Definately a chlorine and chloramine problem.... There also might have been
way too much dust in the tank/filter and the dust got into their gills.

Did the person from whom you got the tank from have any problems with their
fish (disease, parasites etc.) If the tank was still wet the parasites could
have stayed
wrote in message ...

Hi, I am a newbie to fish and I desperately need some help.

I have a 100 gallon tank with 2 types of pump filters, one that gives
white powers stuff, and one that contains black carbon filter. I got
these from a friend and he helped me setup everything. He use to do
this a lot but has no room for it anymore. He use to have salt water
fish but said frehwater goldfish is the easieste...

We put water in and connected everything. Put new filter/carbon into
both filters, also installed those bubble thing at the bottom that
helps oxygen. I got so excited, I decided to buy some fish. So I got
about 10 small goldfishes and put it in the tank. (actually we put the
plastic bag that contains the fish/water into the tank and let it sat
for about half an hour. He said it helps the fish to adjust to the new
water temp.

Then we opened the bag and put the fish in. everything looked good. I
even put a bit of fish food into the tank. The fish is a little shy
but one of them came up and ate some of it. but after a day or so, the
fish begin to look not so good, and today all of them have died. They
are definitely not short of food, as there are still some food
particles at the top of the water. (actually i wasn't home yesterday
so they could've died yesterday. i don't know.

I am puzzled, what could it be? Here are some of the things I can
think of.

1. water temperature is too cold.

It has been pretty cold here in the past few days. I don't know what
the water temperature is, but it is slightly cold to the tough (but
definitely not freezing). I'd estimate it to be about ~45-50f. The
water is from the tap. I am in the bay area, the water here is
slightly hard, but reasonable.

2. Dust/dirt from old equipment. Although the water looks very clean.

3. Do I need to keep the lamp on 24 hours a day? Does the fish
care/mind if the lamp is off at night?

The thing is, about an hour after I put the fish in, my friend said
some of them doesn't look too good, about 4 all sit at the bottom
resting... a few of them was still swimming around.

I am going to ask my friend about it tomorrow, but I feel bad because
all of them has died for some reason...

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Raymond