Yet another question about cycling

[Breakthecycle2]

Here's the thing. I started the tank two and half weeks ago. I haven't had tanks since I was 15-16, and Im 28 now. I've always had pets..water turtles, snakes, box turtle, tortises, nile monitors etc... When I purchases everything I asked the guy, how long should I wait before adding fish, the guys says 48 hours. So i do that. Then i go back and they said you can stock with a few, wait a few days then get more., which I did. I have 9 neons..6 black, 3 regular, 2 bolivian rams and two odessa barbs. I know this was a mistake. However, I havent lost any and I check the water on a daily basis. The ammonia was up to 4 and Ive changed the water everday this week, accept today and brought the levels down. I do not want to lose any fish, so what can I do to keep all the levels down while its still cycling?

 

[UBigBobby]

Here's the thing. I started the tank two and half weeks ago. I haven't had tanks since I was 15-16, and Im 28 now. I've always had pets..water turtles, snakes, box turtle, tortises, nile monitors etc... When I purchases everything I asked the guy, how long should I wait before adding fish, the guys says 48 hours. So i do that. Then i go back and they said you can stock with a few, wait a few days then get more., which I did. I have 9 neons..6 black, 3 regular, 2 bolivian rams and two odessa barbs. I know this was a mistake. However, I havent lost any and I check the water on a daily basis. The ammonia was up to 4 and Ive changed the water everday this week, accept today and brought the levels down. I do not want to lose any fish, so what can I do to keep all the levels down while its still cycling?

[snapback]886336[/snapback]​

You can do 2 things. Never take the guys advice again
AND...just keep with the water changes. Nothing else really, short of chemicals, but then your tank will become dependant on them, and it will cost you alot of $$ to constantly be buying anti-ammonia products. Just stick to the water changeds, even do 10% 2x a day, if not more than 10%, and cross your fingers.

Honestly though, chances are you'll lose a good portion of your fish, as those aren't particularly hardy. The neons and rams will definately have some trouble. I'm not sure about the barbs. If you can keep the ammonia under 1...you might have a chance with them...but expect some loss.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

You think? Wouldnt have started already? Me losing any fish?

 

[Ethos]

I think you'll be just fine. I did a fish cycle, and while you have certanly....choosen different fish.....If you've made it this far, I think the hardest part is over. I mean, I never lost one fish while doing a fish cycle.
On the other hand, I was useing danios, a very very hardy fish. Your fish aren't so hardy...

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I know, thats the thing. I wish I had known about these things. I should have researched i know. I do not want to lose any, thats why im checking the water levels about everyday and with the water changes, I was doing about 30-40%. Yesterday, the ammonia levels where down to 1 and no trace of nitrites. My PH is 7.6-7.8

 

[UBigBobby]

You think? Wouldnt have started already? Me losing any fish?

[snapback]886350[/snapback]​

Well it depends, each fish will respond a different way. The second the ammonia spikes they won't die. There will be warning signs. Certain fish will loose their coloring, this is a sign of stress and can lead to disease. So they can die that way. They can also "suffocate" due to the high ammonia levels. IF this starts to happen you'll see them stay towards the top and almost gasp for air most of the time. They USUALLY don't just up and die from ammonia. The fish you have though are rather sensitive to water quality, so they'll suffer from it sooner than fish like Danios would, and they also won't be able to hold out in bad conditions as long as other hardier fish.

Just keep and eye on them. Watch for inflamed gills, heavy rapid breathing, gulping for air at the surface, and also what can best be described as the shimmies. The fish will breath rapidly and hover in place, almost twitching. These are all signs of stress due to too much ammonia.

So just keep doing the water changes. Not much else you can do really. If you can keep the levels down...they might pull through. Also, feed as little as you can without starving them. The more food you give, the more they poop, and thats where the ammonia comes from. So don't starve them, but theres no need to feed them every day at this stage.

It seems you're doing a good job keeping the ammonia down, but remember that the nitrite is going to spike too. This isn't AS toxic to most fish as ammonia (Tiger Barbs being an exception) but its still stressful, especially for the fish you have.

Fish deserve alot of credit as even the weaker ones can pull off some great things when it comes to surviving. Just keep doing what you're doing, and cross your fingers.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I definatly will and thanks for your advice! So far (crosses fingers) they are showing no signs of anything..although I had a very bad Ich problem with the Black Neons. They all stay where they "should", meaninf the rams stay at the bottom and occasionaly swim to the middle, the black neons stay in the filter current, the reg. neons just play tag all day and the odessa barbs terrorize each other..lol

 

[UBigBobby]

I definatly will and thanks for your advice! So far (crosses fingers) they are showing no signs of anything..although I had a very bad Ich problem with the Black Neons. They all stay where they "should", meaninf the rams stay at the bottom and occasionaly swim to the middle, the black neons stay in the filter current, the reg. neons just play tag all day and the odessa barbs terrorize each other..lol

[snapback]886369[/snapback]​

Yea, the neons most likely contracted Ich because of the stress from the ammonia doing a number on their slime coat and opening them up to infection. Good thing you got it under control, thats a good sign. Seems like the worst is behind you and you'll just have to get through a Nitrite spike and you'll be golden, good luck.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Yeah thats def. had to be the main cause of the outbreak. I thought for sure that would killed two or three of them, but even the worst one seems to be clearing up..I hope. I raised the temp and have been adding the med everday as directed, plus the partial water changes. Thanks for your help.

 

[jolaf]

I did something similar before cycling My tank is now 5 weeks young and it finally cycled on the 4th week. I lost 6 fish but like everyone is saying those danios are stil going strong. Also, a bubble guppy and a male guppy are doing great. My betta made it through although I put him in his own domain outside the tank because I got a skirted tetra and that fish didnt like the betta so no need to watch that Goo dluck with your tank. I love mine I have to take a photo soon and get it up here.

Here's the thing. I started the tank two and half weeks ago. I haven't had tanks since I was 15-16, and Im 28 now. I've always had pets..water turtles, snakes, box turtle, tortises, nile monitors etc... When I purchases everything I asked the guy, how long should I wait before adding fish, the guys says 48 hours. So i do that. Then i go back and they said you can stock with a few, wait a few days then get more., which I did. I have 9 neons..6 black, 3 regular, 2 bolivian rams and two odessa barbs. I know this was a mistake. However, I havent lost any and I check the water on a daily basis. The ammonia was up to 4 and Ive changed the water everday this week, accept today and brought the levels down. I do not want to lose any fish, so what can I do to keep all the levels down while its still cycling?

[snapback]886336[/snapback]​