Problems cycling tank

[Heather]

I started with three very friendly goldfish and now I've got two left
that don't look good at all. I thought adding plants to the tank
while it cycled made it more stable. What's going on???
Setup is 20 gallon tall with 1 watt/gallon light, and a whisper
filter.
The plants are: moneywort, carolina wort, sagitarius, amazon sword and
walmart bulbs (one of which has sprouted after 1 week)
The tank has been running for almost three weeks. I'm planning on
testing pH and nitrates tomorrow to see what's going on.
Should I remove the plants?
I also have an undergravel filter powered by a powerhead that I can
run. Should I get this running?
Thanks
Heather

[Toni]

"Heather" > wrote in message
om...
> I started with three very friendly goldfish and now I've got two left
> that don't look good at all. I thought adding plants to the tank
> while it cycled made it more stable. What's going on???
> Setup is 20 gallon tall with 1 watt/gallon light, and a whisper
> filter.
> The plants are: moneywort, carolina wort, sagitarius, amazon sword and
> walmart bulbs (one of which has sprouted after 1 week)
> The tank has been running for almost three weeks. I'm planning on
> testing pH and nitrates tomorrow to see what's going on.
> Should I remove the plants?
> I also have an undergravel filter powered by a powerhead that I can
> run. Should I get this running?


First, your tank is borderline overstocked. Goldfish are notorius waste
producers and not a good choice for cycling a tank. Your filtration is going
to be inadequate, but I don't think a UG filter with goldfish is a good idea
at all. A larger power filter with bio wheels would help tremendously.

I would not remove the plants.

I *would* get a test kit and start testing ASAP.
Test kits are essential- we cannot know what is going on in your water
without test results.
Three weeks with no testing means the fish are suffering- you've already
lost one.

What has been your water changing schedule so far?
The remaining fish will get permanent gill damage by living in ammonia laden
water if you aren't changing frequently.

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

[Robert Flory]

"Heather" > wrote in message
om...
> I started with three very friendly goldfish and now I've got two left
> that don't look good at all. I thought adding plants to the tank
> while it cycled made it more stable. What's going on???
> Setup is 20 gallon tall with 1 watt/gallon light, and a whisper
> filter.
> The plants are: moneywort, carolina wort, sagitarius, amazon sword and
> walmart bulbs (one of which has sprouted after 1 week)

> The tank has been running for almost three weeks. I'm planning on
> testing pH and nitrates tomorrow to see what's going on.
> Should I remove the plants?

No, plants use ammonia directly anlso use the nitrates.

> I also have an undergravel filter powered by a powerhead that I can
> run. Should I get this running?

Yes, at this point it should help, can't hurt

Let us know more...

How long has the tank been setup?
Are you doing water changes?

Bob

[Heather]

Water was tested:
The nitrates and ammonia levels are 0ppm. The pH is at 7.28.
I'm at a loss to understand what happened and very sad. These were
such friendly fish. When I put my hands in the tank to move the
plants around they were always right there swimming around my hands.
I'm not thinking that they were too much for the bioload because
they were only about the size of quarters. I had planned to later
move them into our pond.
I have not done a water change yet because I was waiting for the
tank to finish cycling.
I think when I head home tonight the two remaining fish will be dead.

The only things that I can think of are that:
1) the fish were sick to begin with: I'm planning on calling the
fish store this morning. However I didn't see any outward signs of
illness and the store has an extremely good reputation.
2) somehow chemicals got in the tank: I can't think how this might
be possible but I'm at a loss for another explaination.

Now the question is what should I do now....

