Jen.Cavanaugh
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- Dec 19, 2011
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Tank size: 20 gallon
pH:8.4
ammonia:8+ppm
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH:
gH:
tank temp:76-78*
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): 3 recently deceased pot belly mollies, 3 gold barbs with red gills and splotches/streaks, 1 remaining pot belly molly with clear/white poo, 3 regular mollies of which the male has been curling his tail fin and acting odd.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: one 25% change last evening, one close to 50% change just now. (no prior changes as this tank is barely 1 month old and I was instructed NOT to do ANY water changes by the pet store due to tank cycling.)
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: bio-boost (once per week and with water changes), water conditioner as directed when set up tank and with both water changes. I also added ammo-carb to the filter housing last evening.
Tank inhabitants: 3 small gold barbs, 1 remaining pot belly molly, 3 regular mollies.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): The 3 barbs were added a few days after setting up the tank, about 1 month ago. 3 of the pot belly mollies were added a week later, then the 3 regular mollies about a week after that. The last fish was a fourth, still surviving, pot belly molly which was added 8 days ago, the day prior to the first death.
Tank gravel was added at set up, a few decorations were added throughout the past 4 weeks, and 1 fake plant. There are no live plants in the tank.
Exposure to chemicals:
Digital photo (include if possible):
Hi! My name is Jennifer. I have a problem, and I'm hoping someone here will offer me good advise. I purchased a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium start-up kit for my daughter's birthday.
http
/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804446&lmdn=Brand
We thought everything was going well, but unfortunately, we were wrong.
The tank has been set up for right at 1 month. Her first 3 fish were little gold barbs. After about a week or so in the tank, she got 3 pot belly mollies, then 3 regular mollies a few days later. The final addition of the 10th fish, a fourth pot belly molly, was the evening before her first casualty, 1 week ago Sunday. From last Sunday to this Sunday (yesterday) she had lost all 3 original pot belly mollies.
We have had the tank water tested weekly at the pet store, (they use Tetra brand strips) and the ammonia has been very high the last couple of weeks, and is not coming down. (The nitrates/nitrites are o, ph is 6-8, I keep temp at 76/78 degrees.) The aquarium store told me this is normal, due to new tank syndrome, and that it should come down on it's own. I was told not to change water, clean gravel, change filter cartridge, etc, as this might hinder the cycling of the tank. The problem is, the ammonia is not coming down. Her gold barbs now had very red gills and red splotches/streaks from ammonia poisoning. Although they are still active, I'm concerned for them.. as well as the other fish.
So, I decided to do something! Even though they didn't recommend cleaning a "new tank", I can tell she has been over-feeding, by the debris in the gravel, and the subsequent high ammonia level. So last night I purchased a siphon style gravel vac and attempted to get some of the junk out of the gravel. I stopped when a 5 gallon bucket was full, as this is 25% of the tank capacity. The ammonia level was still testing at 8+ppm, so I just did a 50% (or close to) water change, re-tested, and it's still showing the darkest shade of green/8+ppm!(I did check temp of new water and add water conditioner before adding fresh water to tank.) I also added bio-boost, as I have been doing weekly.
The gentleman at the store yesterday was a bit more helpful than others, and suggested a product called "ammo-carb". He recommended adding it to the filter housing inside a tied of section of panty hose. This product is suppose to remove ammonia...he said he uses it for his aquarium at home. So, I purchased it, but the recommended amount fer her 20 gallon aquarium will not fit in the housing. Even half that amount creates a bit of back flow of water, and although the amount of water being filtered and put back in the tank appears normal, I am concerned the water may not be moving freely through the filter. I'm wondering if there is a better alternative, or another way of using this one..(such as putting the section of panty hose filled with the ammo-carb somewhere in the tank, rather than in the filter housing..)
I have been told varying opinions on water changes at this point in the process. Some say no, some say yes, but only 25% once a month, some once a week, some daily until ammonia problem is solved.., etc.. My concern is the fact that the nitrogen cycle is at best, in mid process, and I don't want to "re-start" it. BUT, I need immediate relief for these poor fish!
I wish I could go buy 20 gallons of established tank water and a filter ready with colonies of good bacteria!! But since I can't- I've got to get this water stabilized, and quick. Any information/advice is much appreciated. These fish are my 9 year old daughter's, and she is such a compassionate soul, it has been really sad to see her mourn over her lost fish.
