I need help... ASAP

L

live2swim

Registered Member
Sep 2, 2011
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I know I have a problem, but I do not know what it is or where to start. I need some help......

Background: I have had one betta once before. It lived a “long” healthy life in a gallon bowl. I recently moved move and decided to get a 10 gallon tank. I have added a water filtration system (for 10 to 15 gallons). It has colored gravel on the bottom, a fish cave, and a none living plant in it. I set it up 3 weeks ago; added water conditioner to the tap water I added a few days before I added the fish. I bought a crown tail batta and a pleco. They seemed to be happy and healthy.

I fed the pleco 1 algae wafer every other day before I went to bed (like the pet store person said). I also am aware that the pleco will grow big and need to move. This tank was just a starting home for it. I feed the betta 2 betta pellets every other day and about once a week I feed it freeze dried blood worms. This is the same thing I did with my first betta and he did really well.

PROBLEM...

A few days ago I noticed that batta fish did not seem happy. It stayed on the bottom of the tank not moving. It would go up only when it needed air. It would rest agains anything so the slight movement of the water would not move it. It no longer would eat. I have not had this fish for longer then 3 weeks, so this seemed odd. It was very active and happy for the days leading up to this problem. The betta’s color was fine; nothing on the betta to raise any red flags about any obvious sickness. The pleco seemed to still be okay. The water temp is fine.

Yesterday the betta still like something is the matter. I figured that I would go talk to the pet store and see what they said. I went and talked to the pet store and the gave me some “stress coat” liquid and said maybe the space was two large for the betta. They said give that liquid a try and see how that did.

I just got home to find that my pleco was floating dead. I have a obvious problem. I have NO idea what it is. What do I do now? My first thought is that it might be in the water, but this is the water I drink and it is conditioned so I don’t know! The betta is still alive, so what do I do with the betta? How do I get it to be better? What do I do to prevent this from happening again?

HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!
 
You need to get tests for your water. At a minimum, I would suggest a pH test and a test for ammonia, nitrates, nitrites. Test your water and test it regularly. The pH needs to be relatively neutral...maybe 6.5 to 7.8 or so, though a little higher or lower shouldn't be an issue as long as it remains stable. Your ammonia and nitrites need to be 0 and your nitrates should remain low. Basically, your tank needs to cycle -- build up beneficial bacteria that feed on ammonia and nitrites.

My best guess is that your tank wasn't fully cycled or that the sudden introduction of the fish knocked it out of whack. Either way, do not add anymore fish for the time being. Make sure that when you're doing water changes, you're adding a product like Prime to remove ammonia.

DO NOT LISTEN to anybody who tells you that a 10 gallon tank is too large for a betta. They are poorly informed and dangerously so at that. A 10 gallon tank (or larger) is ideal for a betta. 10 gallons is pushing it for most plecos, though you may be able to get away with some of the smaller species like a clown pleco -- at least I've always had luck with them.

Obviously, there could be other issues, but the first thing to rule out is poor water quality due to an uncycled tank.
 
how did you cycle your tank ??? do you have an Ammonia, NitrIte and a NitrAte test kit to check your water ? if you havent cycled the tank yet your ammonia and Nitrite levels could be to high for the fish to survive
 
What do I do with the betta that is still alive? Do I put it in a with the old water from the tank?
 
find somewhere to put the betta/ and be prepared to do frequent water changes if it isnt an already established tank... no ammonia no nitrite and your betta will be ok, but the ammonia will burn its gills and the nitrite will sufficate it so you need to get a test for those at the very lest.... Id advise getting an API Master test kit to start, it would be a very good start
 
I would say you need to do atleast a 70% water change to be safe, if you do not have any of the above listed test kits i would do a 80%.... Also i would recommend usiing Seachem Prime as a Dechlorinatorer/water conditoner
 
Thank you for your help! How would you cycle a tank?

Would you recommend finding a different water source to refill my tank?
 
i recently started my first tank a 14 gal and what helping my cycle get started is I got some media from an established tank like a piece of wood thats already wet and sunken (which is good for a pelco if you get another) or anachairs which is easy to grow and cheap. maybe the bacteria thats on stuff like that will help control your water and speed up your cycle
 
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