I have already killed 3 fish and the damned thing has only been set up for 48 hours. All the chemical stuff says water ok, wtf?
You're putting saltwater fish in a freshwater aquarium, aren't you?
Fresh water in fresh water. I am afraid what it will look like in the morning so I keep staring at it waiting to see how the hell they are croaking. Maybe I will get plastic fish for it.
What kind of tank - marine or freshwater? 48 hours isn't really long enough to cycle any tank unless you add a micro-bacterial to jump start it...
You might not be able to put straight tap water in. Find out if your water supply uses chloramine. Or talk to the local pet supply store.
In the past I have had saltwater tanks up and running with live coral only, 30+ days before I ever introduced a fish. From that point on its one fish a month to make sure everything is good to go.
Quote from: kopfjager on August 15, 2008, 09:58:39 PM30+ days before I ever introduced a fish
I agree. It'll settle down after a few weeks. It just takes a while for the algae and bacteria to grow and stabilize everything. Good luck for the remaining fish. Freshwater fish are cheap anyhow.
I agree with above posts. I was into the saltwater hobby for a while. Even if you let the water circulate or use a chemical to remove the chlorine, you'll potentially still have other problems.
How big is the tank? Usually the size is in relation to how serious and how willing you'd be to invest more money into it.
If you want to do it right, make sure you have a thermometer, and some pH test strips at the least.
Also, when you start a tank it's a bacterial desert and you need to let that grow as ejw24 said. Usually there's a spike in Ammonia which serves as a fuel for the bacteria. Then there is a spike in Nitrite, shortly followed by Nitrate. Using a seed batch of bacteria isn't a bad idea. But you'll have to make sure it has time to grow. One method is to add a very hardy fish. The fish produces waste and if it's hardy won't die in the cycling process. But it's frowned upon because it probably sucks for the fish. During the spike you may get an algae growth which could subside at the end.
Patience is the hardest thing to deal with. That and the chemistry with Salt tanks. I had my 125 cycling for a few months before adding fish.
This morrning they are still alive. FYI I added several solutions to bring the tap water to an acceptable level and let it cycle for 24 hours (as directed) before I put fish in. The fish I threw in where tester fish to make sure all is ok, which is paying off. It must be shock or something else for their abrupt deaths... Thanks for the tips though [thumbsup]
I hope you're tempering the fish when you first put them in....That means to temp AND to water quality.
The abrupt change in WQ could shock them pretty bad.
btw---if you have trouble keeping them alive, go with gold fish (black moors are my favorite). they are super hardy and it's about impossible to kill them.
FYI....this in not a fish tank.
(http://www.cateringdirectuk.co.uk/shop/images/CMFF.jpg)
never buy off craigslist
I'm thinking the ammonia in the water is killing your fish. If not it's an extreme temperature change or your local water has some chmical in it like chloramine.
Get a decent book on fishkeeping and read the chapter on the Nitrogen Cycle.
In a nutshell, the fish pee in their water. There is ammonia in the fish pee. In a newly established aquarium without properly aged water there is no "beneficial bacteria" to break down the ammonia. After the bacteria gets established in the tank it will break down the ammonia into less toxic nitrates and finally into harmless nitrites.
It would probably be a good idea to google Nitrogen cycle and then head back down to the aquarium shop for a good starter book and an ammonia test kit.
I spent 10 or so years raising tropical and marine fish as well as live corals. I have to admit to learning the hard way how to do it as well. ???
Oh...And a big +1 on Duc Pete's comments. If I had have read the whole thread earlier I would have seen my comments weren't really needed! [roll]
What kind of fish are you trying to put in the tank and how big is it?
Have fun!
There is a product available through pet stores called 'Cycle'. It will help establish your bacterial load in the system quickly.
Like others have said, ammonia is the culprit. The new fish are peeing (and pooping) in the nice clean water and there are no beneficial bacteria present to break it down. Takes a bit before a tank is truly good to go.
