New To Fish Tanks

[Phisher84]

Hi everyone! My great friend just recently gave me a 55 gallon (208 litre?) tank. Also the stand, top, heat lamps, an underground filter, a 2 wheeled top sitting filter, power head, and just lots of goodies. I got my tank all set up, used a tap-water purifier filter, let the tank run its course for about a week and got some fishies. I currently have a Beta (siamese fighting fish- but he's very mild and gets along with all the other fishies) 2 Dalmation Mollies, 4 Flame Dwarf Gouramis, 2 Albino Catfish, and I think 1 Ghost Shrimp. I had 5, but apparently all the other fish found them tasty. What I'm looking for now is more bottom feeders. I have a tank vacuum, but I'd like to not have to use that as much. My first water change I did the temperature dropped too much and one of the mollies died. Also with the Mollies and the brackish water thing. I added a little aquarium salt after my second Mollie died, and now the other two are doing great. Will the other fish be ok with change? Thanks for any help or advice. I'm new to this and don't want my new babies to die!

 

[fatheadminnow]

to TFF!

First thing is first...lol... is your tank cycled?

Do you know what your water parameters are? Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH?

Once again, welcome!

-FHM

 

[Phisher84]

Yes, I started the tank about a month ago, and let it run it's cycle for about a week. Since then I've added about 2-3 fishies a week, checking the water levels out before hand. Everything is perfect, except the ammonia got up a little bit after the 2 Mollies died, but everything is back to normal again.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yes, I started the tank about a month ago, and let it run it's cycle for about a week. Since then I've added about 2-3 fishies a week, checking the water levels out before hand. Everything is perfect, except the ammonia got up a little bit after the 2 Mollies died, but everything is back to normal again.

That's good!

What kind of test kit are you using?

-FHM

 

[Phisher84]

Yes, I started the tank about a month ago, and let it run it's cycle for about a week. Since then I've added about 2-3 fishies a week, checking the water levels out before hand. Everything is perfect, except the ammonia got up a little bit after the 2 Mollies died, but everything is back to normal again.

That's good!

What kind of test kit are you using?

-FHM

The free ones at the lfs! lol

Oh, and never mind the aquarium salt, the other Mollies are dead. One, not sure how, and one got caught in some coral and I didn't get to him in time. I'm done with Mollies.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Was there mature filter media that you got with your tank?

I would suggest buying a liquid test kit, as the strip test kits are no good.

-FHM