We started a 29 gallon tank, 4 goldfish in there. Went to our local shop, got help, added beta, bala shark, algae eater and small catfish. They are good there and told us it is an ok mix. We keep the heater at 79, had a filter that had worked with the tank. They tested our water today, it was all good, and we added three live plants and took out the log with silk attached. Our fish, all but the goldfish keep dying. There is no sign that the tropical have been bitten or anything. We are stumped! so are the guys at the fish store. We also went through several glowfish that died. We are desperate for answers!
HELP fish keep dying
- Thread starter kierboy
- Start date
you need to cycle a fish tank before adding fish, I recomend that you google the nitrogen cycle. Also, goldfish and bala sharks grow WAY too big for a 29 gallon tank so your store doesn't know what they are talking about. Also, your goldfish need a MUCH cooler temp or they will die. Please research your fish before buying them, and could you tell us what species exactly?
Use this website when you decide what fish you want to put in your tank
www.aqadvisor.com
Use this website when you decide what fish you want to put in your tank
www.aqadvisor.com
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
we've also got that info here in the article section. Here's one of them:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81388&highlight=cycle
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81388&highlight=cycle
I have heard lots of bad things about pet stores' water testing. I heard they usually use test strips, which are not accurate enough really.
I would recommend getting the API Master Test Kit and doing the water tests yourself. You'll need a test kit anyway so you can monitor things while doing your cycle. You don't want to have to go to the pet store every day, especially if their testing isn't being done right. Do it yourself and you'll know it's done right.
You can also post your test numbers on the forum here and then people can give more specific advice.
welcome to the site.
The stocking advice you got wasn't very good, it sounds like they were more interested in selling fish than actually making sure you could adequately house them.
Definitely read up on the nitrogen cycle, to get a better understanding of how a fish tank processes toxins that are released by fish.
I would keep 1 comet goldfish in about 30g minimum and add about 10-15 gallons for each extra fish, they can get to a foot long if properly taken care of.
Depending on the type of algae eater, if it was a common pleco, they get way too big for a 29g also. And bala sharks get enormous and should be kept in schools, (think 100g+ easily), if you want to see what they look like as adults just look on youtube.
With the fish dying like they are, it is likely due to high ammonia levels. As mentioned in the previous posts, get a good liquid test kit like the API kit, and start testing the water yourself.
I would go ahead and start doing water changes at least every other day, if not daily, 40-50%, conditioning the water with Prime or Amquel+ to help temporarily mitigate the effects of any ammonia/nitrite in the water.
Wow. That LFS sounds next to useless. Don't let crappy "help" from the LFS drive you out of the hobby. Read up here, then try again.