what's in the QT?

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guys I am getting really discouraged with my getting back into aquariums this year. Everything keeps dying or gets sick after a month or two. Even in my RODI tank.I don't get it. My water parameters look "normal." Maybe not normal cause NH4+, NO2-, and NO3- all stay zero? I don't think I am changing the water too often, 1x a week at 33%. Perhaps none of my tanks are cycling? Even though my RODI tank has been there for a 5 months. If I see a problem, I buy meds, I try to buy healthy looking fish, and now I am quarantining.

For the del(my first quarentine fish: I know I shouldn't be gently poking at him on the side or tail, but I can't tell if he's alive. Still hasn't eaten after a week. As of today, has mucous hanging off of body and by gills. and pec fins and bottom of chest cavity are red...internal bleeding?

Sorry for the pity party/worrying, I just want to have a fish live for a few years again! and want to figure out what to do differently. It's just so odd, cause I kept my saltwater tank for 4 years without problems. And I didn't change the water except for 1-2 times a month. Now, I can't seem to get any of my new tanks to become stable and that's with Weekly WC and actually trying. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
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Im not sure what to say, im not really good with meds, dont get discouraged it happen to all of us. If the del dont make it(knock on the wood) the the fish might not be healthy.
Poly can survive for a month without food so just keep dropping food, if its hingry it will eat, its not going to starve itself to death.
 
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Also, what is the temperature of the tank? New Heater or old? I've had old heaters that was giving off a small constant electrical shock and didn't know it. Only able to feel the shock when I had a hang nail and cut on my hand. Just attempting a process of elimination here. Research online what kind of city/well water u have in your area for any potential issues. Understand saltwater tank has been running but good to know anyways.
 
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Did you get a test kit ? Something is up because i would think you would register ammonia in an uncycled tank.

Have you test your tap ?
 
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What's ur water source? Is it well water?

It's strange....ur tank isn't cycled yet. Rodi water should need trace elements. Has low ability to buffer and so ur levels should be up.
 
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Polyaddict86 said:
Im not sure what to say, im not really good with meds, dont get discouraged it happen to all of us. If the del dont make it(knock on the wood) the the fish might not be healthy.
Poly can survive for a month without food so just keep dropping food, if its hingry it will eat, its not going to starve itself to death.
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thank you. I appreciate the support. I know everybody goes through this stage at some point. I'm just not good with favorite pets getting sick or passing. Especially when it is in the same month or two. And I'm trying really hard haha. But I'm also really sensitive.
Vancouver_98683 said:
Is there an lfs around you knowledgeable enough to assess and do a free water test? It's just odd with these symptoms popping up.
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yeah that's what is so odd to me as well! I've gotten my water tested at both LFS at least 4 times for each tank since November. I worked at the one and tested my water all the time for 3 months. and just got a kit and now can test myself too.
both stores say this:

Fresh water systems:
your pH is high....bring it down. (cause it's usually at 7.6). And phosphates are high. Tap water here has really high pH. "Everything else looks good." If I add neutral regulator to bring the pH down to 7.0, it brings the phosphates test to a navy/black color. phosphates are usually at 10ppm as it is. Acid buffer was offered as a means to correct pH.

Also my Betta fish has fin rot as of one months ago randomly? I think with the freshwater tank, maybe Benny got introduced to my dad's fish which weren't healthy. and the new del was a random fluke.

Salt water system:
last time I got it tested my parameters were "good" or "perfect." Twice my pH was low at 7.8. Everything else was good. I use only store bought RODI water for this tank. Originally had live rocks in it for 2 months before I put two designer clowns in.Things were great for 3 months, until I had to replace one of them for fighting. Then I think the new one I got in January might have been sick. Died last week with Flared gills, eventually got white spots on it. Then now my other clownfish is showing the same symptoms. Phosphates are typically at 5 even with the RODI water. Now the new speculation is maybe the tank is too small. It's 6 gallons, but two fish were fine for 3 months before I got replaced the one. Now I just have 1 fish and a shrimp. Maybe they are having problems because of the sick fish?

Basically I've just been sold/recommended several medicines that haven't helped cure anything. Everyone at the stores has been really helpful and friendly, but I still haven't seemed to get things "healthy and functional," for some odd reason. I know people in town have functional and healthy tanks. Those people typically use the RODI water, which is why I'm confused that my salt tank is having problems.

Vancouver_98683 said:
Also, what is the temperature of the tank? New Heater or old? I've had old heaters that was giving off a small constant electrical shock and didn't know it. Only able to feel the shock when I had a hang nail and cut on my hand. Just attempting a process of elimination here. Research online what kind of city/well water u have in your area for any potential issues. Understand saltwater tank has been running but good to know anyways.
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okay will do this.
All heaters were the fully submersible ones. That is a possibility of constant electrical shock with the cords being right by/in the water.....I did read about this a while back as a possibility for causing problems I was having....
Heater on 6 gal saltwater tank: preset aqueon 20gal heater. Seems to not get really hot like the ones in the other tank. Thermometer on tank window says 78.
Fin rot betta in 1.5-2 gallon: no heater
Del 10 gal QT: brand new hydor 20 gal heater. fully submersible. This tank gets really hot really fast. Even when I had Benny in it with a different heater, it was like he was in a hot tub sometimes. Cheapo walmart thermometer always said it was between 75-80.
55 gal: old heater broke, haven't tried new one yet.
 
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jaws7777 said:
Did you get a test kit ? Something is up because i would think you would register ammonia in an uncycled tank.

Have you test your tap ?
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I did get a test kit. Would you like me to test the tap water? I know pH is always 7.6 and phosphates are 10ppm. Areas I get it from are garden hose, laundry room sink.

kno4te said:
What's ur water source? Is it well water?

It's strange....ur tank isn't cycled yet. Rodi water should need trace elements. Has low ability to buffer and so ur levels should be up.
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water source for freshwater tanks is tap water/city water. water source for saltwater tanks= RODI that I add Red Sea Coral Pro salt to. Didn't know I needed to add anything, but saw that I need to supplement iodine for my shrimp. Is that a trace element you speak of? Maybe I'm changing the water too often? Or taking out too much at a time?

The only time I ever saw nitrates or ammonia was with Benny in the 10 gal QT with sponge filter.
 
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THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR ON GOING SUPPORT AND PATIENCE. Especially with my long winded paragraphs of info of ongoing problems. I'm getting tired of hearing it too. Although I really appreciate you guys trying to help me out.

never had problems like this keeping fish before when I lived in Tallahassee. Go Noles :p

Here are the 2016 city water reports.
Water Chemistry

 
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