Newbie - 2 Weeks And Counting!

[kavmar]

Howdy folks!

Just thought I'd introduce myself to you all. Bought my very small 28 litre tank 2 weeks ago (budget and space prohibited any bigger!) and last week got my first 2 platy's named Bert and Ernie, after 2 hours Bert gave birth and we have 2 fry (out of 4) still alive and swimming!

Unfortunately i found white spot today - have added treatment by interpet any one know how successful this will be? Will it kill off my fry? Also my nitrite levels are quite high (others are acceptable) my local fish shop have said this is due to the tank being new and not to be too worried and to give it a few weeks to settle down, but to monitor fish and ensure i don't over feed the fish or get any more just yet - should I be worried? so far my fish shop have been really helpful and answered my many questions!

Anyway thanks for listening to my eventful start to keeping fish!

 

[donna123]

hi,
welcome to tff,
have you got an air stone? treatment can lower oxygen levels, whats the ammonia levels at ?
keep an eye on nitrite levels and do reg water changes while you have readings of ammoina and nitrite.
when your readings are 0 for both ammonia and nitrite your tank has matured. hth donna

 

[kavmar]

Thanks for replying - the water test was done at my LFS and I'm not sure what the ammonia level was but it was one up on the chart from 0! Sorry for not being more helpful!!

And to show my ignorance further what is an air stone?

 

[donna123]

hi,
an air stone is a pourus stone that attatches to an air line, that is fixed to a air pump, you can get air pumps from any pet shop, you can attatch a bubble bar to it for a line of bubbles, some pumps you can turn the air pressure up for more or less bubbles, i have one on all the time it looks nice,
if poss invest in a master test kit so you can monitor the ammoina and nitrite. donna

 

[kavmar]

I bought a test kit yesterday but as they tested water there and then thought i'd wait till wednesday as next dose of white spot stuff (interpet's no.6) is due on thursday - dunno if this would affect the water levels or not! I have a ugf which spurts water out through a bar with holes in at the top of my tank - is this what you were talking about - can i attach an air stone to this? Are they big because my tank is rather small (28litre, aquastart 320) - what with an ornament for the fish to hide inside 3 living plants and 1 fake i don't want to over crowd the tank?

 

[donna123]

hi,
all you put in the tank is the 6mm pipe and on the end a small plastic fizzer or stone, the air pump sits outside the tank, and plugs in to a wall socket, you dont have to have a air pump for your tank at all, its up to you, with the way your tank works there should be enough extra oxygen any way,
with thw white spot treatment you may find you have to treat more than once, because the treatment kills the parasite you cant see thats in the water, the spots fall off the fish and thousends of parasites enter the water then they attatch on to a fish and form a spot and the cycle gos on. the treatment wont affect your test results, all the best donna

 

[kavmar]

Thank you for that you have reassured me loads - I'm sure my lfs thinks i'm an over protective and paranoid customer!!!!

 

[kavmar]

Help help help! Have put this in the emergency area but wondered if would get quicker reply here!

Have improved water problems i think? The levels are now: ph 8.5, ammonia 0.1mg, nitrite 0.1mg & nitrate 12.5mg. But worried about Bert, since adding 2nd whitespot treatment she isn't really using her left pectoral or pelvic fin and the dorsal is lying flat on her body. Her white spot's have dropped off and have added the 2nd treatment for whitespot a couple of hours ago (Interpet). Ernie has got 2 spots returned but seems ok other than that. Bert is swimming around (as best she can)any suggestions - please help! Thank you