I'm losing a fish!!

[bgssamson]

well nitrates were very very low.
ammonia and nitrites were unreadable so I'm assuming the bacteria is alive and well because the fish have been in there a week.

Unless you have a very well planted tank your nitrates should not be showing 0. What do you meant by very very low? this could be the reason for it.

-Brian

[RawketGurl]

well I meant almost unreadable.

How could this be a problem if there is also no ammonia and no nitrites?

[Cholly]

Not a problem if 0 ammonia and nitrates, but if they're at zero with live fish in the aquarium it would be because they had been converted to NitrAte(meaning it's cycled). If you have a lot of plants, that could be the reason for low to unreadable nitrates, the plants are using them as fast or nearly as fast as they're converted. Not a common occurence, generally it only happens with lightly populated, heavily planted tanks. Otherwise the only other two ways to reduce nitrates are with anaerobic bacteria(VERY uncommon, and extemely complicated to do on purpose safely) or partial water changes(most common).
So it's not a problem per se, just very unusual.

[RawketGurl]

Yeah I thought it was odd too. But there are 7 fish in the 20 gallon tank so ammonia is for sure being produced, and the bacteria must be converting it pretty fast.

I don't have ANY live plants...just real looking fake ones. So strange.

The tank is cycled or else there would be ammonia building up...

So odd but not bad??

The fish seem to be doing well.

The oto's hide when the light is on but come out and are very active when it is off, and they're still plump but not too plump so they must be feeding well.

The death of the tetra I think must have been something internal because the others are doing well, have healthy appetites and are active.

So I'm calling it a success so far.

[Essabee]

I doubt that your testing results are true. Have the water tested elsewhere.