I feel like a Shmuck

[NeoGeo]

I thought I would get dad a fish tank for Fathersday.......I had the tank,water from the tap and a whisper pump....I filled it up yesterday mornin and ran the pump.......I drove to hell and back to get some fish and such today....Well tonite they are ALL dead..........I feel so bad,not for Dad but the fish....They were fine untill I bought them...Guess I should have done more research first.....I am from Baltimore( The cestpool of the eastcoast)And overnite running of the pump cleans it so you can put fish in it the next day.....But not Texas......The water seems to be toxic to fish...Dang I feel like a turd......

[RedHawk_ArtifactHunter]

There could be several reasons for the dead fish, stores who bag the fish improperly can deprive them of air, the water could be toxic and be in need of treatment (they have stuff at the pet store for that), or the water could have been the wrong temperature. I would suggest that you make sure to have these things

1 a fish tank heater
2 an air pump and bubble strip
3 a good filter (the best is a magnum 350) depending on the tank size
4 atleast 1 powerhead to circulate water
5 Tank Set up Water treatment
6 Easy to maintain fish ( I suggest cichlids) they are very easy to take care of and are pretty hard to kill



If you need any help feel free to shoot me a message

[NeoGeo]

I have been out of the tank game for a few years,but thought I had my bases covered...
The store and tanks were clean & healthy looking,Pump was was for a larger tank(55gal-ours 40tall)No bubbler tho...
I did a basic treatment(remove chlorine & such)2 drops per gallon it said....
Started out with zebra mollys and some fantail Guppys Pretty hardy stock I thought....

Thanx your post helped soften the blow.....I will try again,just don't want to kill the fish next time......If my water is too hard,should I replace it with spring water,or should it be ok if I keep the pump running for a day or two?

[RedHawk_ArtifactHunter]

Your best bet would be to go buy 40 gallons of water from the store. (a few 5 gallon jugs and a couple trips to the water refill thing would surely do the trick) especially since that water is already filtered and treated . (I had to buy water for my tank before my town put in the NEW water treatment plant) I would also definatly suggest getting an air pump and bubble strip, air in the water is very very important, fish gotta breathe.

[RedHawk_ArtifactHunter]

I would also suggest trying african cichlids. they are almost impossible to kill. and they are very very colorful fish. Just stay away from the Yellow with a black stripe on the body (they are mean) the yellow ones with the black stripe down the fin is OK. Jack dempseys are pretty mean too. I would try Peacock cichlids. Get the pretty ones , Not the dull ones and you should be fine.

[amyboone]

I would let the tank run for a few days. You can also take a sample of the water to the store and they can test it for free and tell you what is wrong with it.....

[Mud Hawk]

Sorry to hear about the floaters man!

It is recommended to let a tank sit vacant for a week or more to cycle. This is when you introduce some fish food or piece of shrimp and let the tank build a bacteria bed. I think distilled water or spring water would be fine... You do have a heater in there right?

Also, when introducing fish into your tank you have to float the bag they come in... Also introduce some of your tank water slowly into the bag. This cuts the shock of both temperature changes as well as water conditions. Figure about a 30 minute process .

Good luck with round two!

EDIT - If you go cichlids, you have to pretty much keep to the species... they aren't community fish and don't play nice with other species.

[Rick Hicks]

I agree with Mud Hawk, water temperature and acclimation are VERY important.

[Massac]

If you treated the chlorine then it was probably the ph or the temperature. You can buy beneficial bacteria for new tanks so you don't have to wait. I'd suggest you buy a test kit for your water.

[NeoGeo]

Thanx for all the help & advice gang.I was pleased to that two fish and one snail made it through the night.They are a little slugish but alive all the same.

Next time I am just gonna star a river tank...Minnows and mudbugs....lol