Please Help!!

M

mdnitwhisper

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Jan 1, 2006
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I started a new 55 gallon fish tank. My first time with fish so I am totally new at this. I cycled the fish tank for a week with out fish and tested the water everything tested fine except their was some presents of ammonia. At the fish store I was told it was ok to go ahead and put some hardy fish in. I bought some guppies, mollies, platies, and I already had betta's which I plan to keep inside the top of the tank in separate betta condos. And also since I have had my tank one of my guppies has had babies. My problem is that the ammonia levels are high. I have did a 25% change of water and let it cycle for a couple of hours and the ammonia level was still high. I then put in ammo lock and then added it again on the 2nd day after as it was instructed on the back if the ammonia was still there. But that didn't work I then did a 50% water change. I have slacked off on the feeding alot which I probably did feed more than necessary because I new at this and I will amit that. I don't know what else to do I don't want to lose any fish or harm them. I have been told so many things like it was good that I changed the water but then someone else tells me that I shouldn't have changed the water that I need to let the ammonia get high so it can fully cycle into nitrate/nitrite. I was then told to add a catfish and a couple of loaches to eat any left over food at the bottom if I was over feeding and that would help. The catfish is about 4" and I was told he will not get much bigger. I know he already ate one of my guppies. So I have two problems now the ammonia levels are still high and do I have to worry that I made a bad choice of buying this catfish.

So can anyone give me any advise on what to do with the high ammonia levels? Please I am desperate!

Plus do I need to try to take the catfish back? Will he eat anything small that I put in the tank. Like I said I have mollies, platies and gupplies in there now. I know later I plan on having Angel fish, gouramis, danios, etc.

Any help would be appreciated. I am sorry that this post is so long but I don't know what else to do.
 
Keep doing water changes to help control the ammonia,it won't hurt your cycle.If you can find Biospira that would help immensly.You have overloaded what little of a bacteria colony you had.The water changes will keep the ammonia from getting to high,and help the bacteria catchup.Do you know anyone with a tank.You could use a piece of their filter fiber to help out.

You should have at the most just add a few fish,not the large amount you did.Your LFS should be shot.

Did the catfish eat the guppy while it was alive?Do you know the name of the catfish?

What are your water parameters right now,that would help us out in giving advice.
 
If you want the fish to live for long start doing water changes every day or maybe 2 times a day to keep ammonia and nitite levels as low as you can get them. Do not put more fish in there and maybe only feed them every other day as much as they can eat in say 5 minutes. Keep doing water changes daily until you get 0 readings for ammonia and nitrites. This could go on for weeks, Biospira should or can speed this up if you can find any to just a couple days. Good luck
 
mdnitwhisper,
Don't worry to much, your tank is on track. It can take time and more fish shouldn't be added once the tank has started to cycle, they have to be acclimated to the High amonia and nitrite levels. All of the advice you have been given is excellent advice. Check this link about cycling a tank and things may seem clearer click here. As for your LFS bare in mind next time that the majority of them don't have the experience needed.
Good luck,

Terry.
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for responding. To answer IceH20 questions:
It is a Pictus catfish. Yes it ate my guppy while he was alive.
My parameters are all good and low except my ammonia is at 4.0.
I plan on taking back the catfish if possible and see if I can get the smaller catfish that get no bigger than 2". I have the catfish separated from my other fish for now.
 
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