I need help ASAP!!

[Learntofly]

Hey i just got back home an noticed in my tank that my neon tetras an silver sharks an even bristlenose catfish are at the surface breathing. The tetras r pale an all fish are rapidly breathing. I set the tank up last sunday an put the fish in on friday night. I noticed today that they were rapidly breathing so i went down to the petstore an looked at otjer fish an they werent breathing that fast so i did a water change (about a quarter) an added the water ager an stress coat stuff. I went out an got back home quite. Few hours later to see this, im sure its ammonia causin it koz even my betta has gone pale. The tetra werent even swimmin they r floatin in tje current. Ive taken out half the water now an some of the tetras colors are comin back. Because the water level is down, the water comin out of the pump is hittin the water harder so im guessin that its helpin? Most of the fish look like they hav more energy now. Im lettin a few buckets of water sit now overnight an ill put water agers in them an put them in tomorrow.
I need help as to what i should do!! Please any help! Thank you so much in advanced

[wombat1100]

You have made the classic mistake of not letting the tank fully cycle b4 adding fish, yes it will be an ammonia problem, keep changing the water at about 20% a day and get yourself a good test kit and test it daily you will have some fish losses I'm almost sure but you might keep ahead of it.
Do you have any other tanks?
If you do transfer the fish into a tank that is already cycled and steal some media out of the filter of the cycled tank and put it into the filter of the new tank.
other wise go to you LFS and get some "cycle" or a product like it and add it to the tank to speed up the cycling process.tell the LFS owner whats happening and he will advise you.
good luck

[Learntofly]

Thanks alot :) naa i dont have another tank unfortunatly but im headin off in a minute to get the water tested. Thanks mate

[Learntofly]

Hey, yea I got the water tested and theres quite a bit of nitrite, but low levels of ammonia as well as a pH level of 7.4. they guy told me to NOT change the water as any new water will have to go through the cycle again. ive filled the tank up alittle bit, but left a distance for the water to fall from the filter so to increase the oxygen in the water. ive also bought an oxygen block. they arnt rapidly breathing anymore which is good.

[jimmy]

hi change water like wombat said every day ph is good
you dont want nitrite or nitrate they go up when cycling tanks thats why fish are breathing heavy 20 percent every day of age water have you got a good air pump put as much oxygen in tank as possile ;)


its not the water cycling its your filter

[Learntofly]

well all is good for now, it seems like the longer fall for the water has really helped the fish, they are all good and are breathing normal. thanks for the help!

[joz]

Hey, yea I got the water tested and theres quite a bit of nitrite, but low levels of ammonia as well as a pH level of 7.4. they guy told me to NOT change the water as any new water will have to go through the cycle again. ive filled the tank up alittle bit, but left a distance for the water to fall from the filter so to increase the oxygen in the water. ive also bought an oxygen block. they arnt rapidly breathing anymore which is good.


Ummm wrong!



hi change water like wombat said every day ph is good
you dont want nitrite or nitrate they go up when cycling tanks thats why fish are breathing heavy 20 percent every day of age water have you got a good air pump put as much oxygen in tank as possile ;)


its not the water cycling its your filter

correct!

[jimmy]

hi be surprise if he dosent lose more fish

[Learntofly]

Well i havent lost any so far.

[wombat1100]

Good to hear that you havent lost any more, did you get any additives like "cycle" from the LFS or have you just been doing the water changes?
what filtration are you running?

[Learntofly]

I havent done any water changes. I listened to you guys, changed about 20% of the water an same problem. So now im not changin the water for a couple of weeks. If i leave the water they are fine. But when i do a water change then same problem. So to keep them happy im goin to not change the water