Hi - Only Had My Tank 1.5 Weeks But A Lot Has Happened...

[Rich_77]

Hi all.

I've just joined the site, after looking at it for the last week or so, and thought I would join to ask you your opinions on my tank moving forward (and some of the history to it so far).

If you have five minutes, please read on.....


Ok, I got my tank last Wednesday and was advised by the expert at the shop to let it run for four days before putting in any fish. I done this, and come last Saturday I introduced 2 platies and 2 guppies into the tank.

The tank is a 20L one, unfortunately I don't have more space in my flat for anything larger, and he recommended that 4 would be good to start with then after a week adding 4 or 6 more.

The guppies seemed happy enough over the last week...well, until Thursday when they both died.

The platies just hid, hardly ate and both went on Wednesday evening.

The first platy's body became swollen. I returned home from work on Wednesday evening to find him 'itching' himself against the gravel in the tank....then, over the space of 2 hours, white spots appeared on his body and, noticeably, his head. He then passed on in the space of those 2 hours.

Within 24 hours all the fish died.

I went to the store this morning and he checked my water levels. All fine.

I bought some treatment for white spot and put it in the tank (after replacing about 25% of the water)and let it settle for about 30 minutes before introducing 2 male platy's into the tank (which the shopkeeper gave to me for free).

I've also set my temperature a little higher in the tank before putting the new fish in, as he stated that might have been a reason for the disease initially.

Anyway guys, thanks very much for reading all of the above.

I guess my question(s) would be, do you think it was an 'ich' or possibly stress of the new environment for the fish ? Also, after about 3/4 days, which fish would you recommend me getting - presuming everything is ok with my two new fish ? Lastly, they are swimming at the top of the tank a lot. Do you think they are getting used to the new oxygen levels in the tank ?


Cheers guys in advance.

 

[Cazgar]

Unfortunately you were given bad advice.
You need to cycle your filter before adding fish& that takes a few weeks, please see the beginners section, it's full of helpful advice.
It sounds like you were sold sick fish, sorry you lost them.
Now you are in a fish in cycle, which means you will need to do large regular water changes.
You also need to get a liquid water test kit, many people here use the Api one.
Also imo a 20 litre tank is too small for guppies or platies

Sorry, forgot to say welcome to the forum

 

[Rich_77]

Hi, thanks for the info & welcome.

Which fish would you suggest for my tank ?

 

[cambojnr]

Hi, thanks for the info & welcome.

Which fish would you suggest for my tank ?

your tank is only suitable for shrimp our 1 betta.

 

[Cazgar]

Once it's properly cycled,I'd go for some of the micro rasboras, chilis, or galaxy rasboras aka Cpd's, or you could have one male Betta & a couple of endlers
You are limited with what you can have in such a small tank.

 

[Rich_77]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

 

[RossC]

Welcome to the forum, as other have said unfortunately you've been given bad advise, check out this section the site and enjoy the hobby

 

[cambojnr]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

they tell you this stuff just so they can sell you the fish and get your moneys,most of them arent bothered about the fish and have no idea about them as i went to a pets at home that had just opened yesterday and all of them kept going to 1 guy asking him questions, I got a plant and she was asking wether she had to put water in the bag.

 

[RossC]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

they tell you this stuff just so they can sell you the fish and get your moneys,most of them arent bothered about the fish and have no idea about them as i went to a pets at home that had just opened yesterday and all of them kept going to 1 guy asking him questions, I got a plant and she was asking wether she had to put water in the bag.

And yet in their TV campaign "everyone of our staff are specially trained". Now I'm all up for businesses hiring and training new people but c'mon these are live animals.

 

[Rich_77]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

they tell you this stuff just so they can sell you the fish and get your moneys,most of them arent bothered about the fish and have no idea about them as i went to a pets at home that had just opened yesterday and all of them kept going to 1 guy asking him questions, I got a plant and she was asking wether she had to put water in the bag.

To be fair, this is an independent store that's been running for donkey's years. So I was hoping for some concrete advice. A bit annoyed that it seems like they aren't giving me good feedback on my questions to them. I work in Sales and like to think I know when someone is telling porkie pies, but in a new hobby it is difficult.

 

[cambojnr]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

they tell you this stuff just so they can sell you the fish and get your moneys,most of them arent bothered about the fish and have no idea about them as i went to a pets at home that had just opened yesterday and all of them kept going to 1 guy asking him questions, I got a plant and she was asking wether she had to put water in the bag.

And yet in their TV campaign "everyone of our staff are specially trained". Now I'm all up for businesses hiring and training new people but c'mon these are live animals.

its like when they are selling 2-3 goldfish to people who only have I 20l tank,(I was one of these) but I then got my 60l and got 2 more and had 4 in the 60l, but after some research and finding out that goldfish need a 4ft tank and 80l for the first fish and 40l for each fish after that and getting tired of doing water changes every day cause they poop so much I rehomed them in a 400,000 gallon pond and set up for tropical and somehow my filter had cycled with the 4 goldies in within a month, so now I just ask on here and do research about the fish, so atm I have 7 neon tetras and plan on getting 2 gouramis and a brisslenose plec.

 

[Rich_77]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

they tell you this stuff just so they can sell you the fish and get your moneys,most of them arent bothered about the fish and have no idea about them as i went to a pets at home that had just opened yesterday and all of them kept going to 1 guy asking him questions, I got a plant and she was asking wether she had to put water in the bag.

And yet in their TV campaign "everyone of our staff are specially trained". Now I'm all up for businesses hiring and training new people but c'mon these are live animals.

Without ever wanting to compare something as trivial as cars to living creatures, I've learned over the years when I'm getting bad advice vs. good. It took a long time but you get there. I was hoping for a shorter timeframe when it comes to something living, as you'd expect the 'experts' at the store to actually care about the fish.

I'm now wondering if I should give the platies back to the store and request the fish I was advised earlier in the thread.

 

[cambojnr]

thanks for the tips.

It's a shame the guy at the store seems convinced that I could have 2 guppies, 2 platies and a few neon tetras in my tank, no issues, once it gets sorted.

they tell you this stuff just so they can sell you the fish and get your moneys,most of them arent bothered about the fish and have no idea about them as i went to a pets at home that had just opened yesterday and all of them kept going to 1 guy asking him questions, I got a plant and she was asking wether she had to put water in the bag.

To be fair, this is an independent store that's been running for donkey's years. So I was hoping for some concrete advice. A bit annoyed that it seems like they aren't giving me good feedback on my questions to them. I work in Sales and like to think I know when someone is telling porkie pies, but in a new hobby it is difficult.

I know you said that you only have room for the 20l, but if you could make space for a 40-60l tank the hobby is alot more enjoyable as with a decent size tank you can have a good selection of amazing beautiful fish to choose from.

 

[Rich_77]

[/quote]
I know you said that you only have room for the 20l, but if you could make space for a 40-60l tank the hobby is alot more enjoyable as with a decent size tank you can have a good selection of amazing beautiful fish to choose from.
[/quote]

It's just the shelving unit the tank is on. I don't want to test if it can hold 40L of water to be honest (plus gravel etc).

Actually, you've just made me think....I have a 'coffee table' for want of a better term, that is very long and sturdy. I have invested quite a bit into the 20L, but I'm now thinking I could maybe have a 20L on the unit and 40L/60L on the table....it's kind of down to costs though, unfortunately.

 

[Cazgar]

Try looking on eBay or Gumtree, you can often pick up a bargain tank there