died within hours shows it wasn't because you didn't cycle your tank (yet) it probably was because something poisonous was in the water.

Answer 5

Did you wash the gravel well ? If you did, then I would suspect the sea shells, Do a chemical test on the water to make sure there are no nasties in it. Dont give up,once its up and running you will really enjoy it. Try some hardy type fish to start with, mollies are good. Put a few plants in as well, real ones not plastic.

Answer 6

clean the tank out properly and try your new fish on melafix to get them relaxed thats what i done when my fish died and it worked  

Answer 7

the problem with new set ups is the water-the fish will live longer in a mature tank,maybe you were just unlucky  try a water treatment before u add anymore fish incase the fish u bought and died were ill 2 start with!

Answer 8

it wasnt fully cycled.

Answer 9

Your tank was not fully cycled but I don't think that killed your fish so quickly.

I would say either the sea shells or old plant pot leached something into the water and poisoned the tank.

I once accidentally poisoned my tank by using a net that had come in contact with laundry soap when it fell in the sink. I thought I rinsed it well enough and I soaked it in hot clean water overnight but now I know I should have just thrown it out.

Sometimes its the smallest things we don't even realize until its too late.

The only things things that are safe enough to put in your aquarium is new unglazed terra cotta products, new pvc pipe and fittings, actual aquarium decorations, and food grade plastic. Anything else should not be used in your tank.

Answer 10

How big is the tank? I think for 5 fish you need like a 15 gallon tank or something cause they will grow bigger.

The sea shells might be a problem since they come from the ocean

Does the gravel have any cracks or holes in it? Make sure the gravel doesn't have those.

Other than that I don't know what to do I am not a fish expert. Good luck!

Answer 11

I am so sorry this happened. Here's what you can do: first of all, never buy more than 2 fish at a time when you are first beginning your aquarium. Secondly, next time don't start with zebra danios or tetras, they happen some of the weakest and least hardy fish you can have in an aquarium, especially an undeveloped aquarium. I would say start with some mollies, two is best. Mollies are very hardy, but they require some aquarium salt. You didn't say whether you are using aquarium salt or not, but just in case, I will tell you a little bit about it. Aquarium salt is basically salt crystals in a carton, that is very close to the salt you find in a kitchen (but kitchen salt isn't safe for fish!) and aquarium salt is, that's the difference between the two. Yes, mollies and danios and tetras are freshwater fish, but all freshwater fish do a lot better with a little bit of salt in their tanks. This is because in their native habitats in the wild, there is no such thing as "fresh" water, even "freshwater" naturally has a little bit of salt in it. The salt provides the fish with what we aquarists like to call a "slime coat" which is essential for the prevention of disease. (One of the most likely causes of why your fish died is because of disease.) Usually fish get disease because of stress, so I suggest also using the product NovAqua, a healthy, stress reducing product, which you can buy at most pet stores. Pour about one tablespoon of aquarium salt for 5 gallons, and 1/2 teaspoon of NovAqua per 5 gallons.

The first step for you would be to pour out all the water from your aquarium, (yes, although this is a pain and you will have to cycle again for a week, it is essential as the water is now most likely contaminated with bacteria.)

Step two: Rinse the gravel.

Step three: Buy an air pump, tubing, and an air stone to set up an aerator. Fish may die in a tank without an aerator, because the water doesn't have enough oxygen. An aerator will insure that this will never happen.

Step four: Fill your tank up with water. Don't condition it with the conditioner you are currently using, instead use AmQuel+. AmQuel+ is the best brand of conditioner, as it removers not only chlorines and chloramines but also ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. I don't know how many gallons your aquarium is, but for every 10 gallons of water, put in 1 tsp. of AmQuel+. Also put in 1 tsp. of NovAqua, 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt, and 1 tsp. of StressZyme for every 10 gallons. StressZyme is an ESSENTIAL product for beginning a new aquarium.  You may not know it, but all humans have millions of tiny bacteria inside of them to keep them going and help them digest food. Without these, we wouldn't be able to digest food properly, and may get sick. Fish are the same way, except the NEED the beneficial (helpful) bacteria to survive. With a new tank, though, there is no bacteria, so you have to put StressZyme in, which contains beneficial bacteria.

Step Five: Check the pH of your tank with pH test strips. I recommend using the QuickDip brand, because it also tests nitrite, nitrate, chlorine, hardness, and alkalinity. Make sure everything is perfect. The hardness doesn't matter much, but it should be in between 200 and 300. The pH should be about between 6.8 and 7.2. If not, adjust is with pH increase or pH decrease. The TopFin brand is the best. Never add more than two doses.

Step six: Cycle your tank with the filter, aerator, and heater on. DO NOT put the plant pot or shells in your tank. It will tank me a while to explain why, so i won't. Instead, buy some nice looking aquarium rocks from the pet store , and DO NOT add plants YET.

Step Seven: A week has gone by. You have tested your tank, all conditions are perfect. You have done everything I told you to do :)

Now you may buy your fish. I recommend mollies

Answer 12

1. Take the sea shells out.

2.Usually takes about a month for a fish tank to cycle through the nitrogen cycle. Get a test kit and check you nitrite and nitrate levels in the tank. when I start a new tank I usually put a pinch or two of fish food in the tank to start the cycle. After two to three weeks your ammonia level will spike then drop to a safe level.Just test with a kit.

Answer 13

Sorry you lost your fish but next time don't use a net on such small fish it stresses them out,you did right to float the bag but its also best to allow a little of your water in a bit at a time. When the bag is floating gently dip the bag below the water line & allow a little of your water to enter the bag,do this a couple of times.Most aquarium shops have very large filters & also use R.O Water not tap water,I check my tap water regularly & the nitrate & nitrite levels are appalling.Also like the rest of the folk have said get rid of the sea shells they make the water acidic & the plant pot is leaching out poisons despite being sterilised.

Answer 14

Sorry to hear about your fish but the tank is just too new, you need to let it cycle for at least 6 weeks then add a hardy fish to get it ready for the fish you intend to keep.Good luck:) Remember to carry on doing 10% water change and wash filter sponges in the water you have just emptied to keep the good bacteria. I was also told not pour the water from the bag the fish I bought from the store in my water it was just a fallacy.  

Answer 15

Hugh it sounds like you did everything right.  

Seashells:  Don't panic, i have 2 hermit crab shells in my tank that i found at the beach for my red crabs.  It,s not the shells.

Clay Pot:  I have a clay pot in my tank for my weather loach.  Never had any problems.

Ill:  For one or two to die then yeah i would think they were ill before you bought them but not all.  So not this either.

Transfer:  Your transfer was perfect and the net was fine, aslong as you were careful :-)

If i had to hazard a guess, i would say it was the chlorine / chlorine remover.  You do NOT need to add these things to tank if you are leaving them for a week to settle anyway.  This is just another way for fish shops to make more money.  You have to build an immune system up.  Do you take cough medicine every time you sneeze.  No?  For ALL fish to have dies, it had to have been your water.  Next time filter again for one week with the heater on the whole time, do not add anything else to the water and see how you get one.

Good luck :-)