I have a 60 litre 2 x 1 foot tank.
I did a fish in cycle (started off with 2 danios and 2 platies), but took very good care to make sure the water was good etc. Its been setup 5 months or more now. I got confident with the tank community (maybe too confident) and I added 5 neon tetras and 2 more platies after 4 months or so.
A few weeks later I added 5 mollies (big mistake). I got complacent with the tank water (stopped testing regularly and I only took out 30% every sunday). I also overfed (everyday I just threw in a small bunch of flakes).
This resulted in a pretty bad ammonia breakout (for how long, im not sure), the bacteria couldnt break all the excess food down and the mollies were making more mess.
The tank had massive deaths last month - both original platies, 1 danio, 3 mollies, 3 neon tetras. The latest (4th) molly died 2 days ago (I guess he was stronger than the rest and the previous ammonia posion caught up with him, as the levels were all ok after testing a few times). The guy at the local fish shop said adding the 5 mollies at once was a bad move as they are "hard on the water" (waste etc?) and they are too big for the tank.
I gave the tank a good clean and tested it properly, before and after. All readings were good: zero ammonia + nitrite, decent PH (7) and a decent orange colour for nitrate.
I restocked with 2 platies and 3 neon tetras. I only feed every other day now, and I am conservative with how much I throw in.
I think I have learned a valuable lesson, but is there anything else I should consider or take away form these sad losses? My girlfriend was pretty upset and was almost annoyed at me for coming home with more fish so soon.
Thoughts?
I did a fish in cycle (started off with 2 danios and 2 platies), but took very good care to make sure the water was good etc. Its been setup 5 months or more now. I got confident with the tank community (maybe too confident) and I added 5 neon tetras and 2 more platies after 4 months or so.
A few weeks later I added 5 mollies (big mistake). I got complacent with the tank water (stopped testing regularly and I only took out 30% every sunday). I also overfed (everyday I just threw in a small bunch of flakes).
This resulted in a pretty bad ammonia breakout (for how long, im not sure), the bacteria couldnt break all the excess food down and the mollies were making more mess.
The tank had massive deaths last month - both original platies, 1 danio, 3 mollies, 3 neon tetras. The latest (4th) molly died 2 days ago (I guess he was stronger than the rest and the previous ammonia posion caught up with him, as the levels were all ok after testing a few times). The guy at the local fish shop said adding the 5 mollies at once was a bad move as they are "hard on the water" (waste etc?) and they are too big for the tank.
I gave the tank a good clean and tested it properly, before and after. All readings were good: zero ammonia + nitrite, decent PH (7) and a decent orange colour for nitrate.
I restocked with 2 platies and 3 neon tetras. I only feed every other day now, and I am conservative with how much I throw in.
I think I have learned a valuable lesson, but is there anything else I should consider or take away form these sad losses? My girlfriend was pretty upset and was almost annoyed at me for coming home with more fish so soon.
Thoughts?
