Help Please

[pinkpanther006]

I just recently got two ten gallon tanks and in one of them I have 1 betta, 2 african Dwarf frogs, 2 scissortail Rasbora's, and either 2 rainbow sharks or 2 red tail sharks. But in the tank their is something floating at the surface that wasn't in the tank the day before. Does anyone know what it might be.

 

[onemisterchristian]

What does it look like? How long has the tank been set up? You've got quite a mix of fish there. Many of them don't belong in a tank together. But lets deal with one issue at a time. What are your water stats?
ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, ph?

 

[pinkpanther006]

What does it look like? How long has the tank been set up? You've got quite a mix of fish there. Many of them don't belong in a tank together. But lets deal with one issue at a time. What are your water stats?
ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, ph?

I don't know the water stats how do I check them. I actually have two tanks, both ten gallons and they have been set up since Saturday.

 

[onemisterchristian]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news...but you should probably take all of your fish back to the store. What you are going through right now, I'm assuming is an ammonia spike. Is what's floating at the top of your tank kind of milky stringy looking gunk?

See, tanks are not meant to be set up and then have fish put in immeadiately. It takes time to establish a healthy supply of good nitrifying bacteria in your filter media. All fish waste contains ammonia which is a poison. This bacteria helps to break down the ammonia into less toxic compounds. However there is no or very little bacteria in a newly established tank. There are many pinned articles on how to properly cycle your tanks in order to establish this bacteria. Generally it takes close to a month. I suggest you read this article. And for the sake of your fish you shouldprobably bring them back to wherever you bought them from. And if you intend on serious fish keeping in the future you should defitenly invest in a water test kit. (freshwater).

You should also probably give a good read on every article contained in this link.

Beginner startup articles
Good luck. You have quite the journey ahead of you.

 

[pinkpanther006]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news...but you should probably take all of your fish back to the store. What you are going through right now, I'm assuming is an ammonia spike. Is what's floating at the top of your tank kind of milky stringy looking gunk?

See, tanks are not meant to be set up and then have fish put in immeadiately. It takes time to establish a healthy supply of good nitrifying bacteria in your filter media. All fish waste contains ammonia which is a poison. This bacteria helps to break down the ammonia into less toxic compounds. However there is no or very little bacteria in a newly established tank. There are many pinned articles on how to properly cycle your tanks in order to establish this bacteria. Generally it takes close to a month. I suggest you read this article. And for the sake of your fish you shouldprobably bring them back to wherever you bought them from. And if you intend on serious fish keeping in the future you should defitenly invest in a water test kit. (freshwater).

You should also probably give a good read on every article contained in this link.

Beginner startup articles
Good luck. You have quite the journey ahead of you.

No, the tanks were set up on Saturday, then I left and came back at about 6:40 P.m. then the fish were put in the tanks while in the fishy bags for about 10-15 minutes. After that we did something else. (I think) we added some of the aquarium water into the water in the bag. We let them sit for a few minutes then we scooped them up and put them in the tank.

 

[Kairi]

What they meant was that it takes time to properly set up a tank before adding fish. You have to get your bacteria to grow first- otherwise you're fish will end up sick or dying. I had my first tank set up for 3 days before I added fish and I thought I had done a great job... but nothing grows in plain ol' water. After making enough mistakes for about 10 people, I'm still learning.

Did you read the link?

 

[WILDER]

You need a 40gal for red tailed shark and rainbow sharks, plus you should only ever have done in the tank as they are aggressive and don't tolerate there own kind either of them.
I would take them back as a 10gal is way to small for them.
Plus the rasbora are a very senstive fish to water quality.

 

[pinkpanther006]

Iv'e had them for about almost 2 days and their fine. Maybe I should wait a couple days and see what happens.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Iv'e had them for about almost 2 days and their fine. Maybe I should wait a couple days and see what happens.

Maybe, but in the meantime your fish are probably slowly dying which is a real shame and will either not make it or will be very ill and run down if they do. I'd agree with earlier posts and say take them back. Read up on fishless cycling: I used this article successfully.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...3861&hl=methods

and think about getting a master water test kit. Essential if you want to keep healthy fish.

Good luck

 

[SamUK]

No, the tanks were set up on Saturday, then I left and came back at about 6:40 P.m. then the fish were put in the tanks while in the fishy bags for about 10-15 minutes.

To properly cycle a tank it takes 3-4 weeks, not hours.

 

[riverman444]

Back to your original question.....what does this "something" floating on top of the water look like?

 

[Kairi]

To properly cycle a tank it takes 3-4 weeks, not hours.

or in some cases a couple months.

 

[pinkpanther006]

It looks like a a round white pebble, I'm not sure i can describe the size though.

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

I am sorry Pink but every one is right. Your fish are going to die and if they don'y they will have much shortend lives. Even fish that are "Hardy" will not live to there full age if used to cycle a tank. The 2 sharks you have will kill each other and there tank mate as soon as they get bigger, if they live that long. They grow to 6" in the right conditions. If you are thinking that fish only grow to the size tank that there in, this is bunk. Safe your self some money take them back and start out right.

 

[pinkpanther006]

Can't I just take one of the out and put it in another tank.