Please read!!

[richgonfishn]

I bought a 20 gallon tank and had no idea I was supposed to cycle the tank. I took out the 4 fish it had and completely cleaned out the tank. I replaced the gravel as well. Some of the fake plants still have a little alge on them. The tank has a Penguin 330 and I did NOT clean the two bio wheels. I added a underground filtrations with two air pipes. (or whatever it's called) It's been three days and NO fish have died. Here are the results of my test. Do I need to do anything? The water was NOT dechlorinated. I have approx. 14 fish.

I bought the 5-N-1 strip. Here are the results...

Nitrate- 20 (safe zone)

Nitrite- 0-.05 (safe/caution)

Total Hardness- 150 (hard)

Total Alkalinity- 120 (ideal)

What does all this mean? What do I need to do? I bought the following-

Easy Balance- Keeps aquarium water biologically balnced for up to 6 months. Stabilizes pH and alkalinity level vital for fish & plants. Reduces nitrates amd phosphate.

Aqua Safe- Neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metal harmful to fish. Enhances natural, protective slime coating fish.

Start Right- Complete water conditioner for freshwater. Romves chlorine & chloramine.

Do I need to do anything? Currently all fish seem to be fine & happy. One of the fish likes to sit at the bottom. (never noticed this before)

Thank you!!

 

[LadyMinion]

Do you have results for ammonia as well? At this early stage in cycling that would be my main concern.

You really should dechlorinate your tap-water - it will really cause your fish harm. Use the aqua safe or start right for this, but not both. I would leave the easy balance for now.

What types of fish do you have in there?

 

[SirMinion]

Not only will clorines and cloramines in unconditioned tapwater harm your fish, but it will also kill the very bacteria that you're trying to culture and so make the cycling process take a great deal longer.

 

[richgonfishn]

I could not find a tester that showed the ammonia. I put in the recomended amount of EasyBalnce as well as the recomended amount of AquaSafe. I did this prior to anyone posting any replies. I waited for an hour or two before I decided to put these two treatments in. I just retested the water and all the results are pretty much the same. It's been 2-3 hours.

I have pair of 3 varieties of Gouramis. I have a catfish that swims and eats upside down. I have a larger fish that keeps my tank clean. I also have two pictus cats. There are two silver looking fish, but I'm not sure what they are. Oh, I almost forgot... my favorite fish is a light brownish catfish with black dots. It was $14.99 at Petsmart. He's the coolest looking fish.

 

[gaya]

wow that's alot of fish if the tank isn't cycled yet. you really should find a ammonia kit and plan on doing water changes everyday. personally i would take the fish back to the store until the tank is ready. good luck

 

[LadyMinion]

OK, the first thing you need to do is purchase an ammonia test kit and check the levels. You have a lot of fish in there for a tank that hasn't been cycled - I have to warn you that you will probably lose most of them. The ammonia will jump to highly toxic levels very suddenly due to the massive bioload.

Is there any way you can get your lfs or a friend to look after the fish while the tank cycles? Depending on which method of cycling you choose, it can be several weeks before a tank is ready for normal fish stocking so don't be concerned that you've seen no results in a few hours. The process takes time.

Also, many of the fish you have are not really suitable for a 20 gallon tank. My biggest concern is all the catfish you have - they can get very big and produce a lot of waste. Also, you have way too many gouramis - they also get very big, even if they are the dwarf variety that is still too many.

 

[richgonfishn]

You guys/gals are starting to worry me. All the fish seems to be in excellent condition. Let me try and list each and every fish.

I think this what I have. Bare with me... I'm going by photo's I've found online.

1 ea. Bristle Nose Pleco
2 ea. Blue Gourami
1 ea. Giant Gourami
2 ea. Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
2 ea. Gold Gourami
2 ea. Synodontis Ocellifer Catfish (I think?)
2 ea. Pictus Cat
1 ea. Cory Cat (I could not find a photo, but it eats and swims UPSIDE down)

13 Total fish!!

Penguin 330
Underground filter with two air tubes

I don't have anyone who would or even be able to take the fish. I will just have to keep my fingers crossed. I will get a amonia kit tomorrow. In the meantime... do I need to do any daily water swaps? Thank you!!

What is my best TEMP choice?

 

[Bignose]

I seriously doubt, but then pray that you do not really have a giant gourami. One giant gourami profile -- They may get to be over 2 feet long, and are sold as food fish in some countries.

Let's just use the much abused and maligned one inch per gallon rule. (It is much abused and maligned because it is not a hard and fast rule, but I think it has value as a starting point.

1 ea. Bristle Nose Pleco @ 5 inches
2 ea. Blue Gourami @4 to 5 inches apiece = 9 "
1 ea. Giant Gourami (probably not, lets just call this a typical Gourami) = 4.5"
2 ea. Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami @3-4 inches apiece = 7"
2 ea. Gold Gourami @ 4-5 inches apiece=9 "
2 ea. Synodontis Ocellifer Catfish (I think?) @ wild 30cm but rarly in aquaria say 8" each = 16"
2 ea. Pictus Cat @ 4 inches each = 8"
1 ea. Cory Cat (I could not find a photo, but it eats and swims UPSIDE down)
Most likely not a Cory cat, but an Upside Down Catfish @ 4"

These are, of course, based on your IDs. When you go back to get an ammonia tester, you should be able to look on the tank and see the names again, or at least ask an employee. If you get the Latin or speices names or even the common names, you can be much more sure than looking at pictures.

I get a total 64 inches. No matter how much you argue about the 1" per gallon rule, this tank is way overstocked. To be fair to these animals, you really need to either return some fish, or invest in a much larger tank. They may look fine now, but in about 3 days you may be writing on here you woes over your sick fish.

