I'm Soo Lost! And Have No Clue What To Do!

[tamara]

I've had one ten gallon tank for about a year now, it's going quite great!
Just now from over-producing guppies, i needed to buy another tank.
So now i have two ten gallon tanks, one i'm trying to cycle..not really going that great.

Well in my over stocked tank there are the following:
[i'm including there current size]
12male guppies [1-2inches]
4female guppies [2inches]
9 two weekold fry [half a centimeter]
5few daysold fry [3mm?]
3peppered cory [1inch]
1bristlenose pleco [3inches]

First of all, the pet stores don't take ANY fish back.
They're all fairly small, but way too many yes i know that!

And i have no clue HOW the gender ration got so different for the guppies
The few females i do have..get chased so i came up with an innovation.
i put my 1gallon tank in the 10 gallon tank and put the females in there,
everyday i bring it to the top and let the filter water flow through it
to get rid of any debris or poo in there then give it flakes and a piece of lettuce
you'll see in the following pictures if you don't get what i mean.

My future tank plan to get it non overstocked is to do the following:
first tank:
3peppered cory catfish
4female guppies
all the fry.
second tank:
12male guppies
1bristlenose pleco
in both i would put assorted decorations and other things.
i'm also going to be asking for your opinions on what to do for that.

Here are the pictures of my tanks:
First tank [already cycled and overstocked]

the right side of the tank

the middle of the tank aswell as the one gallon tank containing the females [temporarly]

the left side of the tank

Second tank that isn't cycling to well

Those rocks aren't supposed to be in there! how'd they get in there?!?

There are the best out of about 50 pictures that i took
as you can see...i'm not a photographer!

The NitrIte, Ammonia and Ph of my tanks:
New tank[uncycled]:
it has already had a NitrIte spike, and has gone back to zero for that
it has still had no ammonia ever
and the ph is around 7.6-8.0
Old tank[cycled]
0ammonia
0nitrIte
ph of about 7.4-7.8

Now to my questions:
1.How can i cycle my tank, they don't sell pure ammonia anywhere where i live!!
2.Can i do it by putting in the messy bristlenose pleco everyother day just for the day in the tank to get stuff producing?
3.Or are there any other ways of doing it? [please..very inexpensive ways!]
--I can't get matured filter media from anywhere either, so that's pretty much out of the question
--My uncycled tank also was just recently filled with algae--couldn't even see the other side of the tank, but i did water changes and scrubbed it off.
4.What are some of the best ways to decorate my tank, suggestions&critism is loved!
5.If my guppies are over producing, it is smart to seperate genders..or am i wong?
6.I think it's just because it's overcrowded, but is it normal to have my cories hiding all the time in the plants?
7.I won't get real plants, because it's hard enough to get my tank going without that extra worry, so is it alright to have it filled with fake plants?
8.Since i know i won't invest in a gravel vacuum too expensive, what would be the best gravel/sand to use on the bottom? or just larger rocks--what i have now. ?
and i think that's all for now! I really do thank anyone who has read all of this!!!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

1.How can i cycle my tank, they don't sell pure ammonia anywhere where i live!!
2.Can i do it by putting in the messy bristlenose pleco everyother day just for the day in the tank to get stuff producing?
3.Or are there any other ways of doing it? [please..very inexpensive ways!]
--I can't get matured filter media from anywhere either, so that's pretty much out of the question
--My uncycled tank also was just recently filled with algae--couldn't even see the other side of the tank, but i did water changes and scrubbed it off.
4.What are some of the best ways to decorate my tank, suggestions&critism is loved!
5.If my guppies are over producing, it is smart to seperate genders..or am i wong?
6.I think it's just because it's overcrowded, but is it normal to have my cories hiding all the time in the plants?
7.I won't get real plants, because it's hard enough to get my tank going without that extra worry, so is it alright to have it filled with fake plants?
8.Since i know i won't invest in a gravel vacuum too expensive, what would be the best gravel/sand to use on the bottom? or just larger rocks--what i have now. ?
and i think that's all for now! I really do thank anyone who has read all of this!!!

1 - best way is to take the filter for your new tank and run it in the old one for the next 2 weeks, it'll help keep the water clean while your main tank is overstocked and leave you with two mature filters

2 - wouldn't advise it, plecs are a bit sensitive to poor water and also it'd really stress him out being moved all the time, likely to make him ill

3 - umm, see no 1

4 - for me it's all about the natural look, no ornaments or fluro gravel, just plain natural gravel or sand, rocks, wood and real plants

5 - yes, definately smart to seperate the genders!!

