I've had a lot of trouble with my 10 gallon tank since setup. Learning about the nitrogen cycle, lighting, plants, and temperature. Over the past 5-6 months I've had this tank and almost everything dies. At first it was a shrimp tank and my water was too hot. I didn't understand how my heater worked. I finally figured it out after awhile. My cats kept getting into the tank so I got a lid, it rusted, leaked into the water, killed a ton of shrimp. I put glass under the metal lid and now it doesn't rust or get wet. I also did multiple water changes. I got a better light, my plants grow well. I got my water tested at the pet store. Pet store guys said it was the cleanest water he has ever seen by a customer. I thought the problem would be gone and got 5 guppies, (only two shrimp remain). I also got 2 African dwarf frogs and 4 little white cloud minnows. One of my frogs died, a few of my guppies, and one of my minnows. I looked into my local water system. Apparently the only thing about my water is that it is hard and has a lot of calcium in it (Huntington WV Water). I have spent hundreds of dollars on this tank and it is being evil. The only thing my tank can constantly keep alive bladder snails. What do I do? I feel like I'm on the verge of giving up with trying to keep fish in the tanks. It just feels hopeless.
Posted by doglovingalien
4 Comments
If the pet store guy is saying it’s the cleanest water ever I’m going to guess it’s not cycled. Is there an ammonia source?
I had 1 platy fish dieing and several danioz as well don’t worry it’s normal just till you get everything right and settled and to see whats right for your tank I’m waiting to see if anymore dies till I get more fish and I just got a new filter and air pump included so it should help 😩
You don’t have a filter. I recommend buying the largest one you can. Dont get a 10 gallon filter and call it a day. Pick the 20 or 40 gallon size filter for your system.
More filtration = cleaner and healthier tank. The filter works by bringing in all the tank waste and trapping it in the filters. Then it produces clean water.
Also dose 2 to 4x prime. You likely have chloramine in the water maybe. 1 in 5 Americans have ammonia add into their tap water.
More and more American municipal water systems add it in every year. If you live in near a large American city they likely add it in.
I bet the tank never cycled or got uncycled. Can you post your tank water parameters using the API master test kit.10 gallon tanks are hard to keep stable.