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| Originally Posted by Kate I did what the fish shop people told me to do, which was put the bacteria and chlorine solution into the tank, get the tank to the correct temperature, put the fish bags in to the water for about half an hour to adjust the fish to the new water temperature, put the fish in to the tank.
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This is bolox. The tank needs to be cycled before you can put fish into it. This allows the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels to stablise, as well as trace metal elements and chlorine to be leached out. Of critical importance, it allows the bacteria in the filter to build up. These bacteria are what munch the "nasty" chemicals. without these bacteria, your fish have not got a chance. Completely washing out the filter material (or gravel if you are using an undergravel filter) kills off the bacteria and buggers up the whole process.
This cycling process takes 4-8 weeks to complete, and you should not be putting ANY fish into it until the ammonia levels start to stablise. These levels peak 2-3 weeks after setting up the tank and then start to die away. Usually it is safe to proceed with stocking after this 4 weeks. However, there will be an ammonia spike each time you put fish in the water (basically becuase they start crapping in it) and so you need to add a few fish at a time. This translated to 3-4 fish one weekend, then 3-4 fish the next weekend.
What you have done is referred to as "new tank syndrome". You put too many fish in, too early, and they die. Simple.
now you will have to wait for the filter to get back up to speed. Stock the tank with plants and water, and
leave the thing alone for three weeks to let it cycle properly. finally, you will be able to start stocking the tank a little at a time. The trick is patience. In the end, with a bit of hard work, and a lot of perseversence, it will be very rewarding, and might look a little like this..
You've got my mobile number, woman, give me a call this evening.