Very very novice at this

Its easier to start out with a larger aquarium (20g ish). You have to cycle a tank (read the sticky in the newb section) either with fish or without fish. There are pros and cons doing it both ways (i suggest a fishless cycle). Are you using the ick remedy to get rid of the smell? That will do absolutely nothing for the smell. Ick is a disease where your fish get white spots all over its body. Also, very few fish will live happily in a 1 gallon. Theres a lot to know, so read threads using the search option.

I suggest taking the fish back and starting over. Do you have a filter, and a heater? Research all you can! BTW, Welcome to AC!

I'll just repeat what spartan said, basically.

simply put, 5 tiger barbs, or even one tiger barb, won't live for very long in a one gallon bowl. I'd reccomend getting about a 15 or 20 gallon tank, a power filter, and a heater. Then, you'll need to cycle it. To learn how to do this, read the cycle sticky at the top of the freshwater newbie forum. To avoid killing any fish, I'd do a fishless cycle.

Oh, and a good rule, with only a very rare exception is NEVER completely wash and disinfect a tank. it will kill all the good bacteria and is about the worst thing you can do.

I do think you'd have an easier time and a lot more fun with about a 20 gallon tank. contrary to popular belief, fish bowls are about the most difficult environment to maintain. A bigger aquarium gives you more stability. a filter and a heater are also neccesary for the helth of any tropical fish.

Hope this helps, good luck, and welcome to the most addicting hobby on the planet :dance

I hate buying fromt hem, but WalMart does sell some ready to go kits. The 10 gallon is afine as is the 20 gallon and are not super expensive. But that 1 gallon tank is only good for a single betta (fighting fish).

As was mentioned never wash out a tank, even if the water smells bad. Just do a water change and use dechlorinator tp get rid of chlorine in the water. You should be doing a minimum of a water change each week. Whena tank is new and if it has fish in it do a water change every day for the first couple of weeks.

And never, never add anything to your tank unless you know exactly why you're adding it and that it is the right thing to be adding.

In your case, I'm talking about the Ich meds. The meds won't help anything unless your fish are carrying the Ich parasite. They probably won't hurt anything, but they aren't doing any good.

I second the sentiment of the bigger tank. 15-20 gallons is probably the best balance between stability and maintaining a really big tank.

amerpatrt said:

. I've changed the water once again, disinfected and rinsed everything thoroughly.

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ummmm...... how did you disinfect the tank? What did you use?

Time to start over. You are fighting a loosing battle trying to keep 5 tiger barbs in a 1g anything. Take them back, trade them in, or whatever it takes to find them a new home.

When I smelled the water all I knew of was, 'ick'!

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LOL! Thats the funniest thing i've heard in a while!! (not making fun of you btw)

Time to start over. You are fighting a loosing battle trying to keep 5 tiger barbs in a 1g anything. Take them back, trade them in, or whatever it takes to find them a new home.

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I agree with longtime. With a 5 tiger barbs in a 5 gallon, no heater, no filter, cleaned with whatever you used, and in an uncycled tank you're fighting a losing battle.

Like TKOS said, go to Walmart and check out their starter kits, they're pretty cheap there.