Newbie Seeks Advice

[eames5150]

Hi folks!

I'm a fairly useless newbie & have stumbled across a goldmine here.

I have a Fluval Duo 600 tank (capacity - 18.25 gallons) thats been running without fish - but with plants for a week, then in went the fish after another week.

I have got: 3 guppies (it was four), 1 male fighter & his two wives, 1 dwarf gourami & wife.) 2 corys & 2 amano shrimps added in week 3. In terms of plants I've got some elodia, jap grass, amazon sword, a peace lilly & dracena (i know - i've just read about that!)

Its going ok (apart from the guppy) but I just can't seem to keep the nitrate under control (its around 0.8+)- I've changed the carbon filter after a week (like it says so on the box) carried out a water change & used the recommendeed doses of nutrafin cycle & aqua plus. I'm concerned that the nitrie is affecting Mr. Gourami, he seems to be losing his tail & I'm pretty sure its not the fighter? There is so much contradictory info around so really I have some simple q's

1) Is the nitrate killing off Mr. G's fins?
2) Will the nitrate come down naturally as the tank matures further?
3) Is this new tank syndrome & if so what shall I do?
4) Anything elseyou folks reckon will help?

Thanks.

Eames5150 B)

 

[themissingelf]

Nitrate is the end product of the Ammonia -> Nitrite -> Nitrate biological filtration process and is harmless to fish. Your plants should like it though (as will algae).

So... Mr G's fins are likely the victim of something else...

 

[sparky_555]

Its either the fighter that is attacking him (gourami's and fighters dont go well together) or it could be fin rot.
Also, male and female fighters should not be in the same tank together, it will end up with either 2 females dead or one male dead, males shouldnt be together either. It doesnt matter if its gone well so far. Fighters should ideally be in there own tank, a minimum of 2 gallons.

My suggestion is, take the 2 females back to the shop and keep the fighter in, also if the gouramis fins look 'rotted' away, seperate it to its own tank and put a little bit of aquarium salt in.

 

[eames5150]

Many Thanks Sparky feel a little bit happier now.

Will the nitrite high come down naturally? I'm a little reluctant to intervene to heavily.

 

[Xebadir]

Nitrite will fall as soon as your cycle completes: by changing over your media you have caused a mini cycle.

Definitely get the females and male fighter out of that tank: with a gourami pair present it can only end in tears. be careful with adding you shrimps to such an unstable enviroment, many species will suffer due to the high nitrites: possibly look into a bacterial culture to accelerate the process.

Hope this helps.

 

[eames5150]

Mini cycles??

Bacteria culture? such as Nutrafin cycle?