Jen
Tank size: 20 gallon
pH:8.4
ammonia:8+ppm
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH:
gH:
tank temp:76-78*
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): 3 recently deceased pot belly mollies, 3 gold barbs with red gills and splotches/streaks, 1 remaining pot belly molly with clear/white poo, 3 regular mollies of which the male has been curling his tail fin and acting odd.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: one 25% change last evening, one close to 50% change just now. (no prior changes as this tank is barely 1 month old and I was instructed NOT to do ANY water changes by the pet store due to tank cycling.)
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: bio-boost (once per week and with water changes), water conditioner as directed when set up tank and with both water changes. I also added ammo-carb to the filter housing last evening.
Tank inhabitants: 3 small gold barbs, 1 remaining pot belly molly, 3 regular mollies.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): The 3 barbs were added a few days after setting up the tank, about 1 month ago. 3 of the pot belly mollies were added a week later, then the 3 regular mollies about a week after that. The last fish was a fourth, still surviving, pot belly molly which was added 8 days ago, the day prior to the first death.
Tank gravel was added at set up, a few decorations were added throughout the past 4 weeks, and 1 fake plant. There are no live plants in the tank.
Exposure to chemicals:
Digital photo (include if possible):
Hi! My name is Jennifer. I have a problem, and I'm hoping someone here will offer me good advise. I purchased a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium start-up kit for my daughter's birthday.
http
/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804446&lmdn=BrandWe thought everything was going well, but unfortunately, we were wrong.
The tank has been set up for right at 1 month. Her first 3 fish were little gold barbs. After about a week or so in the tank, she got 3 pot belly mollies, then 3 regular mollies a few days later. The final addition of the 10th fish, a fourth pot belly molly, was the evening before her first casualty, 1 week ago Sunday. From last Sunday to this Sunday (yesterday) she had lost all 3 original pot belly mollies.
We have had the tank water tested weekly at the pet store, (they use Tetra brand strips) and the ammonia has been very high the last couple of weeks, and is not coming down. (The nitrates/nitrites are o, ph is 6-8, I keep temp at 76/78 degrees.) The aquarium store told me this is normal, due to new tank syndrome, and that it should come down on it's own. I was told not to change water, clean gravel, change filter cartridge, etc, as this might hinder the cycling of the tank. The problem is, the ammonia is not coming down. Her gold barbs now had very red gills and red splotches/streaks from ammonia poisoning. Although they are still active, I'm concerned for them.. as well as the other fish.
So, I decided to do something! Even though they didn't recommend cleaning a "new tank", I can tell she has been over-feeding, by the debris in the gravel, and the subsequent high ammonia level. So last night I purchased a siphon style gravel vac and attempted to get some of the junk out of the gravel. I stopped when a 5 gallon bucket was full, as this is 25% of the tank capacity. The ammonia level was still testing at 8+ppm, so I just did a 50% (or close to) water change, re-tested, and it's still showing the darkest shade of green/8+ppm!(I did check temp of new water and add water conditioner before adding fresh water to tank.) I also added bio-boost, as I have been doing weekly.
The gentleman at the store yesterday was a bit more helpful than others, and suggested a product called "ammo-carb". He recommended adding it to the filter housing inside a tied of section of panty hose. This product is suppose to remove ammonia...he said he uses it for his aquarium at home. So, I purchased it, but the recommended amount fer her 20 gallon aquarium will not fit in the housing. Even half that amount creates a bit of back flow of water, and although the amount of water being filtered and put back in the tank appears normal, I am concerned the water may not be moving freely through the filter. I'm wondering if there is a better alternative, or another way of using this one..(such as putting the section of panty hose filled with the ammo-carb somewhere in the tank, rather than in the filter housing..)
I have been told varying opinions on water changes at this point in the process. Some say no, some say yes, but only 25% once a month, some once a week, some daily until ammonia problem is solved.., etc.. My concern is the fact that the nitrogen cycle is at best, in mid process, and I don't want to "re-start" it. BUT, I need immediate relief for these poor fish!
I wish I could go buy 20 gallons of established tank water and a filter ready with colonies of good bacteria!! But since I can't- I've got to get this water stabilized, and quick. Any information/advice is much appreciated. These fish are my 9 year old daughter's, and she is such a compassionate soul, it has been really sad to see her mourn over her lost fish.
Jen
I know, but the fish will actually be just fine.) More food = more waste = more ammonia. After this initial fast, feed every other day, and only feed what the fish can eat in 30 seconds. 
