Advice Needed Please

[Realtree]

I have bitten the bullet and and bought a bigger tank (40G)
It came complete and running with Fluval 405 and various airation systems.
Fish included were
2 silver dollars 2plecs 1 angel fish 1 talking cat fish 2 upside down cat fish 1 osca 1 braziliensis and a carp
It took me most of the weekend to rehouse this lot
After approx 24 hrs I tested the water and got the following results
Ammoinia 0
nitrite 1
nitrate 40
ph 7.2

As the tank and filter were well established before they were moved why would the readings be as above - especially after a major (rehousing) water change ??
and of course what can I do ??

I have a gut feeling that 2/3 of the fish are to big for the tank Osca is 10", plec 14" and the Brazilienis 10" - these make superb centrepiece fish but unsure of size as never had this size fish or tank before.
Advice gratefully recieved

 

[m00se]

Yikes, that was massively overstocked

How long was the tank downtime while it was being moved? Was the filter kept wet? If the tank and/or filter were dry for any length of time, you'd have started to lose some of your colony. It may be fine, but it may be going through a mini-cycle if it was down 24 hours or longer.

Edit: please don't put those fish back in after the new cycle is sorted...

 

[Realtree]

Filter was kept wet and was down for no more than 6 hours
[/quote]

 

[m00se]

It's my hunch (although others may correct me here) that the filter there just couldn't cope with that fishload. That was a colossal overstock for a 40g tank, and it may be that the filter bacs just couldn't keep up with the waste. I may be wrong on that, though, as I say. If that's a correct assumption, though, the stats should correct pretty quickly provided you keep adding ammonia to the tank to promote the colony.

Just to clarify - the tank is empty now, right? Are you dosing with ammonia to keep the filter colony alive?

Keep testing the water regularly to keep an eye on the trending of the test results. If my hunch is correct then the nitrite should correct itself pretty quickly. I shall now stand aside for other, more experienced members to tell me how wrong I am

 

[Curiosity101]

I'm confused as to which fish are still in the tank? Or going back in?

I know you said re-housed but wasn't sure if you meant 'sold on' / 'moved on'.
Well eitherways these are the ones that definitely need to go on to new homes
2 silver dollars
2 plecs (presuming they are 'commons')
1 oscar
1 braziliensis (Pearl cichlid?)
1 x carp

 

[Realtree]

No the fish are in the tank at the moment
whilst I take advice and formulate a plan to rehouse / trade them in

 

[Curiosity101]

I agree with you M00se. I believe the readings are purely a case that the filter could not cope with such an extreme overstocking.

 

[Realtree]

What do you advise re rehousing / restocking
fish sizes are approx as follows
silver dollars both approx 4"
angel fish 3"
carp 4"
upside down catfish 5" and 8"
talking catfish 3"

What should I keep ??

 

[m00se]

I'd advise as above in Curiosity's first post. The oscar and the braziliensis need to go as a matter of urgency.

How do the fish even physically fit in the tank??

 

[Realtree]

The brazilienis is keeping the osca pinned in one corner at all times
Hopefully have a friend who can take one of them
What about the big plec ??

 

[Curiosity101]

I already clearly stated what NEEDS to be re-homed. But here it is again if you missed it (And I've put it in order of urgency)
1 oscar
1 braziliensis (Pearl cichlid?)
1 x carp
2 plecs (presuming they are 'commons')
2 silver dollars

I'll go do some googling and be back with a definitive answer on the other catfish.
But the angelfish can stay, presuming the tank is 18" or deeper (thanks m00se for correcting my slightly sleepy brain. lol)

 

[m00se]

But the angelfish can stay.

Assuming the tank is 18" or deeper...

 

[Curiosity101]

As for the...
Talking Catfish - As I thought it can stay.
Upside Down Catfish - Also can stay.

If it were me, I'd only keep either the talking catfish OR the upside down catfish. But that's just because they do technically get quite big, so your limiting what other fish you can add by keeping both species.

 

[Realtree]

Thanx
I am unsure about the catfish as I agree that they will only get bigger
Why do you say rehouse the silver dollars / and carp as these seem quite small compared with the rest ?

 

[Curiosity101]

I'm not suggesting any of the fish need re-homing because of their current size technically.

It is there incompatibility with each other and their eventual fully grown size which means that they need re-homing.
Also, keeping a potentially large fish in a tank that is too small could stunt it's growth long before you realise it is.