Cloudy Water

[soraxcloud]

(Oops, I did not realize I was under Sora's name! Sorry Sora >< I forgot you were on my comp! Any way to delete this so I can post it under me?)
Hello all. I recently put up a new tank. It is a 15 gal with a Lg comet (about 4 in) a Sm pleco (about 3 in) and one other Sm algae eater(about 2 in) I have a filter and a bubbler. I think there is a tadpole or 2 in there as well, unless the comet ate them

The levels are:
Nitrate: 100 (Need a 1/3 water change in a new tank? Set up 2 days ago?)
Nitrite: 0
Hardness: 180
Alkalinity: 180
pH: 7.2

Okay I hope that is enough info. I would like to either get another comet or maybe a bigger fancy tail goldy (I don't remember the name)
I am affraid my comet may be a Koi x.x it has tiny whiskers, I am worried about that. I have been told fish wont out grow their environments.
This is not my first tank, and is not my only- I keep a tropical at my mothers child care. I decided to go goldfish and the like for my room so I have time for it and my rats (No they don't swim in the tank x.x).
I have been told there was a 'no cloud' type drops but I think I need to fix some other things to see if it helps.
Thanks for any help!

 

[OldMan47]

It sounds to me like you are already overstocked. If you just set up yesterday do you have the old tank to put them back into? The new tank needs to be cycled before the fish go in. If you have nowhere to put the fish temporarily you are facing a fish-in cycle which can be a bit of a pain to do without hurting the fish. The next thing you will need to do is get a test kit to find out what your ammonia levels are in the tank. Chances are they are quite high but you won't know until you test with a liquid type test kit. In the meantime try at least one and maybe two 50% water changes today using dechlorinator in the new water. That should help get things back to safer levels until you get a chance to test.
Fishless cycle instructions:
http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...fishless-cycle/
Fish-in cycle instructions and other observations:
http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...eady-have-fish/
Let me wish you and your fish all the best and welcome you to the site.

 

[BrokenLioness]

It actually has cleared up since I posted this- but not by much. It already has been cycled. Do you recomend I get rid of these fish and either take the tank down and put lizards back into it or perhaps try a different fish?

 

[OldMan47]

I am not a cold water expert by any means but from what I have read, a comet by itself needs about 30 gallons. A 3 inch plec by itself might be OK for a short time until it is no longer a 3 inch plec but a 4 or 5 or up to 20 inch plec when its full grown. It depends what kind of plec you have picked up but the more common ones get quite large. My LFS has a display tank in their entry area with a plec about 14 inches long and as big around as my arm but even that one is not full grown. It depends on what you are calling an algae eater, many fish will eat algae. If its a CAE, it will again get much larger and end up too big for a 15.

 

[BrokenLioness]

I am not a cold water expert by any means but from what I have read, a comet by itself needs about 30 gallons. A 3 inch plec by itself might be OK for a short time until it is no longer a 3 inch plec but a 4 or 5 or up to 20 inch plec when its full grown. It depends what kind of plec you have picked up but the more common ones get quite large. My LFS has a display tank in their entry area with a plec about 14 inches long and as big around as my arm but even that one is not full grown. It depends on what you are calling an algae eater, many fish will eat algae. If its a CAE, it will again get much larger and end up too big for a 15.

The pleco is a common, but I've had them before in 20 gals with tropics and they did fine. In my experience they are quite hardy. I saw a good size one at the pet store, probably 14 inches. In my readings I have read that they will not grow bigger than the space provided. It is only maybe 3 inches like I said.
I am not sure what kind of algae eater it is, it is half black and half gold/orange.
Maybe if this space is too small for these fish and they all die on me, what do you recommend for a 15 gal? I may go ahead and put a heater in it for a tropical, though I don't think I have time and don't want to neglect my fish because of it.