New User With Problem

[tonyrobbo]

hi all im new to this i have been given a fish tank with fish in but they are slowly dying i've added some new ones some have died others doing ok but the tank relly smells when i open the lid i had about 20 baby guppies now down to about 6 lost 2 lemon tetra 2 neon 4 adult guppies .i now have 3 mollies 2 tiger barb 1 albino shark 1 lemon tetra 1 pleco 2 neons and about 6 baby guppies my tank is small holds about 25 litres of water with sand not gravel and some plastic plants if anyone has any ideas what the smell is or why my fish are dying i would be very gratefull thx

 

[Tempestuousfury]

to the forum.

Um... you got screwed, pal.

Your tank is severly overstocked. Your tank seems even worse than mine when I started the hobby, since I had 14 fish in a five gallon. *shakes head*

You have a 6.6 gallon or so tank, so, seeing as how you are new to the hobby, I would suggest you employ the 1" rule: only keep 6" worth of fish in a 6 gallon tank.

Also, fish like barbs and tetras have to be kept in groups, but I am pretty sure they aren't dying because they aren't being kept in shoals.

The problem is that the smell is caused by a fislthy tank. Chances are your ammonia levels (caused by fecal matter) are no doubt at extremely high levels, which most fish cannot tolerate.

What you should do: get a siphon and do a massive water change. Also, see if you can give most of those fish away, or have someone hold them for you until you know what to do with them.

There is only so much I am going to put on here, but it is a very good thing you found this forum, so please post this in "Tropical Fish Emergencies" as well, since you are bound to get more help there.

 

[dwarfgourami]

TempestuousFury has already diagnosed the cause of your problems, it is without doubt down to overstocking.

To give you an idea, about 6 of the smallest tetras would be about right as the final full stocking of a tank this size. To start it up, one small fish would have been better for the first 4-6 weeks, but preferably not neon tetras as they are too sensitive to be suitable for a new tank. And fish like plecos, tiger barbs, mollies and sharks should never go near such a small tank.

First of all, you need to change 40% of the water instantly (use dechlorinator), then contact your local shop and ask them to take your current fish off your hands. Until you can get rid of them, do a daily 25% water change.

Then read up the pinned topics on cycling a tank so you understand what has been going on in your tank. It would be best in your situation to do a fishless cycle, once you have rehomed the fish.

I am sorry you have had such a disheartening start to this great hobby, but you have to take our word for it- there is no way you can keep your current set-up of fish happy in that tank.