New Tank Owner

[chick_litt]

I just bought a new tank set it up about 4 days ago to let it get started like I was told to. We just bought our first 6 fish. 5 guppies and an albino bristlenose pleco. The one guppy had pieces missing from his tall and we could tell he wasnt doing well we left and came back about 2 or 3 hours later and he was dead. That was expected but only like 20 or 30 min. later I noticed that our pleco was belly up on the bottom of the tank. He was fine looking only like a few min. before. I really want to know what was happened to him. Was it stress from moving or what could it have been? I am really sad becuase it is my first tank and I have already lost two fish

 

[kribensis12]

Well, you have to cycle the tnak. What you need to do is either a fishless cycle, or put maybe 1 or 2 feeder minnow's in there. Do day by day water change's for around 3-4 week's. Do you have a filter? What size tank is it? If you do not cycle the tnak, your fish are almost GARUNTEED to die. Look up cycling in the pinned topic's on the newbie board (i think).

 

[chick_litt]

Well, you have to cycle the tnak. What you need to do is either a fishless cycle, or put maybe 1 or 2 feeder minnow's in there. Do day by day water change's for around 3-4 week's. Do you have a filter? What size tank is it? If you do not cycle the tnak, your fish are almost GARUNTEED to die. Look up cycling in the pinned topic's on the newbie board (i think).

I have a filter and it is a 20g. I didn't know about cycling until today about 30min. ago. I read the post and it did help alot. Thanks. It is so hard when you are really new to something. The people at the pet store don't give you any real info. There is so much you have to do to start up a new tank and unless you really look it is so hard to find the info. Its funny because we did alot of searching before we got fish and I never read anything about cycling. Well I know now. Thanks again.

 

[DarkEntity]

rule of thumb, Fish stores are there to sell you stuff, in all the years ive kept fish i can count on one hand how many stores ive heard say "no we cant sell you fish you havent run in/cycled the tank" Its all about learning, thankfully you only got 2 fish so now know to do a fishless cycle before adding anything else.

Cycle is the most annoying part for most newcomers as all they want is a tank with pretty fish, but do the cycle properly and you will have all that and much more, becuase the fish will be healthy aswell

good luck with the cycle, and just remember when buying fish the owness is on you to check them out before parting with cash aswell, the number of people who come home with a tiny cute fish that they later find to be a baby 3ft monster is silly

 

[chick_litt]

Thanks for all your help. I feel really bad that I didn't know this before and now I have killed two fish and my other 4 will likely not survive from what guys have been saying. I hope they do.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

This article in the link below should be of some help to you;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099

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How many gallons/litres is the tank do you know? If you are to cycle the tank with fish, the tank should be under-stocked with fish to help prevent ammonia and nitrite problems spiralling out of control.

 

[chick_litt]

Like I mentioned earlier it is a 20g. I have read the cycling post shortly after I posted my post and I had sadly never heard about that before. I am going to buy a testing kit today and start trying to get my tank cycled. I hope my fish are able to survive it. there aren't many of them so they shouldn't produce huge amouts of ammonia. Thanks again everyone fore the help, I hate being a newbie.