Help With An Issue

[CichlidLover1995]

Okay i setup a 10 gallon tank, and did a fish in cycle ( I dont do fishless cycles, please don't look down on me for it ) I cycled it with 2 Platys, a Spiketail Paradise Fish, and a Golden Mystery Snail. Then Sunday, i brought home the rest of the fish for the tank, it had been about a month since i put the other fish in first, and i brought home, 1 more platy, 2 peppered corys, and another Spiketail paradise fish. Everything seemed fine except my corys were going up the corners and swimming up at the surface. Now i didnt think this to be abnormal because ive seen Corys, Plecos and other catfish like that skim the top to find flake food. Well this morning, i found both of them dead. So i removed the bodys ( i did notice it looked to me like one of them had severe reddning of the skin on his head, dunno why?) and did a large water change, then also another large water change this evening. The tank also has some Anacharis and 1 Amazon Sword i added at the same time i added the new fish. Do you guys think im stocked or is it safe to add some more fish? I want 1 more Spiketail Paradise (GAH I LOVE THEM) and possibly some more plants. Is that okay or should i not add anything else? If i do, it'l be in about 2 weeks most likely.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Did you test your water after the cories passed?

 

[McCool]

Not sure, but the reddening of the head was most likely ammonia poisoning. Do a water change and check your water asap.

 

[Lufbramatt]

I doubt your tank was fully cycled in just a month. If it was, it was only cycled for the original bioload. then you doubled your stocking, and the filter couldn't keep up, resulting in ammonia build up and the death of the cories. This is why fish-in cycles are a bad idea.

Don't get any more fish for 4 or 5 weeks, keep up with the water changes and let everything settle down. Fishkeeping is all about being patient, otherwise the fish end up dead as you've found out. 10 gallons is a small tank and you don't get much room for error. Get a test kit and learn how to interpret the results.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

I doubt your tank was fully cycled in just a month. If it was, it was only cycled for the original bioload. then you doubled your stocking, and the filter couldn't keep up, resulting in ammonia build up and the death of the cories. This is why fish-in cycles are a bad idea.

Don't get any more fish for 4 or 5 weeks, keep up with the water changes and let everything settle down. Fishkeeping is all about being patient, otherwise the fish end up dead as you've found out. 10 gallons is a small tank and you don't get much room for error. Get a test kit and learn how to interpret the results.

The OP mentioned something about plants. Perhaps they had read something and was not aware that only heavily planted tanks would not "need" to be cycled as a regular tank/lightly planted tank is. Just my 2 cents. The cories were also stressed ore likely than not because there was only 2 of them. They need to be kept as a shoal of at the bare minimum 3 (I'm getting 3 more for my tank soon). In the wild, they have been found in the hundreds.

I wouldn't worry about fish-in cycles, Cichlidlover. Provided you keep up regular, frequent water changes until it's complete then you'll be OK. I've always done a fish-in cycle and never had an issue. If you can, invest in a liquid test kit (API make a good, trusted one). It'll be of endless help to you when you're cycling a tank!

 

[CichlidLover1995]

Okay, i still have around 110 dollars of my birthday money left which i got 2 days ago lol. Il go to the LFS this weekend and pick-up the API Master Test Kit. Ive been told so many times that i need it but my mom keeps telling me i dont. Today il put my foot down. Im 17 btw for all of you who dont know Il test and il keep the levels down. I feel like the tank was cycled but i added to many fish and it overloaded.

 

[5teady_2012]

Mothers always know what's best. . .

Actually they don't lol, you was right to put your foot down I think its a must have to get a test kit for anyone who stop fish tanks

 

[Gilli]

No one can keep fish without a water testing kit let alone cycle a tank without one - how are you going to know whats wrong or what steps to take to put things right?

 

[Tizer]

Of course you can, you just keep adding fish and when they stop dying, your tank is cycled. Easy.

 

[CichlidLover1995]

OUCH! Thats an awful idea! You'l go bankrupt fast ;D

 

[5teady_2012]

Lol @ tizer