Help!! Fish are dying!

If the tank was just set up and not cycled that is your problem right there. The tank needs to be fully cycled before attempting to add live stock. If any fish are alive I'd suggest returning them to your lfs. J

Just leave the tank up and running and in a week or two start testing to see where.you are in the cycle.

Once the tank has finished its cycle it will be safe to add livestock. Your tank does not yet contain the beneficial bateria it needs to support fish atm.

 

ahh..... we have found the problem!

 

Add a good bacteria additive to help the cycle. I'm sure the magic eraser had nothing to do with it but I wouldn't use it again. To many fish in an uncycled tank will eliminate your livestock. I've had excellent success with my tanks by using quality nitrifying bacteria additives. Good luck and please don't get discouraged. We all have problems we come accross with our tanks no matter how long we've been in the hobby. Its always a learning experience and most of us are always here to help.

 

If you do a google search you will find many posts about the original MR clean being safe for in tank use. Some of the new ones have scent or detergent added so don't use those.

 

As to the OP yes you need to cycle your tank before you can add anything. Do a search on cycling and you find all sorts of info on it.

 

Next start up, after the Tank is cycled, please don't add 5 fish right away. One, maybe two only at once.

Didn't you say it was a 25g?

Stick around, research, ask, we'll get you on the right track.

IMHO, there should rarely, actually never be 5 SW fish in a 25g tank.

 

I read on another forum that magic erasers now have an anti bacterial sponge? Could that perhaps be the reason? Killing beneficial bacteria, creating an ammonia and nitrite spike?

 

if so that would mean more than just killing off beneficial bacteria. its like putting soap in your tank.

although i always thought the sponge was just like what they said above, basically a very very fine sandpaper block