Problems With New Tank, Ill Fish!

[Assaye]

Hi Assay Thanks, it does look so much better now the waters crystal clear! My partner thinks i've gone mad cos i spend all my time gazing into the tank then running back to the computer with coloured test tubes in hand
Tested now after the 80-85% water change earlier, AMMONIA 0ppm, NITRITE 0ppm and NITRATE 0ppm, temp 24.
The neon is still holding in there! Hopefully when this tank is cycled and ive got a bit more knowledge (been reading loads of threads ) i would like to get a bigger one in the frontroom but i will DEFINATELY be doing a 'fishless cycle'

In all honesty these neons would appreciate a bigger tank so if you get settled and confident definitely go for a second tank!

There are some incredible things you can do with this little tank as well.

This thread brings back so many memories and feelings for me

 

[helen1207]

Yes the bigger tank will be something to work towards definately! This morning the AMMONIA was on 0.25ppm but the others were still 0ppm, so ive done another 80-85% water change at dinnertime, the tests are all back to 0ppm again.
The fish seem to still be doing ok so thats good!
It would be good to get some ideas for this tank when its cycled especially how many fish and what size as i dont want to over stock.

 

[helen1207]

Ok so yet another water change, about 80-85%. All the tests are again 0 ppm but the one fish is really not good! He's gone very very thin and has completely lost all his colour. Do you think it's prolonging his agony to keep leaving him? On one hand I want to wait and hope he pulls through but I also don't want him to be in any pain. Should I leave him? Any suggestions?....

 

[Assaye]

I would hold on. He may well not make it but you're doing the best you can. Unless you're very confident with humane euthanasia methods or can buy some clove oil (I'll explain how to use it if you can get it) then all you can do is leave him and hope he pulls through.

 

[helen1207]

well update on the tank...Not a good day,the little one did'nt make it, he was gone this morning so only have 4 neons left now!
Have done another 80-85% water change and all tests are 0ppm. (AMMONIA was 0.25). NITRITE and NITRATE havent gone up at all yet so will keep checking and changing water!

 

[Assaye]

well update on the tank...Not a good day,the little one did'nt make it, he was gone this morning so only have 4 neons left now!
Have done another 80-85% water change and all tests are 0ppm. (AMMONIA was 0.25). NITRITE and NITRATE havent gone up at all yet so will keep checking and changing water!

Sorry to hear about your little one. You're doing a sterling job so keep your chin up. I lost two out of my original five neons within the first couple of weeks but the other three had a great life until they got eaten by another fish . . . woops.

 

[helen1207]

Thanks, I feel bad that I couldn't do anything but I will have to concentrate on the other 4 making it now...the ammonia was again 0.25ppm so ive done another large water change and there all back down to 0ppm now. Do you think the nitrite levels should start rising soon? I know it will probably take some time just hopeing I'm doing all this right.
That's not good about your neons...you get quite attached to them, I think I will have to get all small fish then there's no chance of any having a sneaky snack!

 

[helen1207]

No change today, ammonia 0.25, water change then everythings back to 0ppm. One thing though, not sure about the ph. I tested just out of interest and after putting the 3 drops in the water turned a orangy yellow?..it was deffinately not 6.0 but it was lighter than 7.4 so don't know what that's all about.

 

[Assaye]

Must be somewhere between the two. Maybe it would be worth getting a more sensitive test kit?

 

[waterdrop]

If it's a white cottony growth, then it's a fungus. There are a few anti fungal treatments on the market, but for these to take effect they have to remain in the water column for some time. With all the water changes to control ammonia, this kind of defeats the purpose of the meds. Anyone have an idea how to treat for fungus while doing water changes?

No, I agree with you Robby, water changes are best now. Perhaps we could get Wilder involved if the fungus gets worse or stays. Tried to look back a couple of Helen's threads.. did we determine that the test kit being used is a good one and not expired, that sort of thing? WD

 

[helen1207]

Hi waterdrop, im continuing with the water changes every day. The AMMONIA is always 0.25ppm NITRITE 0ppm and NITRATE 0ppm. After the water change (couple of hours later) everything is back to 0ppm. Nothing seems to be changing, no nitrite or nitrate rising. The test kit i have is the API master test kit which i only got 2-3 weeks ago so i think its ok.
The mouth fungus is still the same, no better,no worse. Funny thing is one of the neons is perfect,he never had the fungus on him but the other 3 still have it.
The filter i have came with the tank, its an Aqua One 5w with a sponge inside. Im just wondering wether to change the filter (keeping the sponge media)but i have a fluval mini 45litre brand new. Do you think the cycle isnt progressing and this would be a good idea or should i not mess with anything and just be more patient?

 

[waterdrop]

Have you been going at this more than a month now? We usually worry about a filter cleaning setting a cycle back since the bacterial colonies are still small, but it might possibly be worth the risk of a light clean in case you are not getting good water flow through the media where the A-bacs (the ones that process ammonia into nitrite) are trying to establish bigger colonies. Even if it sets you back some it shouldn't be fore too long and it might be better than just seeing it do the same old thing on and on.

On the other hand we do expect a from-scratch fish-in cycle to take a month or more, so it could be you are just still within that time-frame, I've been too scattered to be as close to my threads lately!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[helen1207]

Yes its been just a month now. Things are not really moving on, no nitrite or nitrate rises. The neons now seem to have white edges on their fins which i`m presuming is fungal or bacterial same as on their mouths.The good news is my brother has an established tank and he has taken the filter sponge out of the new filter and is putting it in his for a few weeks to hopefully get the bacteria on this so i can transfer it to my tank! Hopefully it will work?

 

[Shelby]

Could you not just take a small piece of his and put it in yours? I think that would be better than his taking yours for a couple weeks.

 

[helen1207]

Hi shelby, that probably would be a good idea but I think I may be too late with it. Just been away for a night and come home to one neon dead! The other 3 are really not well, one is now on the bottom of the tank, no colour, very very thin and hardly breathing! What I really need now is someone telling me how I do the clove oil thing...the neon will definately not make it till the morning and I don't want him to suffer any longer so if anyone is reading this please reply with advice.....