I've had a 20g aquarium for over a year. It was well established. However, I had to move. During the move, something made my tank crack and start spilling water. I quickly bought a 10 gallon and filled it with the gravel, water, and filter media from the established 20 gallon. I will get another 20 when I can afford it. I have 4 peppered cories, 4 rummynose, and 5 neon tetras. I know this is overstocked, but it's the best I can do for now. I tested the water before and all was fine. But today, the test said I had high ammonia, no nitrites and no nitrate! What do I do? The lfs's around here are nasty Terrible and the fish would be worse off than they are now. And the rummy nose still have red noses. How can I fix this without killing the fish?
Aquarium not cycled? Help please.
- Thread starter Roadrider
- Start date
^ address that first then, if you find out you're cycling, just get some Prime, Safestart, and do water changes. That is the basic process for a fish in cycle.
13 fish, when 9 of them are tetras, is not an impossible bioload for a 10g. Relax. Do what the previous posters told you, particularly with regard to water changes, and they will get through this. It is particularly encouraging that after such a disaster as this you have had no fish losses nor behavior indicating extreme, or from what you indicate any, distress.
think of it like a camping trip or evacuation after an emergency. Folks can stay in crowded situations for a time without harm and so can fish. I am wondering if some of your media, particularly in the filter, got dried out a bit during the cracking incident. The bacteria just need to catch back up and all will be well.
breathe.
think of it like a camping trip or evacuation after an emergency. Folks can stay in crowded situations for a time without harm and so can fish. I am wondering if some of your media, particularly in the filter, got dried out a bit during the cracking incident. The bacteria just need to catch back up and all will be well.
breathe.
I have found that acquiring 'used' media from another filter is a pretty awesome way of speeding up a cycle. I've done it on every tank I've set up and had no issues. See if a friend can loan you some media.. when I was cycling my first tank a friend let me use one of his small filters from one of his tanks and it really helped a lot.