Neon Tetra's HELP!!!

First topic message reminder :

I bought 6 neon tetras today and started my freshwater setup. i rinsed all the supplies before setting up and I even left them in the bag to get used to the temp for 20-30 minutes before taking them out the bag. I left to have dinner with my sister and came back to find them all gone. I see one thats dead for sure. Any ideas what i might have done wrong?

P.S. I will definitely put off on a SW tank until I can maintain a freshwater tank for 6 mos.

cardinals lol

You dont have to replace them for me its fine. This is just a learning experience and something I needed to go through to know better for next time

I didnt buy those lol ... i bought 6 neon tetras for .89 cents. Im crazy but not crazy enough to spend almost 10 on 1 fish on my 1st setup lol

Looking back I dont know how i kept our fish alive when we were kids

Sorry for your bad experience, but please don't get discouraged. Get your tank cycled and ready and i will replace the fish for you. I believe most places will test your water for you if you take them a sample.

BLimon wrote:

I didnt buy those lol ... i bought 6 neon tetras for .89 cents. Im crazy but not crazy enough to spend almost 10 on 1 fish on my 1st setup lol

neon cheap
cardinal expensive
neons are cheap and easier to keep then cardinals cardinals are harder to keep and real real real real real real hard to breed in a tank

TOP ONE FOR SURE!

Also, why are there a ton of bubbles all around my tank?

they almost look the same and be sure of what fish you are looking at a lot of lfs tag their fish with the wrong name the bubbles are from filling the tank with water air bubbles get stuck in the tank when you add water every time stir the tank up and they will go away

Oh okay thanks! Nice to know. Hubby was asking about that! Next question, My 29 gallon tank came with samples of Aqueon Water Conditioner and Tropical Flakes. Can I use this water conditioner on my tank to get it cycled?!?

well I hope these can help you next time

1 please ask a person who knows the hobby
2 new setup needs recycle 24 hrs at least with aquasafe easybalance aquarium salt etc
3 read about the fish you like to buy if need special conditions ph temp ligth etc
4 in the LFS observe if any fish looks sick or death
5 when you buy fish or else never put the water in the bag in you aquarium
6 if possible quarentine when you add more fish

maybe I miss some but if you have more questions just ask here Im sure any member can help you

no additives can not cycle your tank read the link that i put in earlier on cycling your tank additives are added to remove heavy metals and chlorine for the most part
your tank needs bacteria to make the eco system work from the tap you have no good bacteria just read the link or look in the library real good information in that article

OK reading that article in the library now. Thanks everyone for all the advice.

Okay so I went out to Walmart to buy the test strips to test the water and here are the levels I got. Can someone show me how to correct them as needed?
NOTE: THESE ARE ALL FOR FRESHWATER READINGS

Nitrate: 20 (AVG BELOW 40ppm)
Nitrite: 0 (BELOW .5ppm)
Hardness: 300 (FW COMMUNITY 50-150ppm)
Alkalinity: 300 (FW COMMUNITY 120-300 ppm)
pH: 8.4 (6.8-7.2 IDEAL)

oH YEAH AND THE TEMP IS AT 79 DEGREES

evidently you did not have enough bacteria to maintain your cycle. Get an old filter from someone and put in tank until your cycle is complete...

and then i can go back to mines that i just bought or can i leave this one cycling for a couple weeks until i get paid again? which I prefer!

yes leave the old one in. that would be fine... it will help the cycle

I dont have an old one ... i only have the new one i just bought today.

find someone by you that u can borrow an old filter.
that is still in their tank...

Okay ill see what I can do or who I can mooch bacteria filled filter from. And once I've done that, how long do I borrow it for and then once I'm done do I just use my new one or should I have them running together so mines can build some bacteria?

I was just reading the SW reading levels and my tank is at the normal reading levels for a SW Setup! How cool is that? Maybe I won't be so bad with a Saltwater setup after all.

Hate to tell you BLimon but test strips are very unreliable. Get yourself an API master test kit, Believe me it will be the best investment in this hobby. You need to check for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Cycling your tank will take anywhere between 3 weeks and I've seen some go as long as 12 weeks. Patience is very important at this stage of the game. Read about the cycling process and ask questions like your doing. Saltwater tanks need a lot of time and money. Totally different process of lighting and water testing for saltwater. I suggest stay with freshwater in the beginning.

Oh I wasnt doing sw setup yet lol. Not even going to attempt it yet. but i'll definately look into getting that kit but cant afford it right now. maybe next month

i would let u hav one of my old filter but im to far away and wait at least a week before u put fish in ur tank. with my 55 it took bout a month to see a huge change in my readings. prices of fish doesnt matter in the fish world like someone said i cant remember who but ya i hav a fw tank and ive spent maybe over 500 for everythin. my paycheck r bout 230 every 2 weeks so i spend more on my fish than myself lol. u just learn to budget urself and buy the neat fish.

I think you should make sure you have good water conditions, how long you have the tank running? im sorry about the lost..