Please read over the information about cycling, and especially note about adding fish slowly. If you refuse to return/rehouse the fish, you will have to make water changes very frequently, maybe even more often than once a day. Which is going to slow down the cycling process, so you will be looking at frequent water changes very often for a time span of maybe 2 months? Maybe someone else can voice in on this, but it is going to take quite some time.

Even then, the tank is still overstocked. Overstocking leads to increased stress and possible aggression between the fishes. Yes, they may be fine now, but once they get used to their new surroundings, they may not be so happy sharing the cramped space with so many neighbors. So, now your fish are stressed, which means that they are much more susceptible to diseases. And, in the cramped quarters, the disease will spread to one another pretty quickly.

I am not trying to scare you away from keeping a fish tank, but all of us are just trying to share our experience with you. I hope that the above gives you something to think about it.

 

[richgonfishn]

I'm starting to understand. I do have a Giant Gourami. I've posted a photo... if it doesn't come through please take a look at the link. I will take a closer look at the pet store and see what I actually have. I did make a mistake on the amount of what I called the Ocellifer catfish. I only have 1, not 2. I thought fish only got as big as their surroundings? Meaning a fish in a 50 gallon tank would get bigger than the same fish in a 20 gallon tank. I know I'm a rookie, but when I stare into the tank... it doesn't seem crowded. I'm looking right now and I see 4-5 fish. I'm not disputing what you're saying... I'm simply trying to learn.

So how do I know when the tank is cycled? Is there a particular test kit I should get?

Thanks for all the help!!

Oh, you are currect about the upside down catfish. Funny as heck!!

Giant Gourami
(Colisa fasciata)
Quick Stats
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Light: Moderate
Tank Conditions: 72-80°F; pH 6.0-7.5; dKH 4-10
Max. Size In Aquarium: Up to 4"
Color Form: Gold, Turquoise
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Bengal, India, Assam, Burma
Family: Belontiidae

http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...69&TopCatId=882

 

[gaya]

why don't you just take the time to read the beginner section that will answere these questions?

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099 here is the link.

 

[clutterydrawer]

I'm starting to understand. I do have a Giant Gourami. I've posted a photo... if it doesn't come through please take a look at the link. I will take a closer look at the pet store and see what I actually have. I did make a mistake on the amount of what I called the Ocellifer catfish. I only have 1, not 2. I thought fish only got as big as their surroundings? Meaning a fish in a 50 gallon tank would get bigger than the same fish in a 20 gallon tank. I know I'm a rookie, but when I stare into the tank... it doesn't seem crowded. I'm looking right now and I see 4-5 fish. I'm not disputing what you're saying... I'm simply trying to learn.

So how do I know when the tank is cycled? Is there a particular test kit I should get?

Thanks for all the help!!

Oh, you are currect about the upside down catfish. Funny as heck!!

Heya
It's great that you're trying t learn more abotu your fish, a lot of people just don't bother and then wonder why their fish get ill. I know it seems like an awful lot ot learn though!

The thing about fish growing to their surroundings is sadly a myth. It's tru that their external bodies won't grow as long as they should if the fish is in a small tnak, but their internal organs carry on growing resulting in deformities, increased likelihood of disease and untimately a premature painful death Which is why certain fish quite literally need a certain size of tank.

A test kit for ammonia would be nice. In the meantime it would be useful if you could do a 25% water change "just to be safe".

When a tank is cycling you see an ammonia "spike", where ammonia rises pretty high until enough bacteria have developed to get convert it to nitrIte. Then you see a nitrIte spke. Finalyl, when the bacterial colony has developed to get rid of the nitrIte, you start to get a nitrAte reading. NitrAte is the end product of the cycle.

When your ammonia and nitrIte readings are consistently zero, and you have a nitrAte reading, your tank is cycled.

Did you use ANY objects from an established tank, without letting them dry out between being in the established tank and being in your tank? For example filter media, gravel or decor?

 

[aloaring]

The picture on that liveaquaria site is not a giant gourami thats an indian thick lipped gourami and wil grow to about 5-6 inches. but will probably fight with the smaller gouramis!

But i have to agree with everyone else it seems you are overcrowded in your tank and need to return some of the fish! Can i ask who sold you a tank ? If it was an LFS, they should have advised you about what fish to keep in a tank that size !

 

[clutterydrawer]

pfft

as if lfs ever give relable stockign info!

( i know plenty of them do, it just seems that beginners get misinformed more often than well informed by the lfs)

 

[richgonfishn]

MISTAKE!! The tank is a 30 gallon tank. I kept saying 20, but I'm 98% sure it's 30 gallon.

I took the Penguin 330 and rinced it. I did throughly clean the bio wheel because I remember reading something about that. I used 5 plastic plants from the progonal setup. I cleaned those lightly in the sink. There is still SOME dark green material on them. I'm assuming alge? I also used a artificial cover/log for the tank. It came from the original setup.

I turned the light on this morning and all still looks great. I will pickup an amonia kit today.

I bought the tank from a buddy who was tired of taking care of it. It had 6-7 fish, 30 gallon tank, wooden tank stand, food, net, etc etc for $40.00. I thought it was a good deal considering the stand still had a price od $149.00 on it.

I'm off to the golf courde for a 6:30AM tee-time. Have a great day!!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

You need to do water changes to try and keep the levels safe and also, you are going to have to take some of the fish back IMO.

Upside down cats are supposed to be kept in groups, as with pictus. I would keep neither in a 20gall. Minimum of 30gallon for both of those IMO.