hello, i bought a fish tank last week ans followed all the instructions the lady gave me for example leave the water in there for 3 days before buying the fish, cleaning the decorations bought the liquid that promotes good bacteria ect. yesterday I bought the fish and put them in the water after they had sat in the bag in the water for half an hour. after a few hours they were swimming at the top trying to get air. 1 died today and im worried the other will do the same. what should i do?

Updated On May 22nd, 2017

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

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The quick start liquid will add nitrifying bacteria but will not eliminate ammonia or nitrites. Both are harmful and can kill fish in high enough concentrations. You can use a home test kit to test the water or you can submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a nominal fee. There are chemical additives you can use to decrease levels. When adding water, use treated water or aged water. Ideally, the tank should be left empty for about 4 weeks to properly establish the nitrogen cycle before adding fish. At this point, you may lose the second fish regardless of treatment. Test the water, make adjustments, let the tank cycle and start fresh. Adding an airstone can increase oxygen levels.

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