New To This :-(

[MKB1981]

Just starting out with fish and having problems

Got my new tank (48L) and set it up 2weeks ago, set it up(filter, heater, gravel and little ornament) and left it for 4 days!

Got some fish to put in, 9 Guppys of different colours but all around the same size and 2small plecs (the guy in the shop said this would be plenty for the size of my tank).

All were fine for 1st day, then they started dying. Every day I'd come home from work and another fish would be dead!

Now the only fish left is 1of the plecs.

What should I to before adding more fish? Obviously don't want to keep adding fish if they are just going to die.

Only when they started dying have I found out about having to cycle the tank (my bad should have done more research before I started). Can I cycle the tank with the plec still in there or would he need to be removed? (I do have a smaller tank that used to be for some goldfish I had a few years ago)

Advice would be appreciated! ;-(

 

[Scates11]

I would return the plec as it will prob. outgrow your tank anyway and do a fishless cycle...trust me I am still in the middle of a fish-in cycle and it's a pain in the butt. Do yourself the favor of being patient and doing it the right way.

 

[DrRob]

I'm with returning the plec, especially if it's a common plec, they're far too big a fish for your tank.

Silver lining if there is one is that you're starting with a fair amount of ammonia for your cycle already.

 

[Philip.]

have a read of this, it should give you all the info you need http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

 

[paradiddle]

The sad thing is that pet shops actually sell people fish on the basis that if they leave it running 3 days, you can add fish, BAD IDEA.
Return the plec, and dont ever get one unless its in a BIG tank and your SURE it wont outgrow the tank, they can get to 2ft long. YES 2 FOOT.

Leave the water, dont empty it. Get yourself a bottle of ammonia of ebay, make sure it has no surfactants and colourants! and read the link the other chap posted about a fishLESS cycle. Basically, you will have to wait a few weeks before you add fish, but it makes water changes LESS essential ((still important though!)) and aids a healthy tank. It will create MILLIONS of bacteria that will live in your filter that will digest fishy poop! Ammonia is a product produced by fish and if its not destroyed it WILL kill, as you have found out.

Follow the methods in the link, when its done cycling (heads up could be 2 weeks, could be 60 weeks, most are around 4-6) you are ready to add fish GRADUALLY, even with a cycled tank, what that guy sold you in the shop is RETARDED! you could heavily stock a tank IF its properly cycled, maintained and cared for. If your looking for a casual fish experience, i recommend you cycle, add 5 guppy (if thats what you like) over a course of 2 weeks, test the water properly with an API master test kit, if all seems fine every day, you could possibly get away with a couple more guppies, no more.

hope this helps and dont give up!