New Tropical Fish Owner - General Advice Sought

[missymiss]

Hello all,

This is my first post and my first time owning tropical fish. All I can say is thank you for this forum. I've learned a lot already by reading past posts.
I just wanted to let you know a bit of background on my fish. They are really doing well despite recent trauma let me explain.

I've have
1 black molly
2 hi fin platys
and 6 tetras

They were in a 60L tank and apart from the molly developing white spot in the first few days (which it has now recovered from) all were doing well. Then my tank broke completely and due to the fish shop being closed I had to buy a kids started tank (oh hum). It's designed for cold water however I've put the heater in there and the temp is perfect. I also put some of the old media from the old tank in the new one. the tank has a filter system and it seems to be working well - I say that but not sure if I'm doing something wrong along the way - before I tell you why here are the stats for the tank.

16 litre capacity. Size (W)39, (D)24.5, (H)29cm

Now as you can see these fish have gone from a 60L to a 16L. I'm concerned that I've overstocked these fish - but seemingly they are showing no signs of distress. Swimming normally, fins and gills fine. They have been in there for a few days and I've been checking the temp and nitrite levels daily like a hawk. It's almost obsessive lol.

Now the tank is going through cycle and I'm getting concerned that I'm doing almost daily partial water changes. As soon as the nitrites are getting to 0.8mg I do a partial change. I noticed it spiked up quick yesterday because I've put that down to the fact I've fed them too much the day before - and the black molly eats like a horse. I've tried to limit them to every other day through the previous tanks cycle. Was I right in doing that?
They have plants in there though.

So now I've given you the background I wanted to ask - despite the size of the tank and the prospect of moving some of them to a new one is it something I should really do given that this tank is in cycle and I'd have to start over with a new tank and also should my nitrite levels even out or do I have no hope with a tank this small of getting away from almost daily partial water changes? I don't want to cause anymore trauma to these dear fish than they have already been through.

Oh forgot to mention that I'm using stress coat+ when doing the water changes.

Thanks for reading and I hope to get your advice.

 

[drobbyb]

Forgive me for being honest, but 16 liters isn't alot of water. IMHO those fish need a larger tank. I can understand the change, but 16 liters will make your ammonia and nitrite build up fast (possibly too fast for the filter.)

I forgot to add: Welcome to TFF!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi missymiss

Welcome to the forum!

I'm going to move your thread over to the New to the Hobby section. I think you will get the help you are seeking there.

 

[missymiss]

Thanks for the welcome drobbyb,
I know it's not a lot so don't worry about being honest.
I need to get another tank but as I said I'm unsure how best to split the fish. I'm so worried about causing them more trauma with another move.
I don't want to go through the headache of relying on one big tank because of the disaster that struck before so I'm thinking two tanks of 30L or shall I keep the tetra's in the 16L and get one 30L for the molly and the hi-fins?
What would you advise?
Thanks.


Oh and hi inchworm - thanks for moving the thread. Good idea.

 

[drobbyb]

I suggest you read MissWiggle's fish in cycling guide found: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355 if you haven't already. If you split them into 2 30L tanks we need to control your ammonia and nitrite levels through waterchanges. Do you have a liquid based test kit? If you do, that makes things a bit easier. We are trying to keep both levels under .25 What you should do is go ahead and do a 50% waterchange now and test the levels afterwards. If the levels are over .25 we need to do another 50% waterchange (and so on and so forth) to get them where we need them.

Using this method will take some time and work, but it's better for the poor fish that have to cycle the tanks. If you have any more questions just ask. I'm going to check the forums one more time before I head off to bed.

 

[missymiss]

Thank you so much Robby.
Yes I have a liquid testing kit which I've been using. I generally have been testing before and after the water changes. I will do as you suggested.

I'm a little confused and pardon for my ignorance but on my testing kit which is a Tetra one I have the amount of nitrite and different colors associated with the specific level.

For instance I have two levels at 0.3mg/l one is yellow the very top and the one below it is light orange.
The other three are 0.8mg/l darker orange 1.6mg/l red and 3.3-33mg/l very deep red.

My ignorance is due to not being awake in chemistry lessons as a kid but would I be right and thinking anything over 0.8mg is a no no? red= danger right? I've been doing partial changes at the light orange 0.3mg/l mark

Your .25 quote has confused me - please let me know what you mean.

I will buy the tanks and set them up today.

Another interesting note to mention and I don't want to get too carried away but if I put the platies and the mollie in the same tank can I then make it into a saltwater tank as described in this topic

I have read the excellent article yes, but I do need to read it again to absorb all the information.

Thank you once again, Robby

 

[drobbyb]

I was basing off of the assumption that you had an API test kit. Don't worry, the tetra ones are fine. On an API testkit, .25 ppm is the first color on the color card. Basicailly you are aiming to do a water change if your color goes red.

 

[missymiss]

Thanks for clarifying Robby

 

[waterdrop]

Welcome to TFF!

I agree with Robby's advice, you're in good hands there. Water changes based on tests as he's describing is indeed your most important goal in this situation. In such a small volume you'll want tests morning and evening and you should expect to do frequent water changes to keep stats close to zero. Note that you need to wait about an hour after a water change to get a reasonable result as the changed water needs to get mixed more evenly, and if you've done a 50% change you probably don't need another test until later in the day, unless you suspect the water changes are still not doing enough. Its a detective process!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[missymiss]

Thanks for the welcome, waterdrop

You extra advice in waiting to test is also very valuable so thanks for that.

I could only get one 30L today because they only had one left in stock at my local store, so I will keep the tetras in the smaller tank and move the other three in the 30L

I will check them twice a day as you suggested and do the relevant water changes.

Fingers crossed all will be well with my beauties - I can't believe how attached I've got to them in such a short space of time.