Arrrugh, killed my new fish....

[Katydid]

I have had a 55 gal set up and running with plants for 6 months and I finally got around to adding fish to the tank about a week ago. I got 6 Zebra Danios and 2 Bala Sharks...(which I was planning on getting a bigger tank for in a few months. )
In 2 days my first Bala died, I thought it had sufferred a little bit of trauma when the guy was fishing her out...but now I think she had tank shock instead... today about 5 days later, my other one died. Both started to have trouble and swim "upside down" I did the whole drip drip method and had added cycle and stress coat to the tank.

the Zebras are 100% fine however, zipping about the tank, eating well....
the parameters are all within normal limits, the temp has been about 76.

I would like to get some more fish, but I am afraid that I'll kill them too!
Are the Danios just more hardy? Any advice on what I did to cause the demise of the poor Balas?

[kid creole]

Swimming upside down sounds like a disease, not like tank shock. I'd watch your danios closely for a couple of weeks, and then if all is good, add some more fish.

[tnsser]

Those Zebras are super hardy. You would have to try to kill them. What parameters are you checking? You might have just got a bad batch of Balas.

[Katydid]

thanks for the replies. I have the regular api test kit so I was testing pH, nitrites, ammonia, nitrates, etc....nothing was all that odd.

It all looked really regular. pH was maybe not the best at 6.5 but thats usually where it is. No ammonia, and sadly I cant remember, I should keep a journal...

I am going away for Thanksgiving, so I think I will wait until after that to add some more fish. Maybe I will just have an all danio tank!

[wendyjo]

It sounds like you didn't cycle the tank before adding fish. Could you give us the exact readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate instead of just saying they are within normal limits?

[flanders]

^^^

Originally Posted by Katydid

I have had a 55 gal set up and running with plants for 6 months and I finally got around to adding fish to the tank about a week ago.

[AzFishKid]

How could running a tank with plants for 6 months not be cycled?
Explain please.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by AzFishKid

How could running a tank with plants for 6 months not be cycled?
Explain please.

Nitrogen cycle won't start until you add a nitrogen source.

[Phoenix-cry]

Bala sharks are famous for 'freaking out' and they HATE pH change (even at a drip). You might want to find out what the pH is at the pet store and if it is way diferrent from your tank find a new store.