cycle process gone bad

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jerzeytib

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 18, 2011
37
0
0
new jersey
I have a big problem cycling my tank with fishes. Since setting up my 10 gallon tank I have killed 4 all within 24hrs of putting them in my tank. The first time was totally my fault because I didn't acclimate the fish and I had no water heater(i wasn't a member here either). The second set of fish (neon tetras) died within 10hrs, but I fell asleep while letting the fish float in my tank for about 3hrs and that possibly could have killed them. This last time I bought my water to the fish store and they tested it saying that my water was new, but none of the readings were crazy and fish should be able to live in my tank. So I bought two fish and 4hrs later one has died!!! Plz any and all help is appreciated

p.s.
10g tank
submersible heater(not sure of the wattage)
thermometer (78degrees)
1tufa rock
2 artificial plants
regular gravel
power 10 filter
medium filter cartridge
biozyme for the last 3days
water condition the first time I filled with water
1 tetra
 
is your tank fully cycled? Looks to me like you are using neon tetras to cycle it. If that is the case, you are doing it completely wrong. You are suppose to do fishless cycling with ammonia or use hardy fishes like zebra danios. Neon tetras are sensitive to ammonia and I can almost guarentee that they died from ammonia poisoning.

jerzeytib;4931037; said:
The second set of fish (neon tetras) died within 10hrs, but I fell asleep while letting the fish float in my tank for about 3hrs and that possibly could have killed them
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:duh: :duh: :duh:
 
i was advised to use neon tetras from the pet store (petco). When I went to a "real" fish store I was told that was the wrong fish to get. The tank isn't cycled, but I was under the impression that you could cycle with or without fish.
 
jerzeytib;4931408; said:
i was advised to use neon tetras from the pet store (petco). When I went to a "real" fish store I was told that was the wrong fish to get. The tank isn't cycled, but I was under the impression that you could cycle with or without fish.
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Neon tetras are very sensitive fish and should only be added to very mature tanks. You can cycle a tank with or without fish and there are several ways to go about it. Fish or fishless either way you need some source of ammonia to get the cycle started. You could also get some mature media to kick start the cycle if its mature enough and enough of it for your bio load you can skip the cycle all together. Theres also things called bacteria in a bottle but most if not all are worthless IMO. If you would like more info exactly on how to cycle your tank pm me and I can can send you some very useful links.
 
philfreenode;4931652; said:
are you dechlorinating the tank water?
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this is the correct question... what chemicals have you used in your tank?
 
If you want to cycle your tank cold, use feeders so if they die it was just pennies. Every tank i have cycled I have used Giant danios they are hardy and can handle ph levels that are high and hard water.
If you can get media or rock from an established tank hang it in your filter this will help with the growth of proper bacteria that will keep all you NO2,3,4 at bay.
you are going to see an ammonia spike with a fish cycle you can relax your fish by adding different zymes, and ammonia locks.... Keep in mind that you will get false readings of ammonia durring this period (up to two weeks) there are two different ammonias Free ammonia (toxic) and ammonia Ions (safe) do a weekly water change no more than 20% and not a great rock cleaning bacteria is forming A product like cycle can help this along (arguable)
always make sure you condition your tap water with a Cl remover.
Hope This helped
DudedelMar
 
I've only used Water Conditioner and biozyme (bacteria in a bottle)

MonsterMinis;4932101; said:
this is the correct question... what chemicals have you used in your tank?
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If this fish that I have now dies. than i'll just go the fishless cycle route
 
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