I've had my 20G tank going for a month and a half now on a whisper 30G filter. I started with 7 zebra danios for the cycle, waited till ammonia, nitites dropped to 0, then added some java moss to keep the nitrates in check. I added 6 Platys (1.25") a week ago, and now the ammonia is hovering at around .5 ppm. Is this tank overstocked?
Overstocked?
- Thread starter wschalle
- Start date
Probably not, but it is cycling again. By adding more fish, the existing bacteria population is suddenly inadequate for the amount of waste being produced by the fish. So, until they can catch up, there will be ammonia and nitrites showing up. Increase the water changes you perform to prevent lethal spikes, and they will clear up as the bacteria colonies increase in size.
I would say you are fine but it can take three months for your tank to be totally cycled at least in my experience. Also when you added the platys, your tank will go through another mini cycle as it was cycled just for the danios. The added platys will cause a bit of an ammonia, then nintrite spike.
Best thing to do is to keep up with water changes, every day if it spikes too high, and it about two weeks you should be OK again..
I would not add any fish beyond what you have. Live plants helps to deal with the extra fish load too. the more you have the better!
Best thing to do is to keep up with water changes, every day if it spikes too high, and it about two weeks you should be OK again..
I would not add any fish beyond what you have. Live plants helps to deal with the extra fish load too. the more you have the better!
Suggestions for plants?
Does anyone have any suggestions for plants?
All i've got right now is a little bit of java moss, 2 fake plants, and a rock formation. I was thinking about adding a cave or two, or maybe some old clay pots, then some new plants.
I'd also like to get a cory to keep the tank bottom cleaned up a little bit, because once i get more plants, it will get a little more difficult to vacuum without disturbing them. I figured i'd wait a month or two on the cory, especially since the tank will have to be drained and moved in august.
How fast do cories grow, and how big do they get?
Does anyone have any suggestions for plants?
All i've got right now is a little bit of java moss, 2 fake plants, and a rock formation. I was thinking about adding a cave or two, or maybe some old clay pots, then some new plants.
I'd also like to get a cory to keep the tank bottom cleaned up a little bit, because once i get more plants, it will get a little more difficult to vacuum without disturbing them. I figured i'd wait a month or two on the cory, especially since the tank will have to be drained and moved in august.
How fast do cories grow, and how big do they get?
Re: Suggestions for plants?
the cory cats stay pretty small.. they have a 3 year old one at my LFS and it is only about 1.5 inches long.
the cory cats stay pretty small.. they have a 3 year old one at my LFS and it is only about 1.5 inches long.
Shrimp?
Also, how do people feel about cleaner shrimp? I was considering one of these as a replacement for a cory, but i got the impression that they only eat algae. What exactly do these guys eat? If I get 2, will they reproduce like crazy?
Also, how do people feel about cleaner shrimp? I was considering one of these as a replacement for a cory, but i got the impression that they only eat algae. What exactly do these guys eat? If I get 2, will they reproduce like crazy?
Re: Shrimp?
Depends on the shrimp that you get. Ghost shrimp tend to eat left over food more than algae. Other shrimps like the Armanos are great algae eaters. Most of the time the other fish in the tank will eat the shrimp eggs, so that shouldn't be a problem. I have around 20 ghost shrimp in my 20L.
Depends on the shrimp that you get. Ghost shrimp tend to eat left over food more than algae. Other shrimps like the Armanos are great algae eaters. Most of the time the other fish in the tank will eat the shrimp eggs, so that shouldn't be a problem. I have around 20 ghost shrimp in my 20L.
So... Plant suggestions...
Nobody has answered that question yet, so I thought i'd add some more to the previous q.
I don't want to add any substrates to my tank (gravel bottom), and the only light source I have is a 20W florescent. What plants will live under these conditions? I don't want to buy plants that need lots of light, I just want them more to give the fish some places to hide/explore, and to clean some nitrate out of the water.
Nobody has answered that question yet, so I thought i'd add some more to the previous q.
I don't want to add any substrates to my tank (gravel bottom), and the only light source I have is a 20W florescent. What plants will live under these conditions? I don't want to buy plants that need lots of light, I just want them more to give the fish some places to hide/explore, and to clean some nitrate out of the water.
Look into anubias, java ferns, and crypts. Anubias and java fern are not planted in the substrate, but instead attach to rock/wood in the tank. Crypts are planted in the substrate. All three will do will in lower light tanks, with minimal fertilizations. Crypts can react poorly to changes in water parameters, so don't be surprised if the leaves 'melt'--remove the failing leaf, and the plant will regrow and be very happy once it acclimates.
Adding plants will help reduce the spikes of adding new fish, since the plants utilize ammonia as a food source.
Adding plants will help reduce the spikes of adding new fish, since the plants utilize ammonia as a food source.