Still Fighting The Ammonia

[texasfishymom]

My poor little guppy is still swishing and living - I feel so awful about not know about cycling a tank, but I am trying.

My ammonia level will not drop from 1.0. I have been monitoring it closely - limiting his feedings to every couple of days (and just a small amount) and have been doing 25% water changes twice a day.

Last PH and Nitrite checks (yesterday) were zero. I didn't realize until I got home that the LPS lady didn't give me a nitrAte test and I am a 2 hour drive away from the PS.

Is there any other suggestions? I live at the beach (although, my tank is obviously fresh water) is there anything I can get from the beach (plant wise or anything) that would help? I know - that is a goofy question, but I am willing to try just about anything to help the little guy. We live on the Texas gulf coast (Bolivar peninsula) so I have access to the beach, the bay, salt water, fresh water and brackish water) The LPS lady told me not to waste my money on live plants for the aquarium - and now I am wondering if I should have insisted. She seems like she knows a lot and is a little intimidating - but I am starting to feel like maybe she don't know so much (exept how to sell me a lot of stuff). I feel like such a moron for not learning more before starting this project.

These are the things I have on hand for my tank: aquarium salt, stress coat, algea destroyer (which seems like a really stupid thing to be told to buy) - tons of water (bottled) and an overwhelming desire to get this right (even though I started out waaaaaaaaaaay wrong).

Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Need more info what fish and how many are in the tank, how long has it been set up, how many gallons or litres is the tank, and finally live plants are good for nitrates.

 

[texasfishymom]

Five gallon hex -fancy guppies - I had 3 females; 2 males and one of the females gave birth. Lost all but one male (which is what brought me to this forum).

The LPS lady sold me the testing kits for ph, ammonia and nitrIte and a plastic plant. The tank has been up for 2 weeks today (although I lost the fish last week). This was a tank we had previously had goldfish in and I cleaned it really good after the goldfish passed away. The general concensus is I am dealing with new tank syndrome.

I have been doing 25% water changes since last Friday and got my testing kit on Monday.

ph 7.5
ammonia 1.0
nitrite 00.00

From everything I have read there are no quick fixes except to let the tank cycle, but I was trying to find out a way to get the ammonia to drop. It has been holding @ 1.00 for the last couple of days (which is down from almost 2.0 when I got the kit)

I've read on line about several products for ammonia, but get conflicting information and don't want to distress this poor fishy anymore than I have to. He still seems very hearty.

 

[WILDER]

The tank was overstocked, and to be honest the tank is way to small for livebearers they are very active fish, all that tank size is good for is a betta.
How many fish are now left in the tank, and what filter are you using.

 

[texasfishymom]

There is one fish left. I have an aquatech with the sponge/carbon filter things.

My question really is about getting the ammonia levels down.... are there any good products out?

I eventually want to get a larger tank and stock some females - at this point I am learning (mostly by mistake) but I am on the right track and now feel like I have 1,000% more info than I did when I started. But I am relying on LPS and you kind folks here.

I get the feeling I could spend a fortune at the pet store and not have what is really necessary.

 

[Torrean]

I get the feeling I could spend a fortune at the pet store and not have what is really necessary.

Please stop listening to the fish store lady. I got in such a mess because I did that. Some fish store employees are great some seem great. Here's a good test for your fish lady. Tell her you need an algae eater. See if she takes you to a common pleco or a chinese algae eater. If she shows you either of those fish without warning you about how large they get then you should reconsider any advise you've gotten from her.

Now to your question.
Do you know anyone who has an established tank? If so you can clone or seed your tank. Take some filter media from a healthy established tank and put it in your filter. voila a fully cycled or at the very least a seeded tank. Your ammonia should drop like a rock after you do this.

If you do not know anyone who owns a fishtank then ask around in your lfs' (local fish stores) about a product called biospira. It's got all the bacteria you will need already in it.

You should reconcider your stocking but it's not too bad. It could be much worse. See if you can get your hands on a larger tank(second hand is the way to go if you want to save a little $$$) If you can't find a larger tank then ask your nice fish store lady if she would be willing to take back your guppies. Then buy yourself a nice betta or some african dwarf frogs...shrimp and snails do well in tanks that size too. Oh and you could also consider a dwarf puffer. Make sure it;s a dwarf puffer though because lot's of puffers look fairly similair but need vastly different things. Some get very large some need salty water. Oh and if you go for puffers then you should also get snails. snails are a puffers favorite food and they need atleast some snails to wear down there (beaks) kinda like rodents need to gnaw on things to keep there teeth short. Most snails will be fine and can be aquired for free from most any lfs. The one snail you should avoid with puffers (although they are a blessing in most other tanks) is the MTS otherwise known as the malaysian trumpet snail. There shells are generally too hard for a puffer.

 

[texasfishymom]

Thanks, unfortunately, I don't know anyone with a tank, but we live in a very small town, so I am considering posting a note at the post office - someone over here must have fish. Also, since it is Friday and we get a lot of traffic (I live in Crystal Beach, TX) there are always a ton of yard sales - so I am hoping that I can snag a good sized tank that way.

My commute to the nearest fish store is almost 2 hours away and I can't go back today (I've been 3 times this week already). I did ask about the bio-spira, and she just looked at me I have seen that you can order it online and am wondering if it would ship well down here to south Texas where we are already in the mid 90's.

I'd really like to get a bigger set-up and stick with the guppies. My four year old has become fascinated with them from the start. And even though they have been hard because of my ignorance of setting up a tank, he has really taken an active interest in the whole thing. Helps me with water changes, watches when I test the water, and sits and watches the guppies swimming.

We have dogs and cats and even a red eared slider turtle, and my nephew lives with us - he has a bearded dragon - nothing seems to fascinate him as much as the guppies. We had gotten him goldfish, and after about 15 minutes of watching them after we got him - he completely lost interest - and we had them for almost a year. So I think I have a full blown guppy hobbyist @ four years old!

If I can't find someone with a tank willing to share a little goo - has anyone here had any experience with having Bio Spira shipped? If so, how did it hold up or was there something special you needed to do once you got it in? I can get it next day shipped - so I could have it tomorrow if need be, and hopefully I can find a larger tank at the yard sales over the weekend.

 

[WILDER]

I would get a bigger tank, bigger the better more forgiving with water quality.
I've kept guppys but gave up on them, i don't know what they are like in the states, but here in the uk they were already half way gone when buying them, always had finrot problems, and columnaris, plus parasites, seem to be prone to alot of desease, even internal parasites.
Just thought i warn you, good luck, but they are very beautiful and active fish, just wish i could find a breeder of quality guppys.