I have a tank that is about four weeks old. I didn't really understand cycling and the importance of testing the water, etc., until it was too late. Last week one of my goldfish looked sick, so I came on here and some very nice people helped me to realize the ammonia was too high, so after trying to do water changes, and daily testing, I lost my two fish :-(

So now I'm wondering what is next. I haven't touched the tank since they passed on Wednesday. It looked like they developed bacterial infections. At this point, should I allow this water to continue to cycle? Should I change all the water and start over? I have a full water test kit, so I can monitor it now, but I want to make sure the tank is healthy and the water conditions are good before I add any new fish. It's a ten gallon tank, the two fish passed away and were removed Wednesday night, and right now the levels are: Ph 7.6, nitrite is .25, ammonia is 4.0 and nitrate is between 5.0 and 10.

The continuously high ammonia levels are what are worrying me since that is ultimately what killed the other two, I believe. I initially did an 80% water change, and then was doing about 25% each day and the ammonia levels kept skyrocketing back up.

What would you do at this point?

Thanks,
Christine

I think I would advise you to clean and sterlize the tank and start over. If you had the beginnings of a cycle going, you probably could go ahead and do a fishless cycle and repopulate the tank without problem. High ammmonia can easily cause all kinds of problems that are not necessarily contagious. But, if you have a mind to, and since you have no cycle really, yet, I would just go ahead and be 100% safe and clean and restart.

I am sooooo sorry about your fish. Cycling a tank with fish in is is very stressful for you and the fish. In a very small tank like a 10 gallon one, there is no room for a mistake. A larger tank is much easier and more forgiving. The small one - when something goes bad it typically goes REALLY bad REALLY fast.

I am assuming you know that you only want ONE fish in that 10 gallon. But I would strongly recommend doing a fishless cycle. It will be quicker, far less work and less stress for you, and you will not endanger any fish.

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

Hi,
If I were you, I'd also disinfect the tank and start anew! I'd also recommend the fishless cycle.

Here's a helpful thread about disinfecting :
http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=41101