Help Please

[tayliajayne]

I have just bought a 5ft tank it's been up and running for 3 weeks.
And has fish in it.
I took a water test today everything was ok but the nitrite. It was 0.1
In the booklet it says that that it will keep going up to asmuch as 5 or more. As it's a new tank
I have put in some medication for the nitrite but one of my fish has died.
He was on his side floating
But when one of my friends from the pet shop came round he said how large my tiger barb was I've had him for a year and he came with my 3ft tank as the tank was secound hand.

 

[Davo86]

Hi
The tank appears to be going through a mini cycle and you will need to do at least a 25% water change to bring the nitrite level to 0,
test daily for the next week to monitor whats happening, if the ammonia or nitrite appear to be above 0 you will need to do another 25% water change.

did everything look normal on the dead fish? did you 'pet shop friend' mean that the tiger barb looked bloated/unusual or simply had grown big?

 

[tayliajayne]

ok, the fish looked okay. He meant it had grown big
When I first got the 3 ft tank their were 3 fully grown tiger barbs. And they were huge.
I've had them for a year now and god only knows how long the people befor me had them but now I only have 1 large tiger barb left. Myself I think they died of old age

 

[tayliajayne]

Anybody eles got anymore advice?

Cheers x

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I have just bought a 5ft tank it's been up and running for 3 weeks.
And has fish in it.
I took a water test today everything was ok but the nitrite. It was 0.1
In the booklet it says that that it will keep going up to asmuch as 5 or more. As it's a new tank
I have put in some medication for the nitrite but one of my fish has died.
He was on his side floating
But when one of my friends from the pet shop came round he said how large my tiger barb was I've had him for a year and he came with my 3ft tank as the tank was secound hand.

The tank is still cycling. When a tank starts to cycle, first the ammonia will go up, then the nitrites will go up, and then eventually there will be no ammonia and nitrites and you will have a reading of nitrates (the end product of the nitrogen cycle and not harmful to fish unless in excessive levels, like 40-60 or more). So your tanks cycle is about half-way through.
I would advise against using any chemicals that reduce ammonia or nitrites- these will only prolong the cycle and should only be used in emergency situations. The best way to lower ammonia and nitrites is via small regular water changes with dechlorinater. In a cycle with fish you want to keep ammonia and nitrite levels as low as possible as these are harmful and stressful to fish.

What types of fish do you have and how many? How many gallons/litres is the tank and what is your average tank cleaning maintenence regime ?

 

[tayliajayne]

it's 55 gallons 260 litres In it. I don't know for sure how many fish are in their. As my 3 ft tank was over stocked so I have put some fish into the new tank.

I will take the meication out as it says I can reuse it.
So is it ok if the nitrite goes up just not the ammonia?

Thanks x

 

[tayliajayne]

just normals tropical fish & I do it. Once twice a week at the moment due to cycleing then will do it once a week

Thanks x

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

it's 55 gallons 260 litres In it. I don't know for sure how many fish are in their. As my 3 ft tank was over stocked so I have put some fish into the new tank.

I will take the meication out as it says I can reuse it.
So is it ok if the nitrite goes up just not the ammonia?

Thanks x

Nitrite is still toxic to fish but not as toxic as ammonia, so if you see nitrites in the tank its still important to do a small water change . Its important to count and identify what fish you have exactly at this point, as some of their numbers may be too high or too low or may not be suited to the habitat in the tank etc. If you don't know what certain fish are, i'll be happy to help try and ID them for you if you post pictures of the fish on here or post their descriptions .

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

just normals tropical fish & I do it. Once twice a week at the moment due to cycleing then will do it once a week

Thanks x

That sounds fine . Just make sure that when you clean the filter out, that you do not clean the sponges under tap water, but rather instead clean them out roughly in old tank water taken from a water change, as the chlorine from tap water can kill the beneficial bacteria in the filter off, while over-cleaning the filter so that it is sparkling clean can also kill the beneficial bacteria off- just clean the filter out enough so that it functions properly .

 

[tayliajayne]

4 louches
6 gourmis
Around 20 red ways/micly mouse fish
Large common pleco
2 coriyes
6 angel fish
6/7 tetras
I think that's it