Please Help, Not Having Much Luck With My 20 Ltr Tank :( :(

[Katelite]

Hello, I hope you guys can help?
I started a 21 litre tank it is now 3 weeks old.
I had abit of a disaster with it to start with as I bought with the advice from the aquarium 2 guppies 4 cardinal tetras and two black Molly's to start it off.
the black Molly's were returned to the aquarium as they killed my two guppies and 2 of the cardinals.

In replacement again with the advise of the aquarium, I got two new guppies and four Rosie tetras.
This was within the first 3 days of having the tank.
Last weekend I visited the aquarium again and purchased two Rosie barbs.
I told the aquarium I was interested in the aquatic frogs and these bottom feeders which are black and white.
I had tried googling these bottom feeders to find out what they are called as I can't remember but can't find any pic similar really. Not with the same pattern anyway.

The aquarium explained I could have the frogs when my tank turned three weeks old along with the bottom feeders and then my tank will be fully stocked. So on Sunday I purchased the frogs and two of the bottom feeders.

So my tank consists now of two Rosie barbs, two cardinal tetras, two aquatic frogs, two guppies and 4 Rosie tetras.

A couple of days before putting the frogs and the bottom feeders in the water got quite cloudy and I was taking 10% out everyday and treating it with the stress and quick start drops as instructed but the water still hasn't cleared very much. The man at the aquarium said I could be over feeding the fish and to stop giving larger amounts and do a few small feeds a day, this should clear the water.
It isn't completely cloudy I can see through the tank but it isn't crystal clear.
I have a couple of queries.,

1) this evening I lost a bottom feeder. It was at the bottom of the tank dead, not sure why or what I have done wrong but I have only had them for 3 days!

2) the pink Rosie barb is the liveliest of them all and the largest, it seems to eat the majority of the food, I'm not confident the rest of the fish are getting enough or any in some cases which is why I have been putting more food in?

3) the frogs hide a lot and I haven't seen them eat yet?

4) am I doing everything right?

Please help!

 

[msasa19]

i think you have over stocked your tank, i only have a 20L and only have 2 platys in there :\

 

[Katelite]

I hope not the aquarium said I could have 12-15 small fish to start with

 

[msasa19]

they are more than likely lieing to you so you will buy more fish!
that seems like a hell of a lot for such a small tank, you would probs need a 60-80L tank for 15 fish

also did you cycle the tank before you added any fish?

 

[Katelite]

They told me to run the tank for 24 hours before getting any so I did that...
So do you think that is why the bottom feeder died?

 

[fluttermoth]

I hope not

the aquarium said I could have 12-15 small fish to start with

I'm afraid your tank is very, very overstocked, and some of the fish you have grow far too big for a 20l tank; the rosy barbs for a start. A more appropriate stocking would be four or five small fish, like male guppies or small tetras, or just the frogs.

Your biggest problem is that your tank isn't 'cycled'; that means you don't have any of the good bacteria you need in your filter to deal with the fish's wastes, so they'll be building up in the water. That will be what killed your bottom feeder, and your other fish are at risk too.

For the moment, you need to change nearly all the water in the tank, at least once a day. Drain the water right down, leaving just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater and filter off first!) before refilling with temperature matched, dechlorinated water.

That will keep your fish safe for the next few days, while you have a think about what you want to do (either take some fish back, or invest in a bigger tank).

I'm sorry you're not having a good introduction to the fishkeeping hobby, but this is a great site with loads of people who'll be happy to help you, so welcome!

 

[DJH584]

Deleted - fluttermoth beat me to it

 

[msasa19]

it can take months to cycle a tank, i made the same mistake with my tank, im hoping a more experianced fish keeper will comment soon to help you out as i dont have much knowledge, but your tank needs to be cycled and is overstocked......

 

[Katelite]

Oh my days!! thank you so much. I'm getting a bigger tank tmz, how long do I leave that one for until I can transfer the fish?
Do I keep putting the quick start in and the stress?

Oh I see how come the other bottom feeder hasn't died?
Will my frogs be ok?

I hope not

the aquarium said I could have 12-15 small fish to start with

I'm afraid your tank is very, very overstocked, and some of the fish you have grow far too big for a 20l tank; the rosy barbs for a start. A more appropriate stocking would be four or five small fish, like male guppies or small tetras, or just the frogs.

Your biggest problem is that your tank isn't 'cycled'; that means you don't have any of the good bacteria you need in your filter to deal with the fish's wastes, so they'll be building up in the water. That will be what killed your bottom feeder, and your other fish are at risk too.

For the moment, you need to change nearly all the water in the tank, at least once a day. Drain the water right down, leaving just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater and filter off first!) before refilling with temperature matched, dechlorinated water.

That will keep your fish safe for the next few days, while you have a think about what you want to do (either take some fish back, or invest in a bigger tank).

I'm sorry you're not having a good introduction to the fishkeeping hobby, but this is a great site with loads of people who'll be happy to help you, so welcome!

 

[Katelite]

Also I have never been told to use dechorinated water, is that what the QuickStart does? Oh my! I'm so confused!!

 

[LucyB]

One thing you have to know is that the aquarium makers were lying about stocking to make you buy fish, and I warn you, never ask your pet store for advice, they will say anything to make you buy as many fish as possible, come and ask us first and we'll tell you the truth!

You will need to get some dechlorinator urgently!

Don't worry we were all new to this hobby at some point, you will learn so much from this forum! We all make mistakes!

 

[msasa19]

it is confusing, the pet shops will lie to get you to spend money!! thats why im glad i found this forum so i dont make the same mistake again! dont worry, there is plenty of people on here that will help you, as for the cycling i am still awaiting my new tank so cant help you with that, go to the beginners resource centre on here and it will help you out!

 

[fluttermoth]

As your little tank is so overstocked, don't try and 'cycle' the new one; you might as well fish-in cycle in a bigger tank as in a smaller one.

Set up the new tank, make sure the temperature is right and that you've dechlorinated the water, and move the fish over right away. The larger volume of water will help dilute the fish's wastes,

You can add the Quick Start, although most people find that these 'starter liquids' don't do any good (they're supposed to contain the good bacteria you need in the filter), it certainly won't do any harm, so you might as well use it as you have it. The stress coat is your dechlorinator.

I would very, very strongly recommend you buy some test kits (don't bother with the paper strip kind, though, you want ones that use a liquid or tablet) for ammonia and nitrite. That way you can monitor the water quality and do water changes if they're needed, rather than changing nearly all the water every day.

Some fish are always going to be more sensitive to toxins than others, even ones of the same species.

It might be a good idea to leave the frogs in the smaller tank; they have very poor eyesight and are easily out competed for food by fish.

 

[ColR1948]

Also DON'T go in that shop again, find another one, not all fish shops are the same it is a shame you first went there, they told you the wrong information.

 

[Katelite]

Thank you all so much for this!

Iv changed the water in my tank as you suggested and the frogs have come out and seem happier. The Rosie barb is still taking the majority of the food though is this normal?