I have two saltwater tanks and my larger one was six weeks along, dark all that time (cured my live rock and sand as my tank cycle) before I added critters.
Aquariums are neato. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Speedbag on August 16, 2008, 12:39:05 PM
Aquariums are neato. [thumbsup]
And expensive. :(
I went the reef tank route. Metal Halides, Calcium reactor, Kalkwasser reactor, 300 rated skimmer, Tunze wave box and two streams. Not to mention the library of books I have.
It's pretty addicting.
I had a nice 75 gallon tank once, with oscars, jack dempsy's, and an aligator gar. Also had a freshwater crab lobster thing, that was cool. I bought a tiger shovelnose it was $115, went on vacation and left a friend to come over and feed them once in awhile. when I got home the tiger was dead, wtf. Aquariums are cool, also alot of upkeep ect.
Quote from: Speedbag on August 16, 2008, 12:39:05 PM
Aquariums are neato. [thumbsup]
Quote from: DucPete on August 16, 2008, 01:01:41 PM
And expensive. :( ..................................... It's pretty addicting.
Yup! Neato....expensive and addictive. Kinda like owning a Monster. [thumbsup] (But I honestly think it's easier to own and maintain a Ducati than it is to run a combined fish and reef tank though!) ;D
Quote from: PizzaMonster on August 16, 2008, 08:08:34 AM
What kind of fish are you trying to put in the tank and how big is it?
Have fun!
The tank is from a friend that was moving, got a pile of hoses and pumps and other random contraptions, luckily the s/o used to have a salt water tank and lined me out (she was very entertained and kept saying I was like a little kid). After a few trips to the pet store I got all the stuff I thought we needed. Put in some tablets that are 'starters' for new tanks to neutralize the water, etc...
Quote from: Le Pirate on August 16, 2008, 06:19:10 AM
I hope you're tempering the fish when you first put them in....That means to temp AND to water quality.
The abrupt change in WQ could shock them pretty bad.
btw---if you have trouble keeping them alive, go with gold fish (black moors are my favorite). they are super hardy and it's about impossible to kill them.
One fish died on the way home! They are tiger something-a-rathers (cheap). I did let the bag sit in the tank for a good 15 minutes before putting them in the tank, should it be longer?
Quick update, they lived through last night!! [thumbsup]
The neutralizers for the water should take care of things line chlorine or chloramine put into the water at the local treatment plant but I doubt it will do anything to jumpstart the nitrogen cycle in the tank. Somebody mentioned a product called Cycle which I remember as being good stuff. I think it was a bacteria promoter but I cant remember for sure. Probably worth looking into. If it is for bacteria growth I'd get some.
I'm thinking the "tiger-somethings" are probably tiger barbs? (not a bad choice for the first fish in). One or two is all you should start with as too many fish will just overload a new system. If one of the fish died on the way home he was probably already a weak or sick guy anyways. Not much you could do there.
The easiest way I know of to introduce fish would be to float the bag in the tank for about 15 mins. Then open the bag and add a bit of aquarium water to the bag. Wait another few minutes, add some more tank water to the bag, wait a few more minutes and then release the fish into the tank .
Then sit back and start reading the fishkeeping book you bought at the pet store. ;)
Tiger barb is it.
I had to take off but as soon as I get back I will pick up some cycle and try it out. The dead solider on the way home was not a good start, never one to be detered though, fish will live in my living room!
Thanks for the tips. I am sure it will work out, a lot more work than I thought.
Quote from: mossimo on August 16, 2008, 06:50:52 PM
One fish died on the way home! They are tiger something-a-rathers (cheap). I did let the bag sit in the tank for a good 15 minutes before putting them in the tank, should it be longer?
Quick update, they lived through last night!! [thumbsup]
let the bag sit for about 15-20 minutes, then as pizzaMonster said, let a little aquarium water in...set for five...little more water...sit for five...if the fish look like they are taking to it well then go ahead and let them go. If you can properly temper a fish, then they will usually do okay in the tank.
