Impatient Partner

[rabbut]

OK, you seriously need to get rid of some fish in a 68l, to keep water changes manageable, you want a maximum of 4-5 fish... You have 19. A fully stocked 68l tank would have about 15 fish of that size, but just 8 or so for the first 6 months... You have 13 fish that are inappropriate for such a new tank if you choose to follow the fish-in cycle route, so I'd put them top of the list to get shifted. The tank is overstocked ATM and un-cycled, if you don't take them back to the store, they will almost definitely die. You kind of have the worst case scenario ATM, and continuing with the current stock would likely make you require nearer the 90% twice a day water change mark With tank's this small, really, the best way to cycle is to go fishless, as the small volume of water makes for a big toxin build-up quickly, even with a light stocking

All the best
rabbut

 

[SimoUK]

OK, you seriously need to get rid of some fish in a 68l, to keep water changes manageable, you want a maximum of 4-5 fish... You have 19. A fully stocked 68l tank would have about 15 fish of that size, but just 8 or so for the first 6 months... You have 13 fish that are inappropriate for such a new tank if you choose to follow the fish-in cycle route, so I'd put them top of the list to get shifted. The tank is overstocked ATM and un-cycled, if you don't take them back to the store, they will almost definitely die. You kind of have the worst case scenario ATM, and continuing with the current stock would likely make you require nearer the 90% twice a day water change mark With tank's this small, really, the best way to cycle is to go fishless, as the small volume of water makes for a big toxin build-up quickly, even with a light stocking

All the best
rabbut

i also think that the loaches wouldnt last very long? depending on what they are...

 

[rabbut]

It probably wouldn't make much difference what they are. All loaches I'm aware of are scaleless and hence very prone to chemical burns and poisoning...

 

[vinylman]

i'll get a testing kit tomorrow! i'll change out the water in a minute
the tank is 24" x 15" x 10" and is "68 litres"

you guys seem to know more then the fella that sold us the tank and fish!

You're very kind, but it's not much of a compliment - sometimes I think my cat knows more than some people who sell fish and tanks

 

[Marve99]

Morining

I have recently completed cycling my tank with 3 platys (I have the same size tank as you) and can only stress how much hard work is was keeping the water safe (relatively speaking) for my fish. I spent 4 weeks testing the water at least twice a day ane performing water changes at least once, often twice and aoccasioanly 3 times a day when I found ammonia/nitirtes in excess of 0.25ppm. It will be so much harder for you with 5 times as many fish-5 times as much waste!!

You may get through this without loosing all of you fish, but those who survive will suffer

If you can, take the advice of the experts on this site, get rid of the less hardy fish * and be prepared for lots of hard work.

* Taking them all back and proceeding with a fishless cycle would be ideal - a lot less effort than the alternative.

Good luck

 

[alien_pseudo]

i might have come across a cunning plan that might just help, i know its not the most effective method, but i was talking to my friend and and explained what had happened, and explained what i knew of the 'cycling' process. he managed to get some bacterised (i know its not a proper word) filter foam from his girlfriends sisters tank and we added to my filter after changing the water. since then i have noticed the tank looks clearer and the fish look much happier! i'm still waiting for a test kit. i will continue with the water changes and post the results as and when i have them

i have to admit i did suffer some dead over night sadly

i think it is a good lesson to people wanting to set up a fresh water tank, its not as easy as it might seem without a bit of research before hand.

 

[alien_pseudo]

i might have come across a cunning plan that might just help, i know its not the most effective method, but i was talking to my friend and and explained what had happened, and explained what i knew of the 'cycling' process. he managed to get some bacterised (i know its not a proper word) filter foam from his girlfriends sisters tank and we added to my filter after changing the water. since then i have noticed the tank looks clearer and the fish look much happier! i'm still waiting for a test kit. i will continue with the water changes and post the results as and when i have them

i have to admit i did suffer some dead over night sadly

i think it is a good lesson to people wanting to set up a fresh water tank, its not as easy as it might seem without a bit of research before hand.

 

[rabbut]

*looks at bottle beside him* I'm seeing double, I've had enough

The mature filter media donation may well help you along a great deal Depending on how much you got, you could even see an instant cycle in such a small tank, but mature media can shave weeks off a cycle with even a small amount

All the best
Rabbut

 

[mayurkirti]

Some people have had good luck adding fish to their tank on day one while the fish still survived. This is mere luck. You cannot always count on it. And that's way too many fish to begin with. I once added 2 and 4 tetras to my brand new tank and they died in less than a week.

Most beginners who dont understand the concept of cycle buy some fish and keep them as long as they survive (some fish will survive extreme conditions), the tank automatically cycles within few days.

A guy was so surprised to see my test kit the other day. He told me he had 6 gold fish in a 10G tank and always did a 100% water change every time the water got muddy. AND he never had dead fish. But this very risky. You have to understand the nitrogen cycle if you want to take fish keeping as a hobby. That's just how it is.

my 2c.

 

[alien_pseudo]

hi guys, i had to work all day yesterday unfortunately, however i did manage to get a liquid test kit the API master as suggested.

i did a 30% water change and tested the water 3 hours later the results are as follows:

temp = 25oC
PH level = 7.4
ammonia = 0.25ppm
nitrite = 0ppm
nitrate = 0ppm

is this good? and what should happen next?

someone earlier asked about my filter its an interpet pf2.

with regards the borrowed filter media, i put half of the mature media in my filter and kept half of what was already in, and what was left of the other half of the mature media some went under the gravel and some in a tank decoration.

Rabbut i noticed your info says your from leeds, oddly im from bradford where do you buy you fish from? (not that im intending to get any just yet!!)

any more help/advice would be great!

 

[Curiosity101]

Those results look great. I bet you'd have been shocked to see your results before you added the donated media!
It seems your filter still needs to catch up, but so long as you keep ammonia below 0.25 and eventually when nitrites show up keep those below 0.25. Then hopefully you shouldn't have too many casualties!

However I would re-test nitrates...Shake the bottles like crazy, then add solution #1 shake for 30 secs THEN add solutions #2.
I have a feeling you've got a false negative reading there.