Hello

[Aqua 7]

Hello,

I am new to the love of fish keeping, and started off as I hear most do, where I bought a 30lt starter tank from the LPS, who then proceeded to sell me 26 fish 24hrs later, without advising me to cycle the tank first. I have now, 5 weeks later, managed to get myself a nice big 220lt tank. QUESTION: since I have read about cycling the tank first... I want to know others opinion on this subject. I have added Stability as well as Microlife-S2 bacterial suspension. On the bottle (stability) is states it is perfectly fine to add my fish now, and this is also what the new LPS said would be fine to do... please can you all give me your opinions, should I wait 10-14 days before adding my fish, even though I have added the good bacteria? the reason I would prefer to do it now is that the 30lt tank has very high levels of nitrate and nitrite, even after treating it for 7 days with stability, they have not gone down at all..bottom line is that the 30lt tank is heavily over stocked.. I would rather move them to the bigger tank, than leave them in the smaller tank for another 10 - 14 days due to the fact that the toxic water could get the better of them... I appreciate any guidance that you may have to offer... thanks! (I will be keeping the 30lt tank as a quarantine tank).

Look forward to the replies

Candice

 

[*cupcakecutie*]

Hello,

I am new to the love of fish keeping, and started off as I hear most do, where I bought a 30lt starter tank from the LPS, who then proceeded to sell me 26 fish 24hrs later, without advising me to cycle the tank first. I have now, 5 weeks later, managed to get myself a nice big 220lt tank. QUESTION: since I have read about cycling the tank first... I want to know others opinion on this subject. I have added Stability as well as Microlife-S2 bacterial suspension. On the bottle (stability) is states it is perfectly fine to add my fish now, and this is also what the new LPS said would be fine to do... please can you all give me your opinions, should I wait 10-14 days before adding my fish, even though I have added the good bacteria? the reason I would prefer to do it now is that the 30lt tank has very high levels of nitrate and nitrite, even after treating it for 7 days with stability, they have not gone down at all..bottom line is that the 30lt tank is heavily over stocked.. I would rather move them to the bigger tank, than leave them in the smaller tank for another 10 - 14 days due to the fact that the toxic water could get the better of them... I appreciate any guidance that you may have to offer... thanks! (I will be keeping the 30lt tank as a quarantine tank).

Look forward to the replies

Candice

 

[Jenste]

26 fish - - -

whoa! in addition to needing to cycle your tank we need to figure out how many and of what kinds of fish you have....you could have a lot of space, territory, and water parameter issues right there by having the wrong fish mixed together.

given the huge amount of fish you have, getting them out of that tiny tank might be your first priority and then do daily massive water changes (such as 75-95%) until your filter has enough bacteria that it can cope with the ammonia....



in my honest opinion....you should return the fish to the store that gave you such awful advice and look into doing a completely fishless cycle, and then picking a stocking list for the tank you have that will mix well together

 

[*cupcakecutie*]

i agree with jenste, take them back. what fish did the store give you?

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Aqua 7.
With the 220 litre tank you have enough volume to probably survive a fish-in cycle, but it would be a lot less stressful for you and the fish if you could return them and do a fishless cycle. If you have any question about a fishless or a fish-in cycle, I have links to articles about both approaches in my signature area. The tiny first tank is not suitable for the number of fish you bought, even if the tank were fully mature.

 

[grace01]

Hello,

I am Grace Stanley. Today I use this forum first time. I like all part of the forum and I learn very much from your forum. Please give me the proper guidance as well as support also. I m very happy after using this forum and I appreciate your guidance.

Thank You.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to our forum Grace.
Do you have any particular questions that we can help with?