60l Tetra Tank Running For Three Months

[Eggshells]

Hi

I am new to all this and stumbled on this forum whilst trying to discover why one of my fish (neon tetra) had died. I think I discovered various reasons why, i hope to god its not neon tetra disease. I have a few questions that someone might be able to guide me in the right direction.

I have this 60L tank and it has as follows:

Three Neon Tetra (one died last night, no visible illness, smallest of the four that I had and felt it was being alienated)
Six Yellow Tetra
Two Ruby Barb
One Yellow Barb (one died in the first day of putting him in the tank as he got trapped in a plastic ball artificial plant.
Four Black Finned Tetra (not sure of the exact name, i will dig out the receipt as i can't remember)
One Corydoras Catfish

Do i have to many different types of fish?
Are my fish going to be stressed as there are not enough of one type?

I guess I can't really add anymore fish, and don't really want to unless advised to.

I think i have my water okay according to the test strips i have. I have three live plants and three hiding places.

Other than that I am changing about 3 to 4 litres of water a week. Filter changed every month.

Am i going in the right direction?

Best regards

Paul

 

[smegforbrains]

Your husbandry could do with improving TBH.


Please see this topic on routine maintenance:

Tank Maintenance


Other than that, I would recommend getting yourself a liquid test kit - strips really are not worth jack. They are notoriously unreliable.

How long did you leave between setting up the tank and adding fish? Did you 'fishless cycle' or 'fish in cycle'?


If you are not sure what these mean, take a look at this topic:

Fishless Cycling


And this I found on the errors of fish in cycling

Cycling Madness




If you do have any questions or concerns, please do post and ask.


If you have a urgent queries, please take a look here Info we need to help you and provide us with the information it asks for - it will help us to advise you much more accurately.


Anyway, welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy your fishkeeping experience.


The first 3 or 4 months are the worst, after that it is a relative breeze as long as you keep on top of and understand the reasons for all the maintenance

 

[Paavn]

as smegforbrains said get a liquid test kit!
if i did the fish in cycle and used the test strips i had i would have killed the fish probably within 2 days.....

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the site Eggshells.
You have yourself in a difficult situation but it can be handled. Your stock levels look quite heavy to me and if you can remove some of the fish back to the fish shop it would be a good idea.
As Paavn said, the liquid reagent test kit would be a good choice for someone doing a fish-in cycle, which is where you are. You will need to be able to test for at least ammonia, pH and nitrites. In the longer term you will need to be able to test nitrates as well. There are kits made that include all of these tests and usually go by names that include the word master, I don't know why. It does make them easier to spot on the shelf though.
In a fish-in cycle, you wil be trying to control the ammonia and nitrites at less than 0.25 ppm each at all times. Contrary to the normal maintenance in the tank maintenance link that Smeg gave you, the water changes will often be 50% or more and could be every day or two. The water tests will guide you on how often and how large they need to be to keep up. When both chemicals are being controlled by the bacteria in your filter, you will need to test for nitrates to make sure the levels don't creep up too high on you between regular cleanings.
Before or even after your cycle completes you will need to remember to only clean the filter media, the stuff inside the filter, with used tank water. That way your bacterial colonies will remain intact and not be destroyed by washing in tap water or by being thrown away.
What your filter maker never told you, because they never do, is that they sold you a thing that will remove chunks of things from the water mechanically but that the real filter need in a tank is that bacterial colony. All they have provided there is a place for the bacteria to grow once you have cultivated them for a while. There are a small number of the right bacteria present in almost any tank but it takes them 4 weeks, on average, to become a large enough colony to take care of your fish load. Those 4 weeks or so will probably be the hardest thing you will ever need to go through with a new fish tank. After a while the daily water changes will start to look very hard and you will become convinced that you can't win no matter how hard you try. You can come out ahead but it takes a great deal of persistence to make it through.
There is a link in my sinature area called Fish-in Cycling that will get you to a thread that discusses how to deal with being right where you are.

 

[Eggshells]

okay this gives me plenty to read, i will investigate on Monday at the local aquatic shop to see about water tests. Thanks for the replies.