FWIW-I currently have 2 black moors and 2 inca snails (brought them home today), and some live plants. The live plants do wonders for ammonia control. Gold fish are pretty hardy, but dirty (which is why i brought the snails home today)...and the plants have done great keeping the WQ within reasonable levels.
I also only let my water sit for 1 day before stocking. It was an odd situation though, and I can't recommend doing so. The fish were given to me as a gift...and they were in a small bowl pooping like crazy. So I bought the tank and got them in as quick as possible
Quote from: PizzaMonster on August 16, 2008, 04:10:25 PM
Yup! Neato....expensive and addictive. Kinda like owning a Monster. [thumbsup] (But I honestly think it's easier to own and maintain a Ducati than it is to run a combined fish and reef tank though!) ;D
+1
When shut down my tank my power bill dropped about $50 a month.
And when running a complex system with corals you end up testing a butt load. Not to mention proper feeding a tank like that is a PITA. Specific food for specific fish may be necessary, and on occasion feeding the corals, depending on what you have in the tank.
It makes taking care of a Ducati look easy.
Quote from: Le Pirate on August 17, 2008, 06:42:53 PM
let the bag sit for about 15-20 minutes, then as pizzaMonster said, let a little aquarium water in...set for five...little more water...sit for five...if the fish look like they are taking to it well then go ahead and let them go. If you can properly temper a fish, then they will usually do okay in the tank.
Another option is to start a drip. You can get some airline tubing and drip water from the tank into the bag, or bucket. I don't know what parasites are like in fresh water but I try to limit the amount of fish store water I put in my tank. They more often than not carry disease or something in their tanks or they are dosed with an anti-biotic or other meds. Which might not be a big deal if you're just doing fish. But inverts are very sensitive to anything involving water quality.
My experience with Tiger Barbs is they are ferocious pirahna-like fish. They ate any and all other fish I tried to add to the tank, and each other. >:(
I know someone who stuck his hand in his tank and decided to pet his lion fish..
*cough cough*
DucPete
*cough cough*
When my cousin was starting out his fish tank he added one of these and didn't know it was carnivorous... until he starting noticing disappearing fish.
(http://www.aeson.in/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/silver-arowana-2.9781016_std.jpg)
Quote from: JBubble on August 18, 2008, 06:53:46 AM
I know someone who stuck his hand in his tank and decided to pet his lion fish..
*cough cough*
DucPete
*cough cough*
I HIGHLY suggest you do not attempt to do this. It SUCKS! :'(
from the sea, back to the sea.
FLUSH!!!!
Quote from: Scooter Montgomery on August 18, 2008, 09:11:00 AM
from the sea, back to the sea.
FLUSH!!!!
I have four yellowtail damsels that have been in my big saltwater tank since Day One (almost five years ago), and they are getting more ornery with each passing day. I had five in the tank originally since I thought I would lose a couple early on, but only one has died (and that one I am not sure on since I saw no corpse - maybe my condi anenome ate the little make the beast with two backser).
Flushing them is a thought, but if I could catch one or two I'd take them to work and toss them in the 200 gallon monstrosity we have there.
Here's the thing: What everyone has said so far is pretty spot on. A small tank is what most people start with because of the money involved. BUT, a larger tank is a much more stable environment and actually easier to care for. Adding one fish to a 10 gallon tank is a HUGE change, but not the same if you add it to a 100 gallon tank.
I don't currently have any tanks set up, but before I moved I had a 120G and a 55G tank. Then, outside I had a 160G pond. All were freshwater. The 120 was a tropical tank. The 55 was a cichlid tank and the pond, of course, had koi...
Do what I did -
Go and get one of these:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2777428815_17e7052493.jpg?v=0)
and this:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2777428847_8504b44a50_m.jpg)
and you'll be set. [thumbsup]
;D