6 - the cories are hiding because they need to be kept in groups of 6+ to be really happy, however you really don't have room for anymore fish, so unless you can find a home for them I'd leave them as they are or maybe just get 1 more (try advertising any excess fish in the buy, sell, swap section of this forum or you can even sell them on ebay

7 - fine if that's what you want

8 - sorry to say this but a gravel vac is not really optional, you need one to keep the tank floor clean enough for the BN and cories to be happy. however you don't need to go buy an expensive one, all you need is any length of tube, like a bit of hose pipe or something like that, it'll still work, although ideally i'd go for a slightly thinner tube than a hose, go to your local hardwarer/diy store and i'm sure you can find something nice and cheap

Hope that all helps

 

[doresy]

Hi to BC. was there myself a while back (V. Island)....Anyway, I am no expert but I'll try and kick things off for you.

Quite resorceful with the 'tank in tank' ploy although not ideal. Your guppy male-female ratio is well off. The other way around would be a little better. I have just re-homed all my females due to a fry explosion (fun at first)
Bit confused about the 2nd tank. If it has had a nitrIte spike then surely ammonia has been present at some time? I am trying to see, is that a HOB filter?
If you have read up on fishless cycle (I'll presume you have) you know the chemistry. Obviously using pure ammonia is more controlable but I do understand about the lack of being able to get SOME things over there that we take for granted in the UK, no offence (In V. Island anyway) In the absence of pure ammonia (in the UK it is available in household in DIY stores. Have you tried the chemist....ok drug store, to see if they can do special order?) you can produce your own by daily putting in flake and let it rot. It will help if you add substrate and up the temp a few degrees. You must have a test kit? Last thing on that tank, it looks by the amount of green algae present that too much artificial/natural light is falling on the tank.
Now for your questions....here are MY OPINIONS (maybe not fact )

.How can i cycle my tank, they don't sell pure ammonia anywhere where i live!!
Mayebe use flake as earlier discibed to create your own
2.Can i do it by putting in the messy bristlenose pleco everyother day just for the day in the tank to get stuff producing?
Certainly would not recommend this
3.Or are there any other ways of doing it? [please..very inexpensive ways!]
You can do a cycle WITH fish..look or ask for method
--I can't get matured filter media from anywhere either, so that's pretty much out of the question
What about taking a small piece from your cycled filter?
--My uncycled tank also was just recently filled with algae--couldn't even see the other side of the tank, but i did water changes and scrubbed it off.
Too much light. Artificial light is not needed for fishless cycle. Is sunlight falling onto this tank?
4.What are some of the best ways to decorate my tank, suggestions&critism is loved!
Obviously substrate, either gravel or better for cory....sand (those cobbles would look great with sand!)
5.If my guppies are over producing, it is smart to seperate genders..or am i wong?
Unless you wish to be constantly producing fry. Too many males to female will stress the f/m.
6.I think it's just because it's overcrowded, but is it normal to have my cories hiding all the time in the plants?
They are shy and require shelter (cave or a small pot on its side) They also like sandy substrate and shoal only in species and in 4-6's
7.I won't get real plants, because it's hard enough to get my tank going without that extra worry, so is it alright to have it filled with fake plants?
If this is your choice then there is nothing wrong with that
8.Since i know i won't invest in a gravel vacuum too expensive, what would be the best gravel/sand to use on the bottom? or just larger rocks--what i have now. ?
Sandy (playsand or silver sand maybe?) substrate for cory as said before. You can use smooth gravel at a push. A gravel vac/syphon tube is relatively cheap and really is a requirement. Your cobbles are great.

Gotta go now but hope this helps and stirrs up some other replies for you....will be watching....good luck

 

[chishnfips]

A gravel vac is only about afive pounds, definately worth having, where did you see them that they were too expensive? give me your address and a postal order for the posting and I'll post you a free spare one I have.




second thoughts I cant cause you live in BC lol....

 

[puffin3]

Hi Tamara,
We live in B.C. too near Powell River. Where are you? PM us if you want. My husband and I are brand new to 'tropicals' and we are getting a lot of enjoyment from them.

 

[tamara]

I'm on the other side of BC
Vancouver...well just outside of it.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I would also say that real plants should be considered a must IMO. They have so many benefits and as long as you use easy to grow ones you can't really go wrong.

 

[tamara]

just wondering, what is IMO ? i figured out what LFS is and most others, but i'm stumped on the IMO.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

IMO = in my opinion

 

[tamara]

thank you ahahaha