Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 So yesterday, I set up my first community tank. I have only had bettas before. It is a 10 gallon planted tank with 1 honey gourami, 7 ruby tetras, and 2 ember tetras. The store clerk accidentally gave me Ruby’s along with the embers. Everything was fine till I came home today to find to of the smallest 2 rubies dead on the surface :(. A bit later, one of the embers floated up. Nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia were zero. The only thing that looked a bit high was GH. I believe my tank was well cycled but I am kind of a newbie so maybe I did something wrong. The honey hasn’t been aggressive at all that I’ve seen. What could have killed my fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 When did you add the fish what temperature are keeping them at do you treat your water tap water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I added them yesterday, 75 degrees, and yes I used Aqueon water conditioner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 How did you acclamate them and how long has your tank been cycling for before you add the fish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I had them in a bag in the water for 30 minutes and my tank cycled for about a month and a half but I rearranged the tank a few times (I’m not sure if that changes anything) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 After the 30min did you open the bag and add small amounts of tanks water into the bag till it was full and then put them in the tank or did you just put them in after the 30min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I just put them in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) I think that your problem is just puting them in can shock them your pH and GH kH will be different from the water in the bag that whey you should add small amounts of water ever couple of minutes till the bag is full and then add them Edited March 8, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Oh 😞 thank you so much. But why did they die so long after? And will they continue to die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 You can get what is called delayed mortality syndrome from the shock and they can die up to 2weeks later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Oh. Is there anything I can do to make sure they don’t die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) With delayed mortality syndrome they is nothing you can do it doesn't mean they will all die sometimes you will just lose a couple of fish there could be something else going on are they all eating ok and active what filter are you using do you have live plants in the tank Edited March 8, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Penn plax cascade 20 power filter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I have seen the honey eat a ton but not really the tetras, I am using flake food and they haven’t really ate yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Your filter is only meant for 5gallon tanks I would recommend adding a small sponge filter or get a bigger hang on back filter I would try feeding the some frozen food and see how they eat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Ok! I have some frozen brine that I will try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Have any of them been hovering below the surface and breathing heavily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 There we go! Now they are eating! I saw some yesterday by themselves near the surface but not really today. I think those were the ones that died. How do you tell if they are breathing heavy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) If they are breathing heavily you will see rapid gill movement I would Add an extra air stone just in case it could be low levels of desolved oxygen Edited March 8, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Cleveland Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 How much time did you spend watching them before you noticed a problem. That's the best way to know if they are breathing excessively. Another indicator if you are unaware of their normal breathing patterns is try to monitor them at night and see if it has slowed down any from the day when they are awake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I probably watched them on and off for a few hours yesterday. I don’t think I’ve seen them breathing heavy at all, but they are also small so maybe I missed something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I am looking right and one of the rubies looks super discolored and is staying up near the top. This one is tiny so I can’t see for sure but it looks like the gills are moving fast 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 If you have an air pump I would add an air stone to increase the levels of desolved oxygen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romans116 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Ok, thank you so much for all of your help. This won’t be a mistake I make again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Romans116 said: Oh. Is there anything I can do to make sure they don’t die? What are your parameter's? Have you tested recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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