lost a few guppies lately

Done a water test tonight and everything seemed high barring the ammonia. This is very unusual, ive done a 20-30% water change with tap safe.

The fish ive lost seemed to of lost weight then gone red around the gills. Can anyone give any advice of why theyve all just sky rocketed thanks.

Sounds like a nitrite spike because of the red gills. Did the fish seem to gasp at the surface? Nitrite is more toxic than ammonia and takes longer to right itself in my experience. If I where you I'd limit feeding for a while and carry out large water changes while measuring the stats till they right themselves. How big is the tank and what is in there?

i havent introduced any fish mate. its a 180litre tank. its only affected the guppies. the never seemed to gasp at top they just seemed to go skinnier and end up at the bottom of the tank.

only thing ive added to tank in the last 3-4 weeks is a piece of bogwood and 3 plants.

only fish i got in there are bn's, guppies, neons and harlequin rasboras oh and cherry shrimp.

temp is 26.5' in tank

So what were the actual stats for ammonia and nitrite?

Hi Mate, in my experience guppys like "hard" water I always add tufa rock to tanks with guppys in, I believe they need extra calcium. With the bogwood your water may be on the "soft" side the other fish you have would like the slightly acidic conditions you have. Try keeping Guppys at a PH of around 8.0.

i would stop feeding and keep doing water changes if you are over feeding that would make the nitrite spike right up i had a weekly cleaner once a week to mine to help keep under control

Marty tell me more about weekly cleaner?

Ive done tests again today and everything was zero nitrate, nitrite and ammonia.. ph was 7.6.

I didnt feed fish last night and done 20% water change.

Thought u only had a 2 ft tank mate

no mate got a 3ft bow tank and 2 ft tank. when u due round next yer can pop in have a look

Tomorrow if the weather is good mate

putting a boiler in tomorrow. Dont know what time am in, if you passing and me vans + Car there just pop in.

Ok mate

its just called weekly cleaner from wilkos mate

Are you sure your nitrAte was zero as it should pretty much always be present. As for weekly additives that are added to help your tank I just think these are a load of bs. Weekly water changes is all that's needed imo.

second wot kev says nitrate shud be present i would retest tomorrow see if any change

done more tests tonite = nitrate 0, ph 7.6, ammonia 0-0.25 looked more like 0 to me, nitrate 0-5... many thanks and graciass

Was nitrate or nitrite 0.5?

nitrate mate sorry