2 Questions...

[LolaLouie]

Hi guys... Ok so here are my questions...

1) I am confused about the overstcking rules.. one says 1inch of fish per gallon, the other says 1cm of fish per litre. By the cm rule I have 40cm of fish I can stll add, by the gallon rule i' already overstocked!! Any advice or opinions on which to use??

2) I am going on holiday on wednesday until the following tuesday.. my tank is only 3 weeks old and I am still having to keep a very close eye on nitrites (ammonia has stayed at zero for a while now)... is it better to give them a good feed before I go and when I get back and leave them inbetween or should I use a holiday block (which I hear pollutes the water)???

Also any other advice about leaving the fish while on holiday would be welcome!!

p.s I have just moved to a new area so don't know anyone who can check on them!

Thanks

Gemma

 

[shroob]

1) It is generally said that the 1"/Gallon rule or any other stocking rule is almost useless, it may apply to small 1" tetras or the like but really, its best to ask advice about specific fish, or stocking options. It is flawed because you wouldnt put a 30" fish in 30 gallons, but might put 30 1" fish in 30 gallons of water, its so varied its almost of no use. If you post your tank size and stocking people might be able to tell you if you are overstocked or not.

2) Some fish can go for a week without food, you may have to buy a feeding block or similar while you are away, though I would suggest doing a big water change just before you go, and if you feed at all, keep it very light. Then obviosly do a water change asap when you get back.

On the topic of nitrites still being present, ill let someone with more experience chip in on that, Im sure they will be of more help than me.

 

[LolaLouie]

Thanks!

I might leave them without food.. or was thinking maybe if I buy some live food that could last them a bit longer without messing up the tank?!?

 

[CrashingWaves]

Some fish can go a week, or weeks without food. It really depends on what kinds of fish you have. Kuhli loaches for instances have proven they can go 5 months without somebody actually feeding them. You can ask me for more details on that if you'd really like to

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[darkwolf29a]

At 3 weeks, your tank is still cycling. What kind of fish, and how many, do you have in it?

As stated, most fish can handle life without food for a week. Not a big deal. My worry is that the tank isn't old enough to handle the build up of nitrates and things over the week.


1in per gallon is a good rule of thumb. But, if you provide the species and numbers of the fish...it'll be easier to help you with that question.

 

[LolaLouie]

I have bought some live daphnia and bloodworm so that should solve the feeding problem.

As for the nitrites, I don't really know what to do... They have been pretty stable and I have only done 3 water changes in 3 weeks. I will change last thing before I leave and then hoping they should be alright until I get back.

The fish I currently have are 4 neon tetras, 2 dwarf gouramis, 2 African dwarf frogs, and 2 corydoras.

I would like to add some more tetras and corys in a few weeks as I know they are happier in larger groups and then I think my tank will be complete. Does that sound overstocked??

Many thanks for your answers

Gemma

 

[jennybugs]

That's alot of fish to have in a tank that probably hasn't finished cycling yet.

I wouldn't add any more fish at all until your nitrite levels (as well as ammonia) are at zero.

As for the issue of feeding, don't feed a huge amount before you go as that won't help your water parameters at all and will aggravate them, as will a holiday block.

I would feed sparingly before you go, do a water change then leave it. Do another water change when you come back and carry on testing your water accordingly until you're fully cycled.

If you're lucky, you may not have any fish deaths while you're away

 

[darkwolf29a]

If you're lucky, you may not have any fish deaths while you're away

Yeah, that's the part I'm afraid of too.

 

[LolaLouie]

I really hope I don't have any deaths.. The tetras and ADFs have been in the tank for 2 weeks and have been through the worst of the cycling process (When I got the tank I listened to my LFS and didn't know about fishless cycling) so they should be ok.

The levels have been Ammonia 0 and Nitrite 0.3 for about a week now and I haven't been doing daily water changes.

I will keep my fingers crossed.

As for the feeding.. are you saying I shouldn't put a bunch of live food in for them to eat as they like over the week?? Or will they just scoff it straight away?

Thanks for your answers.. although am worried now.

Gemma

 

[darkwolf29a]

I'm glad to hear that the cycle may be almost through. That's a good thing.

Yes, most fish will eat until they can't eat any more, so putting food in the tank for them to eat at any time isn't a good idea, IMO.

 

[Mikaila31]

I would also add a double dose of prime right before you go, it should help keep the nitrite down over the week. Any food you put in the tank will be eatten right away, so it would be best to feed them lightly before you go. Nitrite is very toxic so it is best to keep it as low as you can.

 

[LolaLouie]

Prime...?? Is that like toxivec?? Or water conditioner??

 

[Mikaila31]

Prime is a water conditioner and ammonia remover, but it can detoxify nitrite. It is what a lot of people on here use. I have never heard of Toxivec before. Here in the description it says it removes ammonia and nitrite and stops it from converting to nitrate. If i'm not mistaken won't that just slow down the cycle? You want ammonia to convert to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. Prime leaves the nitrite in the water, but makes it less toxic to the fish.

 

[LolaLouie]

Was just wondering... if I did say a 50% water change would that improve my chances??

Thanks

Gemma

p.s I see what you mean about the fish eating everything, I put a small amount of live food in today to see if they could contain themselves but they ate it all.. and the frogs' bloodworm!