BAFFLED--ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

Thats a three gallon tank and your fish died from poisoning themselves in
their own wastes ;o(
Please read http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/beginner.htm and follow the
links.
The nitrite would affect the fish in many ways but the fish would have
probably died from suffocation as their gills became affected. More will
follow ;o(
Do a 50% water change ( using dechlorinated water ) immediately.

What test kits are you using? I don't know of a nitrate kit that would read
down to 2.0 mg/l but that sounds like an ammonia reading ;o(
Your tank is only really ok for a single Betta. You have too many fish for a
15 gallon tank.

"nobbody" wrote in message
om...
Greetings,

I have a small freshwater tank, approx 12.0" x 11.5" x 7.5". The
water temp is 27 degrees C. Gravel bottom, 3 live plants in small
pots, and the filter is one where the water is sucked in, goes through
a charcoal bag and then waterfalls into the tank.

Here are the test readings from the water:

pH = 7.4,
Ammonia = 0.0 mg/L
Nitrate = 2.0 mg/L
Nitrite = Somewhere between 2.0 and 5.0 mg/L

The fish tank was stocked with the following:

5 Neon Tetras
5 small Goldfish (about 1/2")
2 Guppies

ALSO...

2 ??? (about 1.5 ", non-aggressive, swim slowly, blue, shaped like
goldfish--i.e. not an angelfish or gourani etc, like to hide in the
plants)

1 Spotted "sucker" fish (about 1")

The uncertainty on the type of fish comes because I am living in
Japan. I knew that tetras/guppies/goldfish would all get along, and
with my limited Japanese, I communicated that I wanted 2-4 more fish.
As a result, I got the "sucker" and 2 other fish with their assurance
that the fish would get along, and they do. I'm pretty sure the
guppies were one male and one female because the shop insisted I buy
in pairs.

I've been feeding Tetra flake food and small green pellets to the
"sucker" fish.

I've had the fish for about 2 weeks, and this morning, both guppies
were dead. I found them dead together, slightly underneath the log
where the sucker fish lives. I'm completely stumped as to why both
fish were dead on the same day in the same location. They didn't seem
to have any problems: no ich, no weird colors, they ate just fine, but
not too much.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I appreciate your time and expertise.

N