AboutRichard Hight Expertise I own several freshwater aquariums from 10 to 125 gallon. When provided with the correct information and detail, I can answer most questions about freshwater aquariums. Set up, cycling, maintenance, likely and unlikely tank mates, feeding. Moving? I've moved fish both across town and across the country and can help you get your little aquatic friends to their new home safely. I know about most freshwater tropical fish and some Cichlids including Angels, Bettas, Blood Parrots, Brichardi Cichlids, Cory Cats, Danios, Farlowella Cat, Gouramis, Green Severum, Guppies, Kribensis Cichlids, Mollies, Oscars, Platys, Swordtails, Tetras, Tiger Barbs & Uaru Cichlid to name several I currently own. If I don't know the answer to your question, I will certainly do research and find the best answer for you. If I don't know the answer and unable to find it, I'll tell you. I will not give it my best shot or an educated guess as this could potentially put your pets in danger. I am NOT an expert with Goldfish, Koi, Cod, or Frogs etc. I also cannot answer any questions about saltwater fish or aquariums.
Experience Many years of personal experience with fish and aquariums
Question I recently set up a 10 gallon tank in my classroom. I let the tank run for 4 days and then introduced 3 tiger barbs (the pet store suggested this number since they are schooling fish). Everything was fine for a week or two, and then two died within a few days of each other. I introduced two mollies. (I now realize that I shouldn't have introduced more fish, but the pet store didn't tell me that at the time). The third tiger barb died a few days later. I took the water to ANOTHER pet store to be tested. They told me about the cycling process and that my tank was still in the process and I just had to hope for the best for the mollies. With a week or a week and half, both mollies died. I left the filter and heater running on the tank for two weeks, did a 20% water change, and got the water tested again. This time, I was told it was fine. I bought two swordtails and introduced them last Monday. When I came back to school this Monday, one had died. The second died today (Wednesday). It looked like it had tiny white bubbles all over it and the tail looked like it was partly eaten away. I'm at a complete loss and totally frustrated and think I am cursed! Should I clean the whole tank (I can see some dark green/black algae on the plants and gravel) and start again or just give up?
Answer Hi Gayle
I doubt you are cursed ;-) You simply added too many fish at once, and the fish you added were not the hardiest fish for cycling a tank.
I'm assuming at the current time there are no fish in the tank. What you should do is simply start over so to speak. Drain 100% of the water, replace the carbon cartridge in the filter. I say drain 100% of the water to remove any toxins that are currently in the tank from fish wastes, decay from the dead fish etc. Use a gravelvac to siphon the gravel. The algae you are seeing is common in new tanks and nothing to worry about, it can be cleaned off of the plants using an old toothbrush. Refill the tank with fresh water, add your water conditioner and let the temperature stabilize at 78°. Then add 2 Whiteclouds. Let the 2 Whiteclouds cycle the tank for 4-6 weeks then have your water tested.
At that time, you should be able to add one or two small fish, but then your tank will be at capacity. I wouldn't choose schooling fish for a 10 gallon. They are too small for schoolers.
