Late Cycling In Already Overstocked Tank...?

[Aleydis]

Hi, everyone. I'm what you all may call 'A n00b'. I've got some serious problems right now, and I could really use some help.

My tank currently holds:

-2 plecos
-3 red platys
-2 yellow-black platys
-4 female guppies
-4 male guppies
-10 cardinal tetras (Seriously pissing me off right now... >( )

Heavily planted with plastic plants, only 1 inch or less of gravel.

I tested my water for the first time in one and a half months yesterday, and the results showed up. My ammonia and Nitrate/Nitrite levels worried me the most.
Ammonia: 2
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

A few people in and out of this site has so graciously informed me that I should be panicking and stressing my head off. Personally, I don't think the ammonia level should be this high. I'm not sure if the nitrate/nitrite levels should be so low.

Is there anything I can do right now without taking any of my fish out of the tank?
I will not buy products that help in the production of reduction of anything... I'm sorry- right now there's just no opportunity. If you read my signature, you should know my situation.

Is there anything natural I can do (water changes?) to reduce ammonia and correct nitrate and nitrite levels without severely disturbing my fish? They've already shown signs of stress and low immune system due to what I think is the ammonia (Lost several fish to internal bacteria, dropsy, unexplained illnesses), and many of my fish are flashing and a male has been staying on the surface for some time.

Please provide as much detail as possible... Thanks.

 

[dthoffsett]

It sounds to me like your tank never cycled, or is massively overstocked.

What size is your tank (dimensions and volume please)?

How often do you do water changes?

How often do you clean/change your filter media? When you clean it do you use old tank water or tap?

In a cycled tank, your ammonia and nitrite should always be zero. You'll want to do daily water changes until your ammonia and nitrite remains at zero. I'd suggest reading Miss Wiggle's guide to fish-in cycling.
Cycling with fish


Edit: Forgot to add, if you want more responses, you might consider typing with something darker than light purple. It's killer on the eyes, especially when mine are already bad.

 

[Corleone]

There's some more information on Aleydis's ongoing saga in this thread over in New to the Hobby, should answer most of the standard emergency questions.

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/246...tocked-/page/0/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/246...tocked-/page/0/[/URL]

Unfortunately, she's in a tight spot, having parents that believes that her attempts at proper fish keeping is what's killing the fish and have hampered things as simple as water changes, so it's been a bit of an ongoing thread over there.

 

[Aleydis]

Size- 20 gallons

Water Changes- My family did not allow me to do water changes more than once a month at the beginning, so I think most of the ammonia stemmed from here. Only recently have I gotten them to realize the importance of water changes. I've tried to do a 10% change every week, but upon the first ever ammonia readings last night, I performed a 50% water change+ gravel vac.

Filter media cleaning- My family also forbids me to clean the filter. I wanted to clean it once per week using tank water, but they think it's unnecessary and won't let me touch it. It has not been cleaned for at least a month. I'm still on the route to educating them about the importance of cleaning filters as well. They seem to think that tanks clean itself. They think I'm overreacting.

Okay. Purple is gone. Thanks.

Edit: Thank you, Corleone. You're really helping me out in every field here! Literally!

 

[dthoffsett]

Not entirely sure how to help you as far as cycling then. The only way to rid your tank of the ammonia is by doing water changes. Not sure if it was suggested before, but you might print out and let them read Miss Wiggle's article from the link I posted, it explains the cycle process well in easy to understand terms, and also explains why it should be done.

 

[Aleydis]

I've read Miss Wiggle's cycle article. It doesn't seem to help for my situation Her article pinpoints what to do if you have a quarter of the fish you're supposed to have in you tank. I have more than I'm supposed to already and no other place to put them until the 10 gallon is set up, cycled and running.
I'm glad you're helping though, dthoffsett.

 

[TetraLinz]

I've read Miss Wiggle's cycle article. It doesn't seem to help for my situation Her article pinpoints what to do if you have a quarter of the fish you're supposed to have in you tank. I have more than I'm supposed to already and no other place to put them until the 10 gallon is set up, cycled and running.
I'm glad you're helping though, dthoffsett.

The tank sounds like it's right at the beginning of the cycle. Have you been using any dechloronating product to remove chlorine and chloramine?

No matter how overstocked you are, water changes will help. That 50% water change that you carried out was a great start - now you really need to carry on doing daily water changes of around 15% until ammonia and nitrite are 0. After that, ideally, you'll be looking at changing about 10-25% every week, but if you're overstocked, you may have to carry out water changes as much as twice a week.

Filters need to be cleaned in old tank water once every month.

 

[RedeyesUK]

I would suggest setting up your 10G and putting some of your fish in there, at least temporarily.

I know it's not cycled, but then, from the sounds of it, neither is your main tank. Using the other tank would help spread the load a bit, and ease the pressure on your main one. At least that way, you'll be dealing with two uncycled tanks, rather than one uncycled and overstocked tank. Frequent (daily if possible) water changes on both tanks are important at this stage to keep the ammonia down as far as possible.

I also wouldn't worry too much about cleaning the filter too regularly, especially at this stage - that won't help reduce your ammonia levels, and may interrupt the cycle. Once a month should be fine, unless it's clogging up.

Keep it up, you'll get through this in the end.