Confused
- Thread starter lilsexyred
- Start date
HeHe, good nite!
thank you yohkos i am doing that now strange i never cycled my smaller tank i have for my kids it is only a 2 gallon tank i bought them fish filled the tank and threw 3 fish in there they seem to be doing fine but i am going to change the water in my tank now again i just did a 20 % water change about 3 hours ago and i will do a 50% one now then i am going to take some my water to the pet store in the morning hopefully no more of my fishies die in the night should i get up in the middle of the night and change the water again? or will that be to much
Don't buy anymore fish until you get your tank settled. I"m thinking if you put all these in at once it's definitely a cycle issue. Have you read the sticky about cycling a new tank?
Purchase some of those dipstick type water testing kits..because they're easy to use...and test your water every day. Read up on cycling a tank so you know what to look for and do water changes when you see the ammonia or nitrites are in the high range....ammonia should be zero and nitrites should also be zero.......You may have to do some hefty water changes for a few days.
Also, make sure the new water you put in the tank has been conditioned. Did they tell you about that at the store? You need to buy a water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloromines from the water....and the temp should be close to temp of the tank water. You don't want to throw cold water in a heated tank.
LilRed, don't worry too much about the mistakes....most of us made them in the beginning ourselves...and still do from time to time. You learn as you go along. Start doing some online research into the types of fish you would like to have, and coming to a place like this to ask questions is a good idea too. Some folks can get a bit rude with their responces and comments...lol...but don't let that discourage you....they probably have good advice, just lousy manners....lol....so listen to what they tell you but research yourself too.
This is a great hobby LilRed....this is just a little bump in the road as your starting out...you'll learn ! We did...
Purchase some of those dipstick type water testing kits..because they're easy to use...and test your water every day. Read up on cycling a tank so you know what to look for and do water changes when you see the ammonia or nitrites are in the high range....ammonia should be zero and nitrites should also be zero.......You may have to do some hefty water changes for a few days.
Also, make sure the new water you put in the tank has been conditioned. Did they tell you about that at the store? You need to buy a water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloromines from the water....and the temp should be close to temp of the tank water. You don't want to throw cold water in a heated tank.
LilRed, don't worry too much about the mistakes....most of us made them in the beginning ourselves...and still do from time to time. You learn as you go along. Start doing some online research into the types of fish you would like to have, and coming to a place like this to ask questions is a good idea too. Some folks can get a bit rude with their responces and comments...lol...but don't let that discourage you....they probably have good advice, just lousy manners....lol....so listen to what they tell you but research yourself too.
This is a great hobby LilRed....this is just a little bump in the road as your starting out...you'll learn ! We did...
Good for you EMG:
We don't want to scare lilred!
Hey LilRed - chin up - "this too shall pass"
LilRed - Do cyle the tank first - as everyone is telling you to do. I know! I lost 8 fish in 3 weeks by doing pretty much the same thing you did. Then go to your LFS (local fish store) and just look at the fish that interest you - write down their names from the tanks.
Then search for fish profiles here or on the web on each of the fish you think you want. The profiles will tell you if they need to be in a school of 6 or whatever, the pH you need; type of food; (stay with omnivores - they just need flake food) and lots more info you never thought you needed to know about a specific fish. Then make a list of the ones that look like they will be compatible. You may also want to stay with "hardy" fish - ones that are not fussy about water temperature, pH, etc.
Here is a list that might tickle your fancy:
Group 1.
Neon Tetras
Glowlight Tetras
Harlequin Rasboras
Fancy Guppies - (just get the long tailed males, you don't want babies!)
Note: All of these fish above should be in schools of 4 - 6 fish so just pick 2 or 3 of the above.
1 or 2 Corydoras Catfish for the bottom cleaning.
There are many web sites that will give you some info on adding a variety of fish to your small aquarium - search community tanks with google.
Do buy a water testing kit or the stick type test kit. You really do need this!
I wish you the best of luck!
We don't want to scare lilred!
Hey LilRed - chin up - "this too shall pass"
LilRed - Do cyle the tank first - as everyone is telling you to do. I know! I lost 8 fish in 3 weeks by doing pretty much the same thing you did. Then go to your LFS (local fish store) and just look at the fish that interest you - write down their names from the tanks.
Then search for fish profiles here or on the web on each of the fish you think you want. The profiles will tell you if they need to be in a school of 6 or whatever, the pH you need; type of food; (stay with omnivores - they just need flake food) and lots more info you never thought you needed to know about a specific fish. Then make a list of the ones that look like they will be compatible. You may also want to stay with "hardy" fish - ones that are not fussy about water temperature, pH, etc.
Here is a list that might tickle your fancy:
Group 1.
Neon Tetras
Glowlight Tetras
Harlequin Rasboras
Fancy Guppies - (just get the long tailed males, you don't want babies!)
Note: All of these fish above should be in schools of 4 - 6 fish so just pick 2 or 3 of the above.
1 or 2 Corydoras Catfish for the bottom cleaning.
There are many web sites that will give you some info on adding a variety of fish to your small aquarium - search community tanks with google.
Do buy a water testing kit or the stick type test kit. You really do need this!
I wish you the best of luck!
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Everything EMG said, except the water testing kits. Don't get the dipstick kind. Make sure they are liquid. this is because the stick kind are known to give misreads and are really expensive.
Yes, the 'count-the-drops' liquid tests are a bit more work, but they are a lot more economical and accurate. Something I always have to make sure I tell my customers is to bring their sample in something that is clean and has NEVER had soap or any other chemicals in it ever. If the sample has anything in it from soap residue or other things, it totally screws up the test strip. Unfortunately, those 'dipstick tests' are all we can use at work for doing customer's water tests.
Lilred, I hope everything works out for your tank and fishes...good luck.
Lilred, I hope everything works out for your tank and fishes...good luck.
lilsexyred said:
Your fish are doing this because your tank is not cycled. The ammonia is probably spiking right now and that is lethal to fish. You need to buy test kits for ammomnia, pH, Nitrate, and nitrite at the very least. Probably cheaper to buy a master test kit and then you get a little more.(Check out by asking people here or going to the internet) how to cycle your tank. People at a lot of pet stores just want the sale and don't tell you these things. If I was you I would go back and complain to the owner/manager of the store. Sorry to hear about what happened.
I realize the dipsticks aren't the greatest.....my thinking was to help her out by not overloading on the info and things to do. I think they'll work well enough to start with and when she starts feeling more comfortable in her knowledge of what she's doing..she could go to the more reliable liquid method.
it IS a common pleco according to lilred's receipt. needs to be returned.IMH.
In fact, I'd return all of thhose if possible, and start over.
I get what you are saying, EMG, but id say go with the liquid test kits too. they arent too hard to use, you just have to follow what the instructions say. Cycling can be confusing enough without adding inaccurate readings JMO.
are the fish still at the top of the tank?
In fact, I'd return all of thhose if possible, and start over.
I get what you are saying, EMG, but id say go with the liquid test kits too. they arent too hard to use, you just have to follow what the instructions say. Cycling can be confusing enough without adding inaccurate readings JMO.
are the fish still at the top of the tank?
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