Need Advice

[scorpio39]

Hope i have posted in the right thread, i am needing some advice.
I have a 13 gallon tank, i bought some guppys, 2 mollys, this was 2 weeks ago, now one of the guppys had babies, they are in the nursery, 5 of them in big tank doing fine, i have been feeding the babies in the nursery at morning and night, also having to put some in big tank for the babies, of course the big fish were eating aswell, the black molly had white spots on it, so i was putting in white spot stuff for that, he seems to be ok, the other molly was ok yesterday, and last night i found him lying upside down at bottom, was this due to over feeding, as i dont want to strave the babies?
Also i take about just under third of old wate rout of the tank every week, is this right? I noticed that i have tiny little white bits floating about top of the tank, what is this??
I would appreciate the help and advice as i love fish, sea water, and i really really want to make this a great hobby but not kill my fish in the process.
Thank you in advance.
Chris xx

 

[Chuka1212]

Ok, I am not sure if I am understanding everything but I will give it a shot. From what I understand you have a 13 gallon tank with a breeder net/seperater withing the tank?

How many fry are there? Total fish? Do you have a way of measuring your water parameters (pH, nitrates, ammonia, etc)

How long has the tank been running? What are you feeding the fry? How much?

Answers to these questions would help to get you some specific help but I will give it a shot. It sounds like (if you have the breeder thing inside of your 13gallon) that you are overstocked. It is very hard to breed anything with their parents in a tank that small. Toxic substances quickly accumulate in such little water.

I would recommend a seperate tank for the fry, and to evaluate how much you are feeding them. How many spots did your molly have? Did it look like she had a heavy infestation of white spot? She could have died from that I suppose.

Anyways, hope that little bit helped, and with more info I am sure a problem can be pinpointed.

BTW, welcome to the forums.

 

[scorpio39]

Thank you, sorry for not much info, going by a table of the white spot i have a 13 gallon tank, the tank has been running for 2 years, then all the fish died in it , so i emptied the tank, cleaned it with salty water, gave it a good rinse, left the filled tank empty for a week, then introduced new fish, i bought 3 femal guppys, (forgot to buy a male), also 2 mollys, after a week of having them, i noticed fry, she had 17 and i still have 17. i managed to borrow my neighbours little nursery container to put babies in, but missed 4 of them, day after an adult female guppy died, she looked stressed out, could not tell what one had the babies. Then week later the molly died, the one that had the white spots on is fine, no spots and swimming about.
I have never bought any of the ph testing things as i dont knwo what to do with them or where to start, i cleaned the filter out last week, in tank water when i took just under third out
What do i need to do, on top of the water it looks like tiny tiny air bubbles but i know its not bubbles., its little white bits?
Will take a pic later when i get the chance and show you.


The fry i am giving them tiny tiny bits of flaked food, morning and night.

Here is a pic,

 

[Chuka1212]

My guess would be that you are a bit overstocked. I could be way off, but for some reason (maybe because the babies grow quickly) there seems to be a lot of waste(ammonia) associated with the fry. I tried the same thing you did, putting about 20 fry in a breeder net with my adult guppies, and quickly had problems with accumulation of ammonia, like I said before a 10gallon tank is very susceptible to toxic buildups.

I would bet your molly died from a combination of the white spot and from excess ammonia. To be sure I would purchase a test kit or some testing strips which are very easy to use, you just dip them in and out of the water and compare them to a color chart. This will give you a good idea of how healthy your water is. You can also take a water sample to most pet shops (petco and petsmart) and they will test it for you.

To solve my problem I left just the guppies in their 10 gallon then I bought a plastic storage bin that had around a 20gallon capacity. All I did was hang a cheap filter over the side and got a heater... It was a very cheap setup and left room for my fry to grow.

Also when you feed your fry be sure you are not giving them too much. Once you transfer some fry I would imagine you would see a decline in fish death/sickness.

 

[scorpio39]

Thanks Chuka, so you think that all the babies are giving out ammonia and its killing all the adult fish, i have 2 guppys and a molly left,
Ok i shall go to town tomorrow and ask for a water testing kit for tropical tanks yes? Also what do i need to kill of the bacteria when i change my water, or do i not need anything, i take hot water from kettle and add cold?

 

[scorpio39]

Will that explain the white dandruff like stuff floating about on top?

 

[Chuka1212]

Yes, I think it could be the large amount of fish in one small tank. That is what happened to me. As for the bacteria I don't think white spot is caused by bacteria. But if you have treated for the disease by following the medications instructions, the white spot disease should be gone.

Yes, if it's in your budget, I would ask for a testing kit or testing strips for freshwater tanks. It can tell you loads of things. Too much ammonia and nitrites would be due to overstocking or over feeding. pH can tell you what fish are optimal for your water, etc. etc.

And about the white stuff floating on top... I have no idea what that could be. Some sort of bacteria maybe. Or maybe rotting food? I am really not sure. I wish someone else would help us out here, but it is hard to find help on these forums at times. Make sure that you are feeding your fry only a pinch or two of food 2-3 times daily. Too much food can also cause ammonia and nitrite spikes in your water.

 

[scorpio39]

Yes, I think it could be the large amount of fish in one small tank. That is what happened to me. As for the bacteria I don't think white spot is caused by bacteria. But if you have treated for the disease by following the medications instructions, the white spot disease should be gone.

Yes, if it's in your budget, I would ask for a testing kit or testing strips for freshwater tanks. It can tell you loads of things. Too much ammonia and nitrites would be due to overstocking or over feeding. pH can tell you what fish are optimal for your water, etc. etc.

And about the white stuff floating on top... I have no idea what that could be. Some sort of bacteria maybe. Or maybe rotting food? I am really not sure. I wish someone else would help us out here, but it is hard to find help on these forums at times. Make sure that you are feeding your fry only a pinch or two of food 2-3 times daily. Too much food can also cause ammonia and nitrite spikes in your water.

Thank you Chuka, yes it would be good for more answers by some people, but nevermind, you have helped me a great deal, looks like i cant get into town today so will have to go tomorrow, the white stuff is not floating about in the wee nursery just the big tank, never had that before, i tried fishing itout with a net but it went through the net, so sat water change should help it out.
Thanks again my dear for your help.

 

[Chuka1212]

Good luck and I hope all goes well!