Newbie Looking For Some Help..

[KezJona]

Hello everyone!

I just joined up to the forums so I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong section at all

I have a 40 Litre tank capacity that I bought from eBay which came complete with all the essentials needed to begin my first tropical fish tank. So I followed everything to a T and waited around a week for my water to settle. I added both the Stress Zyme and Stress Coat liquids to the tank, took a water sample to my LFS and the PH was perfect - time to get some fishies. Now, I did read up on the Nitrogen cycle and completely understand the process which is why I was advised to just get a few fish to begin with and allow the bacteria to begin to grow.



So at my LFS I bought the following fish:

2 x Swordtails
2 x Balloon Molly's

I was told these would be able to cope in the new tank whilst the water does it work, so they have been in their new home for around 24 hours now.

Heres my problem:

My two Swordtails were a bit scared at first but are now more venturous, they still do hide away but my black one was going crazy around the tank and seemed to be settled which was good. However, my two balloon molly's are completely timid, if the Swordtails go anywhere near them they will just run behind the filter and stay there, I have both a male and a female. The only time I have seen them out in the open is when I fed them for the first time and they had a slight nibble, but right now my 2 swordtails are swimming around the tank like normal, and I still have yet to see the two Molly's come out.

Is this normal or is something wrong with them? They just float right behind my filter and the heater, not moving, but sticking with each other. They are right at the top of the tank, will venture out slightly then just run away within the first 5 seconds.

Any help or advice here would be great. Also, because I didn't do a fishless cycle should I be doing a water change each day?

Kez

 

[scotty]

you will need to waterchanges daily,and you would be better buying an api master test kit,i would return the fish if it was me and do a fishless cycle but thats just me,i believe mollies do better in brackish water.also you could also ask for someone to donate some mature media to you if they stay close enough.

cheers

scott

 

[This Old Spouse]

Hi, and glad you joined us!

You're now starting a fish-in cycle. Go back to the beginner's section and read through the info there.

Yes, please do a large water change every day so the fish aren't poisoned by the ammonia and nitrites.

Then invest in a liquid water testing kit, which you'll be using often until your tank is cycled. I recommend the API Master Test Kit which tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Bringing your water to the LFS is generally not a good idea, unless the staffer actually shows you the results which he or you should write down and then post here. Of course your parameters would be spot on after sitting in the tank with no fish or added ammonia! And keep in mind that their job is to make money, not make sure your fish are fine.

I'd also get a couple of plants or other decorations such as driftwood so your fish can find a little shelter. They'd probably never seen any fish other than their own kind before, so sometimes they'll be a bit shy.

Keep us posted with what's happening!

 

[KezJona]

Thanks for the welcome and all the advice given to me Thought I should just show you some pictures so you can get a better idea of my setup.


Picture 1: Front View of the tank

Picture 2: Left side of the tank

Picture 3: Right side of the tank

In this picture on the top right by the filter and the heater, that is where my 2 Balloon Molly's always hide and never come out of.

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Now my fish...

Fish 1: Red Swordtail

This is his home He loves his log cave!

Fish 2: Black Swordtail

Fish 3: Pale Balloon Molly

Is at the bottom of the filter and heater, usually is at the top.

Fish 4: Black Balloon Molly

He is hiding in the live plants at the moment, never seen him do that before.

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I just did a big water change, probably about 30-40% of the water, dechlorinated it before putting it into the tank as well. Are my fish still hiding and settling in though? Because I rarely see them, except for the black swordtail who always runs around the tank.

Kez