Freaked Out Cherry Barb

[jcdj]

Hi all, I got a new tank about 10 days ago I did a cycle and tested the water at my local shop and all was fine, I popped in 2 Cherry barbs and a Sailfin Plec any way one of the Barb's was floating around like he was on his way out both were up at the top of the tank, I grabbed a pot and stuffed in some water and de chlorinated it and dropped him in and 30 seconds later he was fine then his mate started to look at bit funky so popped in him I did a 50% water swap and popped them back in there now swimming around looking happy again, #136### is up they guy in the shop said the water was fine, im now flapping because I dont want these little guys to die, I have been looking after gold fish for a while and all of the cycling seems to be the same, never had a problem with the gold fish.

Any way any info to help them through the night would be great, I am going to run them back to the shop and get my own test kit see if they will look after them till the water is correct.

Many thanks

Jason

p.s they are swimming around at the bottom of the tank looking quite happy, should I just do a 10-15% water change each day and test my self and not panic.

 

[kelly528]

First of all how did you cycle your tank? Did you use something to ge tthe ammonia going or did you simply run the filter? It sounds like a dumb question but there is some questionable advice floating around petshops that cycling simply requires you to run the filter for a period of time. However if there is no ammonia in the tank for the bacteria to consume they will never start growing.

I would definitely change the water daily until you get a test kit.

I also notice that you only have 2 barbs. Barbs like to shoal and are extremely skittish when in a group of less than 6. You will need to add a minimum of 4 more to avoid problems.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, this looks to be a standard Fish-In Cycling Situation emergency due to lack of full information about how biofilters work. The members will come to your rescue. WD

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yup, a classic "LFSBAS" (local fish store bad advice situation)

First off, LFS (local fish stores) operate from a financial stand point and not for the well being of the fish, well, I would say at least 90% of them do.

Fish produce ammonia, and ammonia is toxic, so one must cycle a tank prior to adding fish. Since you are returning the fish to your LFS, I would advice you to perform a fishless cycle, which can be read about here:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

to TFF!!!!

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

I agree, would be great if you can re-home them until you grow your bacteria and get your filter operational and ready to handle fish. Another fun thing is that you can look around at the other threads and find lots of newcomers writing about their fishless cycles.

And welcome to the beginners section by the way, ~~waterdrop~~

 

[jcdj]

Hi guys, I ran the tank for a week using Interpet filter start, I thought that would be ok, turns out I live in a hard water area which has killed off the bacteria and and made it turn to ammonia, I should have tested before I put them in, any way I brought my 25l jerry tank with me today and they gave me some water the fish seem to be ok, im going to grab a couple more barbs and do a a 15% water change every other day and test it

Never had this problem in the last area I lived in my fish were always happy, anyway they seem quite happy now.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Hi guys, I ran the tank for a week using Interpet filter start, I thought that would be ok, turns out I live in a hard water area which has killed off the bacteria and and made it turn to ammonia, I should have tested before I put them in, any way I brought my 25l jerry tank with me today and they gave me some water the fish seem to be ok, im going to grab a couple more barbs and do a a 15% water change every other day and test it

Never had this problem in the last area I lived in my fish were always happy, anyway they seem quite happy now.

The hard water has nothing to do with killing off the bacteria.

Your LFS got the best you, and made you buy fish right away without cycling the tank. And Interpet Filter Start did not help, products such as this and similar ones that Claim to cycle tanks are no good and do not work. It was just another way from your LFS to get your money.

You are in a fish-in cycle which can be read about here:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

The reason you have an ammonia issue is because you do not have enough beneficial bacteria, YET, in your filter. If you decided to do a proper fishless cycle, you would have acquired enough bacteria to safely handle your fishes bio-load. Now, since this is not the case, you must read that link I gave you, and you must try to do what it says to preform a proper fish-in cycle, to ensure the most safety for your fish.

-FHM

 

[jcdj]

Cool will follow that and hope the little guys are ok.

Many thanks

Jay

 

[OldMan47]

In the situation that you have, it would be easiest to return the fish and cycle the tank using ammonia. If you want to have fish in the tank, do not add any more until you get through a real cycle. That will mean daily large water changes to control ammonia and nitrite levels in your tank, not little 10 or 15% changes. You mention that you have goldfish. If you have a filter running on your goldfish tank, try cleaning it in the new tank to give your new filter a jump start. It will make the water in the new tank look dirty but will establish a population of the beneficial bacteria in the new filter that can breed and quickly grow into a viable biological filter.