Another Stupid Newbie!

[vemb]

Hi. This is my first post to this forum. I just wish I'd found this site earlier!
Ok, So I've done the bad thing of setting up my tank without cycling it. I was given a 60cm X 40cm X 30cm tank. In it I have a Fluvial 2 internal filter, Small air pump running an ornament, heater gravel etc. I treated the water I put in with Tetra Aqua Safe added 4 plants , waited 2 days and then put in the following fish. 2 Plattys, 2 Guppies, a pink Catfish and a Plec. And then I did my research.... Stupid I now know.

Below is my test results:

Day 1 NO TEST
Day 2 PH 7.4 Ammonia 0
Day 3 PH 7.6 Ammonia 0.25. 25% Water Change.
Day 4 PH 7.4 Ammonia 0.50 50% Water Change.
Day 5 PH 7.4 Ammonia 0.50

Today is day 5. When I looked in the tank this morning I had 1 dead guppy and what looks like Platty Fry. I can see 2 hiding in amongst the plants.

HELP!!!!

I guess I need to do another water change, But what about the Fry? What do I do with them? I think I read they they need feeding lots but how do I do that when im trying to restrict the feedings to control the ammonia?

Many thanks in advance

 

[LolaLouie]

Continue with daily large water changes.

I'm sorry if i sound blunt but i'm just gonna write quick bullet points...

1) Plec almost definitely too big for your tank
2) Plecs need a mature tank also so i highly recommend you return him to the shop or give him away
3) Platys and guppys are live bearers, there will be a lot more fry who i'm sure will die during the cycling process so i recommend you give those back too.
4) Good job though for doing water changes

Honestly, though, I know it's a pain in the ass but i think you should start again with a fishless cycle or if you really wont do that then at least start with a hardy fish (and do VERY regular water changes and tests) not plecs or livebearers (who will just add fry to your problems as you've seen).

Good luck!

 

[vemb]

Hi
Thanks for the advice. Ive just done another 50% water change. With a clear jug so I could make sure I wasn't catching any Fry. Should I be cleaning the gravel and filter aswell at this stage or will I be removing the good stuff?
when we bought the fish the guy told us the Plec was a good option for a new small tank Apparently wont grow too big? I'm SO confused, I just wish I'd done my research first. Im going to speak to my husbands boss who has a tank in their office to donate the Plattys and 1 remaining guppy if it survives. What about the pink catfish? My 4 year old daughter has already decided that its her fish!!!
Thanks again.

 

[cryslea]

when we bought the fish the guy told us the Plec was a good option for a new small tank Apparently wont grow too big?

The first thing you'll learn when it comes to fish is that many fish stores give bad advice. It's even worse when you go somewhere like PetCo/PetSmart- some employees know about fish, but most don't.

There are some plecs that remain small, but most of the ones you see in fish stores are the common plec, which can get up to 12" or longer.

 

[rdd1952]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

As mentioned, if you do keep the fish, continue to do water changes. Your goal is to get, and keep, the ammonia (and later nitrite) level below .25 ppm (obviously the end goal is to get them to zero where they should always be). Even that will do some harm to the fish but it ill be minimized. You can do several a day if necessary. For now, I would not orry about the fry. Nature will take care of itself and the other fish will eat them. Until the tank cycles, only feed them every other day to keep the ammonia down.

The pleco may be a dwarf version. If you can find out the type pleco, that would be great. Fish/pet store employees are notorious for giving bad advice. I read something the other day that said something to the extent of more fish have died as a result of bad advice from the LFS than anything else and I would probably agree with that.

Also, can you find out what the pink catfish is. I can't seem to think of anything that would fit that description unless it's a glass catfish that has been dyed (bad).

 

[vemb]

Hi
Thanks for the replys. I hope that this works but here is a pic of the plec and the pink catfish, wondering if anybody can ID them for me.
http/i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/vemb/026.jpg
http/i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/vemb/019.jpg
Sorry about the poor quality.

 

[purplekaz]

The second is an albino cory, sorry I'm not sure of the first one.

 

[rdd1952]

Not certain about the plec either but as stated, the cory is an albino. Corys generally don't handle poor water very well so returning it would be a good idea too. They are very common so getting another for your daughter won't be a problem. Actually, corys are schooling fish and prefer to be kept in groups of 3 or more.

 

[mark7616]

The frst is a common pleco and will need to be rehomed in the future as it will grow far to big for your tank unless you get bitten by the bug and upgrade the size of your tank to a 4x2x2 then you can move it in there.

 

[vemb]

Great. Thanks for that! I'm going to see about a friend looking after the cory for me untill the tank is cycled. Supposidly the fish shop I went to was the best in the area, but it looks like they were just after my money!
How quickly will the plec grow? My husbands already talking about a bigger tank! LOL only had this one a week! Prehaps he would change his mind if he was doing the daily water changes!!
Another question if you don't mind, you all are so knowledgable. A friend has a mature tank and I was hoping to pinch a "squezzing" from his tank. Will this be benficial? And how do do it?! Sorry for the daft questions!
Thanks Again

 

[rdd1952]

Ahhh, the MTS bug. It seems to get most of us.

 

[SJ2K]

Great. Thanks for that! I'm going to see about a friend looking after the cory for me untill the tank is cycled. Supposidly the fish shop I went to was the best in the area, but it looks like they were just after my money!
How quickly will the plec grow? My husbands already talking about a bigger tank! LOL only had this one a week! Prehaps he would change his mind if he was doing the daily water changes!!
Another question if you don't mind, you all are so knowledgable. A friend has a mature tank and I was hoping to pinch a "squezzing" from his tank. Will this be benficial? And how do do it?! Sorry for the daft questions!
Thanks Again

Best option is to pinch a little of there actual media, stick it in a bag of tank water and transfer it to your filter If the best you can get is a squeeze then do the same, just dont be too dissapointed if it doesnt help much