Bad Times

[mattitheowl]

I recently bought a 28l tank and installed the under gravel filter and had it all up and running a few days to settle down. Changed the water and let it run some more. Then I got a few fish for it. Got 3 lemon tetras and a CAE. I came home today and 2 of the lemons had died. Having now read about the cycling I realise my MASSIVE mistake in not cycling the tank. My question is what do I do to not murder the rest of my fish - 1 Betta & 3 killifish. I have done a 50% water change and they seem to have perked up. What can I do to try and fix this? I also don't have any live plants or air stone. I think I may have made a real mess of this

 

[aly_starh]

Welcome to the forum

TBH, the killifish should not be in that tank, its too small.

The best thing to do now is re-read on fish-in cycling, get a liquid test-kit and be prepared for large daily water changes for about 3 weeks or so till the tank is cycled. After its cycled weekly water changes should be carried out. (along with no fish buying till tank is cycled)

Any more questions, just ask

Edit; also depending on you future stocking an undergravel filter may nor be strong enough.

 

[coldcazzie]

Hi Matti - if you find the threads on fish in cycling they will help you.

Basically you need to do enough water changes to keep your ammonia and nitrite levels below 0.25ppm at all times, and to check on that you need a test kit (the liquid ones are best)

 

[mattitheowl]

Welcome to the forum

TBH, the killifish should not be in that tank, its too small.

The best thing to do now is re-read on fish-in cycling, get a liquid test-kit and be prepared for large daily water changes for about 3 weeks or so till the tank is cycled. After its cycled weekly water changes should be carried out. (along with no fish buying till tank is cycled)

Any more questions, just ask

Edit; also depending on you future stocking an undergravel filter may nor be strong enough.

Thanks very much. I just wish the people at my LFS had told me that. I even asked about the killifish and the guy was like "no they will be fine in there". How much water should I be changing daily? Is there anything I can put in there to help the little fellas battle through?

Hi Matti - if you find the threads on fish in cycling they will help you.

Basically you need to do enough water changes to keep your ammonia and nitrite levels below 0.25ppm at all times, and to check on that you need a test kit (the liquid ones are best)

I have a test kit but it is just a 6 in 1 paper strip one. It says that the NO3 and NO2 are fine. I'm guessing this is due to the ammonia not being converted at all?

 

[aly_starh]

99.9% of the times, LFS should not be believed, they will sell you fish etc for the money.
its best to ask experienced members on the forum

Have you got a test kit? I would do a 75% water changes asap, then another 75% tommorrow. Ideally a test kit would be good so you know how much to change.

The water chould be dechlorinated otherwise this will kill the cycle instantly. If you havent got a dechlorinater you can boil the water (then let it get to a decent temp.) or leave it standing overnight) I would reccomend boiling it as its quicker in this case.

A waterchange reduces the ammonia in the water (too much can affect/kill fish)

 

[coldcazzie]

Thanks very much. I just wish the people at my LFS had told me that. I even asked about the killifish and the guy was like "no they will be fine in there". How much water should I be changing daily? Is there anything I can put in there to help the little fellas battle through?

In short - no, not really - just lots of water changes. And as to how much, well that depends on how long it takes for the level to rise back up to 0.25. If a 50% change means you can wait 24 hours before doing another change then fair enough, but if you go back after 24 hours and the level is at 0.5 then you didn't change enough, so next time you do a bigger one. If you see what I mean?

I have a test kit but it is just a 6 in 1 paper strip one. It says that the NO3 and NO2 are fine. I'm guessing this is due to the ammonia not being converted at all?

Spot on! Will probably be worth getting a liquid one - they are more accurate than the strips.

 

[aly_starh]

Ok the paper one is not really ideal.But will do for a short time. Its crucial you get a liquid kit. Ebay sells the API master kit. I have the Tetra ammonia and Nitrite test kit. Works well

 

[mattitheowl]

Thanks guys. I shall be storming back into the LFS and buying their most expensive test kits and then dropping some dog poo in their £18000 Koi Carp pool! I think I may be left with very few fishy friends by tomorrow. The CAE has now gone to the giant toilet in the sky. BAD TIMES.

 

[coldcazzie]

Yeh, it's a shame but you have to remember that most shops are only interested in making money, not in whether you have healthy happy fish (not true in some cases, but mostly true).

Just remember in future to take everything they say with a pinch of salt, and research research research before you buy! it's a lesson most of the members here have also learned the hard way so don't be too hard on yourself!

 

[mattitheowl]

So after my water change the fish looked a bit happier. fast forward 2 hours and they don't look too happy again. They are all hugging the bottom and don't seem too perky.

 

[Amerce]

As your filter media hasn't cycled / matured up yet is it possible for you to acquire some media, gravel from a fellow fish keeper, this will help kick start your media... where do you live, I am sure someone on the forum has a fully cycled tank near you and is willing to help ?

As for the betta, it can manage in an uncycled tank (so have you a smaller tank you can keep it in) for a short time as long as you maintain a regular regime of water changes.

What killi's did you buy, gardneri ?

Once again you can put them in a smaller tank and keep up water changes, or ask a friend to fish sit till your tank matures up.

One word of warning, depending on how colourful a killi species you have you may find that your betta will love to attack them, it will see them as a threat so be warned.

 

[OldMan47]

You can do one water change after another, if that is what is needed, to make your water chemistry right. When I have mine get out of whack, it happens to all of us, I do a 90% water change and then check the chemistry to see how things look. The fish always look better after a change like that. Don't forget the dechlorinator and remember that a dry heater is very soon a dead heater and the same thing on a filter. Just plug them back in after you are done.

 

[mattitheowl]

As your filter media hasn't cycled / matured up yet is it possible for you to acquire some media, gravel from a fellow fish keeper, this will help kick start your media... where do you live, I am sure someone on the forum has a fully cycled tank near you and is willing to help ?

As for the betta, it can manage in an uncycled tank (so have you a smaller tank you can keep it in) for a short time as long as you maintain a regular regime of water changes.

What killi's did you buy, gardneri ?

Once again you can put them in a smaller tank and keep up water changes, or ask a friend to fish sit till your tank matures up.

One word of warning, depending on how colourful a killi species you have you may find that your betta will love to attack them, it will see them as a threat so be warned.

Correct on the Killi's. I live in West Yorkshire (Huddersfield/Halifax area) The Betta seems OK with the one male Killi at the moment. Unfortunately this is my only tank and I don't have any friends with tanks.

 

[Amerce]

OK what about a local fish shop, they might let you have some of the gravel in their tanks for a small cost.... check it out or put out a request on this forum for a person your region to help you out with mature media.

 

[hybwolf]

I recently bought a 28l tank and installed the under gravel filter and had it all up and running a few days to settle down. Changed the water and let it run some more. Then I got a few fish for it. Got 3 lemon tetras and a CAE. I came home today and 2 of the lemons had died. Having now read about the cycling I realise my MASSIVE mistake in not cycling the tank. My question is what do I do to not murder the rest of my fish - 1 Betta & 3 killifish. I have done a 50% water change and they seem to have perked up. What can I do to try and fix this? I also don't have any live plants or air stone. I think I may have made a real mess of this

Hello, This is my first post here. Have been away from the hobby for 15 years and just returned a couple of days ago with a purchase of a new tank. Was in the hobby for many years and owned a Tropical Fish Store many years ago.

All good advice here but I would suggest in addition to what has been posted, purchase a bottle of Kordon Amquel. This will remove the ammonia. Well it changes the ammonia to a non deadly form of ammonia. It won't slow down your tank cycling either as the bacteria will consume the non deadly form of ammonia.

Good luck, hope it works out well.