[^*^ Vosklady ^*^]

"Heather" > wrote in message
om...
> Water was tested:
> The nitrates and ammonia levels are 0ppm. The pH is at 7.28.
> I'm at a loss to understand what happened and very sad. These were
> such friendly fish. When I put my hands in the tank to move the
> plants around they were always right there swimming around my hands.
> I'm not thinking that they were too much for the bioload because
> they were only about the size of quarters. I had planned to later
> move them into our pond.
> I have not done a water change yet because I was waiting for the
> tank to finish cycling.
> I think when I head home tonight the two remaining fish will be dead.
>
> The only things that I can think of are that:
> 1) the fish were sick to begin with: I'm planning on calling the
> fish store this morning. However I didn't see any outward signs of
> illness and the store has an extremely good reputation.
> 2) somehow chemicals got in the tank: I can't think how this might
> be possible but I'm at a loss for another explaination.
>
> Now the question is what should I do now....

How long has your tank been set up?

If I were you, I'd start doing water changes . . . this is important during
the cycling process. Here is a link regarding cycling from a goldfish
related site:

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html

Hope this helps! :)

~*~ Vosklady ~*~

[Chris]

Maybe you are introducing chemicals when you stick your hand in the tank.
Do you use scented hand lotion or perfume?


Chris

On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 08:32:20 +0000, Heather wrote:

> Water was tested:
> The nitrates and ammonia levels are 0ppm. The pH is at 7.28.
> I'm at a loss to understand what happened and very sad. These were
> such friendly fish. When I put my hands in the tank to move the
> plants around they were always right there swimming around my hands.
> I'm not thinking that they were too much for the bioload because
> they were only about the size of quarters. I had planned to later
> move them into our pond.
> I have not done a water change yet because I was waiting for the
> tank to finish cycling.
> I think when I head home tonight the two remaining fish will be dead.
>
> The only things that I can think of are that:
> 1) the fish were sick to begin with: I'm planning on calling the
> fish store this morning. However I didn't see any outward signs of
> illness and the store has an extremely good reputation.
> 2) somehow chemicals got in the tank: I can't think how this might
> be possible but I'm at a loss for another explaination.
>
> Now the question is what should I do now....

[Giancarlo Podio]

If your nitrates are 0 it's possible your tank is still cycling. You
should probably test for ammonia and nitrites if possible. I'd do
water changes a couple of times a week until the tank has cycled or
the fish are better. Do the fish show any signs of illness, white
patches? Are they gasping or breathing heavily?

Hope that helps
Giancarlo Podio

(Heather) wrote in message >...
> I started with three very friendly goldfish and now I've got two left
> that don't look good at all. I thought adding plants to the tank
> while it cycled made it more stable. What's going on???
> Setup is 20 gallon tall with 1 watt/gallon light, and a whisper
> filter.
> The plants are: moneywort, carolina wort, sagitarius, amazon sword and
> walmart bulbs (one of which has sprouted after 1 week)
> The tank has been running for almost three weeks. I'm planning on
> testing pH and nitrates tomorrow to see what's going on.
> Should I remove the plants?
> I also have an undergravel filter powered by a powerhead that I can
> run. Should I get this running?
> Thanks
> Heather

[amanda]

Buy some Coppersafe and put it in the tank. Have you taken a sample of
water to the pet store and gotten it tested? They do it for free and can
tell you if you have high levels of chlorine. Do you use city water? Maybe
research your water online and see if there is any evidence of other
chemicals in it? I have high chlorine and copper in mine so I have to check
my levels regularly.

Hope I was of some help!
"Heather" > wrote in message
om...
> Water was tested:
> The nitrates and ammonia levels are 0ppm. The pH is at 7.28.
> I'm at a loss to understand what happened and very sad. These were
> such friendly fish. When I put my hands in the tank to move the
> plants around they were always right there swimming around my hands.
> I'm not thinking that they were too much for the bioload because
> they were only about the size of quarters. I had planned to later
> move them into our pond.
> I have not done a water change yet because I was waiting for the
> tank to finish cycling.
> I think when I head home tonight the two remaining fish will be dead.
>
> The only things that I can think of are that:
> 1) the fish were sick to begin with: I'm planning on calling the
> fish store this morning. However I didn't see any outward signs of
> illness and the store has an extremely good reputation.
> 2) somehow chemicals got in the tank: I can't think how this might
> be possible but I'm at a loss for another explaination.
>
> Now the question is what should I do now....