Stressed Fish Owner Of Stressed Fish!

[ickle]

I have a 30L biOrb fish tank that I put 6 neon tetras in a few weeks ago.

Last weekend, I tested the water and it was ready for a new fish - so I bought a betta.

The betta and the neons appeared to get along at first, but the next morning, all the neons had became transparent and one of them was missing an eye! The one-eyed tetra died later that morning.

To think that I was worried about the betta getting nipped by the neons!

I have since moved the betta into a separate tank for now and am planning to return it to the LFS this weekend.

The tetras are getting their colour back now, but I would still like to introduce some new fish into the tank (once the stressed neons recover!)

Anyone have any suggestions?

I was thinking of dwarf or honey gourami, but now that I have had a bad experience with a betta, I'm stressed!

 

[Durbkat]

Do you have a heater and external filter in the tank? I'd suggest returning the neons because if you don't have a filter and heater (you couldn't put an external on one of these anyways) and put the betta in there and thats it.

 

[ickle]

Do you have a heater and external filter in the tank? I'd suggest returning the neons because if you don't have a filter and heater (you couldn't put an external on one of these anyways) and put the betta in there and thats it.

Yes, there is a heater as well as a filter in the tank. I did try to do my homework before stocking the tank!

Do you have a heater and external filter in the tank? I'd suggest returning the neons because if you don't have a filter and heater (you couldn't put an external on one of these anyways) and put the betta in there and thats it.

Yes, there is a heater as well as a filter in the tank. I did try to do my homework before stocking the tank!
In any case, the LFS won't accept the neons back - I've already had them for 3 weeks. They will, however, accept the betta.
I'm upset with the betta anyway!

 

[Durbkat]

Is it an undergravel filter or a external filter? I don't believe that a pet store won't take back one kind of fish but will take another kind. Try calling another pet store to see if they will take them. I wouldn't keep the neons because the tank is to small in my opinion but is perfect for a betta.

 

[Ivan Sloshed]

Hi Ickle i think the orb hold less then 10 gallons and not much serface water so i think you might have anought fish already
Ivor

 

[ickle]

Is it an undergravel filter or a external filter? I don't believe that a pet store won't take back one kind of fish but will take another kind. Try calling another pet store to see if they will take them. I wouldn't keep the neons because the tank is to small in my opinion but is perfect for a betta.

It is an under gravel filter.
I've only had the betta for 2 days, which is why they will take it back - I haven't had it enough time to destroy it.

Hi Ickle i think the orb hold less then 10 gallons and not much serface water so i think you might have anought fish already
Ivor

Ok. I checked a few fish 'calculators' based on surface water and I can have roughly 20inches of fish, but I'm only planning to stock it until 10-15inches because it is such a small tank.

 

[rEvolution27]

Is it an undergravel filter or a external filter? I don't believe that a pet store won't take back one kind of fish but will take another kind. Try calling another pet store to see if they will take them. I wouldn't keep the neons because the tank is to small in my opinion but is perfect for a betta.

It is an under gravel filter.
I've only had the betta for 2 days, which is why they will take it back - I haven't had it enough time to destroy it.

Hi Ickle i think the orb hold less then 10 gallons and not much serface water so i think you might have anought fish already
Ivor

Ok. I checked a few fish 'calculators' based on surface water and I can have roughly 20inches of fish, but I'm only planning to stock it until 10-15inches because it is such a small tank.

? a 30L tank having 20 inches of fish? no way. Maybe a 20gallon tank can have about 20 inches but not 30l for sure.... What's the diameter?

 

[ickle]

? a 30L tank having 20 inches of fish? no way. Maybe a 20gallon tank can have about 20 inches but not 30l for sure.... What's the diameter?

Sorry, I meant 20cm of fish, not 20 inches.

 

[rEvolution27]

? a 30L tank having 20 inches of fish? no way. Maybe a 20gallon tank can have about 20 inches but not 30l for sure.... What's the diameter?

Sorry, I meant 20cm of fish, not 20 inches.

well in that case you already have 20cm of fish

 

[ickle]

well in that case you already have 20cm of fish

I don't. I have 10-12 cm of fish. I only have 5 tetras now that one is dead. The betta is in a separate bowl at the moment.

 

[gagaliya]

hey i have the same biorb (for now). if you love the hobby, i guarantee over time you will learn to hate the biorb. It took me just 2 months before i couldnt take it anymore and bought a real tank.

I have 10 fish in there currently, 6 zebra danio, 4 whiteclouds and 6 cherry red shrimp. And do water change once a week after the biorb was cycled. I lost 2 baby whiteclouds initially due to shipping stress, have not lost any fish since then. They are all happy and healthy, can tell by the whiteclouds color.

6 neon tetra is a good choice. If you want to add more fish, you can try a couple golden whiteclouds. Or have a single male betta in the tank. (betta + neon was a bad idea). Here are some tips on biorb:

1) make sure you dont block the water intake in the ugf with too many rocks or your tank will not cycle properly. but also make sure it's not too exposed so the neon tetra dont get sucked in there since they love sleeping at the bottom.

2) dont need to buy any expensive new filter cartridge. Use the catridge that came with the orb for 1 month, then rinse the sponge in old aquarium water and dump all the activated carbon in a garbage can. Going forward just rinse the sponge every week or 2 in old aquarium water.

3) buy a tetra whisper 10 gallon air pump, the one that comes with it is crap.

or you could just buy a regular tank and save all the future headaches

 

[ickle]

or you could just buy a regular tank and save all the future headaches

Well, I suppose I will have to make the best out of a bad situation, huh? 10 little fish and a couple of shrimp sounds like a good idea. Anyone else have any other suggestions for little fish besides White clouds?

What about guppies? or honey gourami?

 

[Durbkat]

Well you are completly stocked with the fish you have and the odd shape of the tank. I would recommend getting a sponge filter instead because an under gravel filter does nothing to help clean the tank espcially the one that comes with it because all it does is bring the poop out and and releases it into the tank. Or you could avoid all this by simply getting a 10 gallon tank with a whisper power filter 20 and a 50 watt heater.

 

[ickle]

Well you are completly stocked with the fish you have and the odd shape of the tank. I would recommend getting a sponge filter instead because an under gravel filter does nothing to help clean the tank espcially the one that comes with it because all it does is bring the poop out and and releases it into the tank. Or you could avoid all this by simply getting a 10 gallon tank with a whisper power filter 20 and a 50 watt heater.

There's a sponge inside my undergravel filter that I have to change/wash. I think it's the design of the tank. But like I said, I already own the tank - have to use it and make the best of it!

 

[fish_keeper2]

personaly i think the bioorb thing is a piece of s**t. for less than the price of one of them you could just get a standered 10 gal kit and be able to have more fish. since u want to make use of the tank your best bet is just a beta but seeing as you cant get rid of the neons ill just say keep it with the five. better safe than sorry.