Is Everything Okay?

[Fishloverxo]

Okay so I've put my 2 new fish in my new tank and I just want to know if everything is going okay.

I've had my tank set up with the gravel, decorations, water and the filter running and I added the tap safe treatment to make the tap water safe for the fish, this has all been running fine for 3 days.

My water began to look cloudy yesterday and I was a little worried but I looked online and it seemed to be something that normally happened in a new fish tank.

So, I went out this morning to get my 2 variatus platies, from pets at home. I then came home and floated the bag they came in, in the tank for around 20 minutes, and then added some of the water from my tank to the bag. I then waited a further 10 minutes, and then I carefully used a net to transfer the fish from the bag to my tank, and I didn't put the water that was in the bag into my bag as I've read that you shouldn't do this.

My fish seemed to be very shy and not active which I thought was normal as they may have been slightly stressed from moving tanks, etc.

The water has seemed to become even cloudier, and the fish are still not very active, but they are generally moving around and exploring. I've fed them a few flakes which they have eaten over a couple of hours (I know your not meant to supply them with food that they can't eat in 2minutes but it's their first feed from me and I guessed they were a bit cautious).

I just went to check with you guys as I feel your all more experienced than me as this my first time owning any fish at all.

Is everything going okay? Are my fish in danger or anything?

Thanks

 

[KirkyArcher]

Yes, your fish are in danger, from a build up of ammonia produced from their waste, probably will need to do a 50% or greater water change every day for a few weeks.

 

[Fishloverxo]

Thanks for your reply & helpful advice.

However I'm little confused on what you mean by a build up of ammonia, when the water tests confirm that I have 0 ammonia? If I've done the water tests right that is.

The nitrites are at 5.0 which I already know is a little worrying.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Nitrites with an I or Nitrates with an A? If it's nitrates then 5.0 is fine. If it's nitrites then you need to water change that level down. What type of test kit are you using? I recommend that you test for ammonia and nitrite levels daily. It's going to take a while for two fish to start to cause elevated levels of ammonia, and once ammonia is present you will also see nitrite levels rise. You will do your water changes to keep control of the ammonia and nitrite. But I would imagine it will take a couple days to start to see stuff happen.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Was just keeping it simple, ammonia TOXIC > nitrites at 5.0 very TOXIC > Nitrates only toxic in quite high quantities,

 

[Lillefishy]

Fish produce waste all the time, you have no good bacteria in your filter yet to neutralise that waste.
Until your filter is cycled you need to do daily water changes with dechlorinated temp matched water so your fish aren't being poisoned by their own waste.
Do you have a water testing kit? If not I'd recommend you get one so you can monitor your water

 

[Fishloverxo]

Nitrites with an I.

I'm using King British test strips ( would have preferred API has most fish owners I've read use these but someone else got me them), and I am planning testing for ammonia and nitrite everyday.

I am also planning on doing partial water changes everyday.

The two fish have been in the tank since about 2pm today, it's currently approx. 8:30pm, do I need to do a water change tonight or will they be fine until tomorrow?

 

[Gvilleguy]

If you have 5.0 nitrites right now that is weird, AND very harmful to the fish. Unless your source water has nitrites in it. Have you tested the source water? 

 

[Fishloverxo]

Is the source water just the tap water without any tap safe products in it? I'm pretty sure they were 5.0, I will check.

 

[b3cca]

Hiya, what you are basically starting now is a fish in cycle -- 
All you need to do is look at the threads and advice here about fish in cycling and to do it correctly you must get a decent liquid test kit as everybody here seems to concur that those test strips can be highly innacurate.
 
I don't think it's possible to have Nitrites unless you have had ammonia first and I'm no expert but I doubt your tap water actually has 5 ppm nitrites ? The maximum permitted in drinking water is 1ppm from what I have read.
you could always call your water supplier and get them to send or tell you the excact parameters to be sure.
 
Fish in cycling requires lots of testing and lots of PWC it is hard work but can be done ok as long as you keep on top of everything and keeping bioload small with minimal feeding will also help 

 

[westonsupermanc]

Filter aid will clear your water within a few days but to be honest although platys are hardy fish the temptation to put fish in a bright new tank is so appealing but often ends in deaths I am afraid. every tank I set up I leave for at least 4 weeks before I even consider fish and then I test it out with a real hardy character. patience is a virtue in this game.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Unfortunately, your tank isn't cycled, click the link in my signature to find out what that is.
 
You need to get a liquid test kit, the API freshwater master test kit includes everything you need to test for, pH, high pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
Once you get this, test your water daily and depending on your pH, as soon as you reach a certain level of ammonia or nitrite, you will need to do a water change.
 
The best thing you could do would be to either rehome the platies (take them back to the LFS or to someone with a suitable tank) or get some mature filter media (from your LFS or a friend with a mature tank).
If you rehome them, you can then do a fishless cycle and possibly get the platies back or get some other fish.
 
The cloudy water is just a bacterial bloom, nothing to worry about. Just let it run its course.
 
What size is your tank?

 

[Fishloverxo]

15l. Yes I know everyone is going to be moaning at me for such a small tank, but you know, they seem to be doing fine in there and I've checked with Pets at home and they say the tank is fine.


Giving the fish to someone else is not an option and I'm pretty sure my LPS won't take them back.


I'm just going to do a fish in cycle. As you can see I'm pretty cautious and protective over my fish so I literally come and check the tank every 20 minutes or so.

I will do my very best to keep the fish as healthy as possible.

 

[Lillefishy]

Lfs will tell you anything to make a sale.
You obviously want to do the best for your fish but keeping them in such a small tank will stunt their growth & shorten their lifespan, platys are very active fish & they will be very cramped in a tank that small

 

[Blondielovesfish]

I'm sorry, but you need to rehome your fish anyway, regardless of the cycle.
 
Platies need a tank at least 15 gallons big, 57 litres.
 
Unfortunately, places like pets at home are just trying to make a profit, a lot of the shops don't really care about the fish, and will say almost anything to make a sale.
 
The only thing you could keep in that tank, would be either a betta or some shrimp, sorry.