Please Please Help

[Sami9999]

I have a 55 Gallon freshwater tank that has been cycling for a week. My parents decided to surprise me and get me some fish for my tank...some fish equals ordering me 31 fish online...they are being delivered tomorrow. AHHHH!! My tank is not done cycling and is not ready for this many fish. I have been using media from my daughters 10 gallon goldfish tank to try and help things along. My reading for the last few days have been ammonia 0 nirites o and nirates 5. Other than water changes and frequent testing is there anything I can do to keep all those fish alive? I have never put that many fish in at one time. I also went and bought some tetra safestart...cross my fingers and hope it helps. Any advice would be very helpful. Thanks guys!

 

[waterdrop]

Wow, that's a really bad situation! Unless you know a shop person really well or have a friend with a nearly empty but cycled tank I can't think of anything you can do except mobilize the family for a major month of constant water changing. I would pick up a big bottle of Seachem Prime to use as your conditioner (the thing that takes care of chlorine/chloramine but also can neutralize ammonia and nitrite for about 24 hours after a water change.)

Another thing you might want to look in to would be a Python water hose system (or a homemade version) (pythonproducts dot com) to make the changes easier. You're going to need to use good technique (always dose conditioner at 1.5x to 2x what they say but not more than 2x) and always temperature match (your hand is good enough) and always use a gravel-cleaning siphon to take the water out unless you're desperate.

We'll need to make sure you understand the goals for fish-in cycling (read the fish-in article by rabbut in our section but I'll be back with further comments or one of the other members will.)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Sami9999]

Wow, that's a really bad situation! Unless you know a shop person really well or have a friend with a nearly empty but cycled tank I can't think of anything you can do except mobilize the family for a major month of constant water changing. I would pick up a big bottle of Seachem Prime to use as your conditioner (the thing that takes care of chlorine/chloramine but also can neutralize ammonia and nitrite for about 24 hours after a water change.)

Another thing you might want to look in to would be a Python water hose system (or a homemade version) (pythonproducts dot com) to make the changes easier. You're going to need to use good technique (always dose conditioner at 1.5x to 2x what they say but not more than 2x) and always temperature match (your hand is good enough) and always use a gravel-cleaning siphon to take the water out unless you're desperate.

We'll need to make sure you understand the goals for fish-in cycling (read the fish-in article by rabbut in our section but I'll be back with further comments or one of the other members will.)

~~waterdrop~~

Yes a very bad situation. My daughter and I are prepared for water changes,water changes and more water changes. Yes I understand fish-in cycling and fishless cycling I have been keeping fish for years. I have just never had to deal with this many fish all at once in an uncycled tank. I have a water conditioner but will look into the one you recommended. Thank you again for you help.

 

[kizno1]

If you have been cycling the tank for a week by adding ammonia and the ammonia and nirites are 0 then its cycled. what fish are they? if there only small then it might not be to bad as the 55G should dilute alot of waste but still not great to add them all at ones.

 

[Sami9999]

If you have been cycling the tank for a week by adding ammonia and the ammonia and nirites are 0 then its cycled. what fish are they? if there only small then it might not be to bad as the 55G should dilute alot of waste but still not great to add them all at ones.

They ordered fancy guppies, zebra danios and cardinal tetras oh and three african dwarf frogs.

 

[kizno1]

Thats not to bad atleast theres no monster fish. Just keep a eye on the water and daily waterchanges until the tank is cycled.

 

[Liverbird36]

Hi Sami. Sorry to hear about your tricky situation. Out of interest, you say you have had the tank cycling for a week, do you already have fish in it ?? If not have you been adding a source of ammonia to get the cycle started. If the answer is no to both then you most definitely are not cycled. Follow advise as Waterdrop has given. I hope the situation turns out ok for you. All the very best.

 

[Sami9999]

Hi Sami. Sorry to hear about your tricky situation. Out of interest, you say you have had the tank cycling for a week, do you already have fish in it ?? If not have you been adding a source of ammonia to get the cycle started. If the answer is no to both then you most definitely are not cycled. Follow advise as Waterdrop has given. I hope the situation turns out ok for you. All the very best.

Yes I have two guppies in the tank...my intention was to do fishless cycling but my daughter got two guppies from a friend so we decided to do fish-in. There was a small ammonia spike the first two days followed by a small nitrite spike but both have been 0 for two days now. Even though they have been 0 I do not trust the tank is cycled as I have never had one cycle that quickly. Thank you.

 

[Liverbird36]

Hi Sami. Sorry to hear about your tricky situation. Out of interest, you say you have had the tank cycling for a week, do you already have fish in it ?? If not have you been adding a source of ammonia to get the cycle started. If the answer is no to both then you most definitely are not cycled. Follow advise as Waterdrop has given. I hope the situation turns out ok for you. All the very best.

Yes I have two guppies in the tank...my intention was to do fishless cycling but my daughter got two guppies from a friend so we decided to do fish-in. There was a small ammonia spike the first two days followed by a small nitrite spike but both have been 0 for two days now. Even though they have been 0 I do not trust the tank is cycled as I have never had one cycle that quickly. Thank you.

That's great that the levels have stayed at zero. Guppies have a fairly decent bioload so the fact that you have added some mature media too will have given you a great start. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. If ever you need any help the you will always be able to find it here.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with liverbird, you've helped things along by getting a small fish-in cycling going with the two guppies and the mature media from the goldfish will hopefully transfer correctly and be a big boost. There's no way though that 31 fish are not going to be a big shock to the small bacterial start you have, so I guess the good news is that you won't have any trouble reading the test that says a water change is needed, lol. Work to stay in the narrow range of test results of zero ppm through 0.25ppm for both toxins. I agree its good they are smaller sized and we know you'll keep feedings very light.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Sami9999]

Well fish arrived. Cross my fingers and hope that all goes well with the transfer and acclimation. Haha I am prepared for those readings and the water changes that follow. Readings were still at zero this morning...too bad they won't stay that way. Will keep you all posted on the transfer and readings. Thanks!

 

[Jenste]

Not that you need this extra headache....but the 10 gallon is too small for even 1 goldfish

 

[Sami9999]

Not that you need this extra headache....but the 10 gallon is too small for even 1 goldfish

I know they are in the process of being transfered to my mom's pond.

 

[Sami9999]

Okay all fish are in the tank...minus the one that arrived dead. Will check water levels in an hour...hope for the best.

 

[Curiosity101]

I would suggest regularly cleaning the goldfish filter in the big tank too.

Your tank was technically cycled... but only for the bioload of 2 guppies... lol. If you keep giving the goldfish filter a daily rinse in the main tank this should help seed the filter further a help boost the numbers of bacteria. So long as you're not too rough with the filter the goldfish shouldn't see a spike of any description.

Also according to practical fish keeping magazine there is actually a new live cycling product out on the market! If you can get hold of any Pond Protect-L that has been stored correctly then it's probably worth a try to help bump up the numbers of bacteria faster.

Oh and one last thing, definitely try to feed sparingly.

Also what area are you in? You never know but someone nearby on the boards may be able to donate some mature media to you.