Notsofab
Fish Fanatic
Just a quick recap ...........................
We bought a 59 litre hexagonal tank just over 3 weeks ago. We attempted a fishless cycle but as we couldn't source ammonia we tried to use 'Cycle' to do this. After 2 weeks our water tests results were ammonia 0, Nitrite 0.1, Nitrarte 20, pH7.5. We thought ( ...... subsequently found out we were wrong ) that our filter was cycled. We purchased 3 Balloon Molly's for our tank. They seemed OK considering they were in a new environment, but seemed to always remain near the surface particularly trying to hide behind the water pump.
Last Friday night I tested my water just to check all was well and to my horror ( ...and confirmation of all the knowledgable people on these forums!! ) they weren't good. Ammonia =0.6, Nitrite=1.6, Nitrate=50, pH=7.5. To top it off the light unit in my tank lid also failed. So I immediately did a 1/3 water change.
I got up Saturday morning and dismantled my tank lid and returned it to my LFS ( filter off for 45 minutes ). They confirmed that it was faulty and gave me a replacement lid which I fitted immediately and got the pump up and running again. I then decided ( ....rightly or wrongly ) that I needed to take some drastic action.
I got the largest bowl I could find and filled it with water from my tank. I caught my 3 Balloon Mollys and transfered them to the bowl which I placed in a warm room. I then emptied the tank completely. I removed an air operated oyster shell and fitted a bubble wall and placed this at the back of my tank. I adjusted the temperature on my tank heater from 76f to 74f.
I then refilled my tank adding dechlorinator only to the tank water. The water temperature was down to 60f so I left it to warm up and filter for 4.5 hours. During this time I noticed that one of my Molly's had given birth to 7 live fry in the bowl. It was a little frantic in the bowl for a while but things soon settled down.
Once my tank water reached 72F I transfered the Mollys back. I know it may seem a little harsh, but I decided that nature would have to take its course and the fry had to go back in the tank as well. Boy they were difficult to capture - they move so fast. Eventually they were all safely back in the tank.
Instantly I noticed a behavioural change in the Molly's. They didn't go and hide any more. They seem to love the bubble wall and happily play in it. The have all spent a lot of time much deeper in the tank, even spending long periods checking out the features at the bottom of the tank. So fingers crossed, all seems well for now.
The following morning ( Sunday ), I came down to check my beloved fish at 8:00. All was well. Two of them were happily swimming around near the surface. Then I found the Black one sitting very still on the surface. Next second I saw something pop out of her bottom end. Amazed, I quickly got my wife out of bed where we both watched her give birth to at least 7 more fry. Fingers crossed all will continue to remain well now ..................... Monday morning and all seem well still. I did a quick water test and got the following results. Ammonia, just a trace but not enough to be 0.1, Nitrite 0.2, Nitrarte 20, pH7.5. At least 3 fry have been spotted swimming around this morning too.
So I am now convinced by the behaviour of my fish that I have a happier tank. The thing is, so much has changed I don't know what fixed things. There are no chemicals in my water apart from dechlorinator. The oxygen levels must be much greater because of the bubble wall. ( I also left the bubble wall on over night - something I didn't do before ? ). The temperature is also down a couple of degrees.
Still not sure that my filter is fully cycled though ............ will continue to monitor my water closely.
Sorry this post was a bit wordy, but I wanted to share. I don't know for sure that what I did was right, but my fish seem so much happier now
We bought a 59 litre hexagonal tank just over 3 weeks ago. We attempted a fishless cycle but as we couldn't source ammonia we tried to use 'Cycle' to do this. After 2 weeks our water tests results were ammonia 0, Nitrite 0.1, Nitrarte 20, pH7.5. We thought ( ...... subsequently found out we were wrong ) that our filter was cycled. We purchased 3 Balloon Molly's for our tank. They seemed OK considering they were in a new environment, but seemed to always remain near the surface particularly trying to hide behind the water pump.
Last Friday night I tested my water just to check all was well and to my horror ( ...and confirmation of all the knowledgable people on these forums!! ) they weren't good. Ammonia =0.6, Nitrite=1.6, Nitrate=50, pH=7.5. To top it off the light unit in my tank lid also failed. So I immediately did a 1/3 water change.
I got up Saturday morning and dismantled my tank lid and returned it to my LFS ( filter off for 45 minutes ). They confirmed that it was faulty and gave me a replacement lid which I fitted immediately and got the pump up and running again. I then decided ( ....rightly or wrongly ) that I needed to take some drastic action.
I got the largest bowl I could find and filled it with water from my tank. I caught my 3 Balloon Mollys and transfered them to the bowl which I placed in a warm room. I then emptied the tank completely. I removed an air operated oyster shell and fitted a bubble wall and placed this at the back of my tank. I adjusted the temperature on my tank heater from 76f to 74f.
I then refilled my tank adding dechlorinator only to the tank water. The water temperature was down to 60f so I left it to warm up and filter for 4.5 hours. During this time I noticed that one of my Molly's had given birth to 7 live fry in the bowl. It was a little frantic in the bowl for a while but things soon settled down.
Once my tank water reached 72F I transfered the Mollys back. I know it may seem a little harsh, but I decided that nature would have to take its course and the fry had to go back in the tank as well. Boy they were difficult to capture - they move so fast. Eventually they were all safely back in the tank.
Instantly I noticed a behavioural change in the Molly's. They didn't go and hide any more. They seem to love the bubble wall and happily play in it. The have all spent a lot of time much deeper in the tank, even spending long periods checking out the features at the bottom of the tank. So fingers crossed, all seems well for now.
The following morning ( Sunday ), I came down to check my beloved fish at 8:00. All was well. Two of them were happily swimming around near the surface. Then I found the Black one sitting very still on the surface. Next second I saw something pop out of her bottom end. Amazed, I quickly got my wife out of bed where we both watched her give birth to at least 7 more fry. Fingers crossed all will continue to remain well now ..................... Monday morning and all seem well still. I did a quick water test and got the following results. Ammonia, just a trace but not enough to be 0.1, Nitrite 0.2, Nitrarte 20, pH7.5. At least 3 fry have been spotted swimming around this morning too.
So I am now convinced by the behaviour of my fish that I have a happier tank. The thing is, so much has changed I don't know what fixed things. There are no chemicals in my water apart from dechlorinator. The oxygen levels must be much greater because of the bubble wall. ( I also left the bubble wall on over night - something I didn't do before ? ). The temperature is also down a couple of degrees.
Still not sure that my filter is fully cycled though ............ will continue to monitor my water closely.
Sorry this post was a bit wordy, but I wanted to share. I don't know for sure that what I did was right, but my fish seem so much happier now
