Need Advice: I've been given fish in the middle of a fishless cycle

[samsaramom]

Hello all,

being this is my very fist post, I'd like to start by saying that I have been quietly reading the forums, soaking as much in, and learning a great deal along the way.

We were the lucky recipients of a 10 gallon aquarium for Christmas. I set it up during the first week of January. After quite a bit of reading, I have embarked on fishless cycling of the tank. I think I am in the middle of this cycle. (I have been keeping records of the readings and such) - But this is not really the core of my question. Anyway - the ammonia levels are now starting to drop every day (I test in the AM). I am needing to add the 2-3 drops of NH3 to bring it to 5ppm. The Nitrites, I have witnessed, were low and started to climb last week. They have been elevated for about 7 days. I think things are going as they should, and I am trying not to be too impatient.

So this morning, our neighbour who is moving out of province in a couple of days, learned of my empty tank and donated fish. (She seemed to think that they were ready to be dumped in!!) I think the NH3 and N02 would kill them!

So, not being the sort to turn away an orphan, I took on the three, and they are now in a fishbowl that my son had a couple of years ago. We put the original gravel and water in the bowl (from their home aquarium). I think a partial water change is in order. But that is besides the point. I've been given a rotund platy, a common pleco and a small catfish (a cory maybe, I need to work at identiftying this guy). The pleco is quite big - about 3-4 inches long.

My questions are - will my adoptees be okay in this fishbowl until my cycle is complete? Any advice on maintaining this bowl in the meantime? Should I do partial water changes daily? (There is no aeration, filter etc - its a run of the mill bowl). Or, is the bowl environment really not a great idea, and I should change the course of the tank cycle to make it inhabitable? And if this is the best route, what would I need to do?

I think my ideal is to go with the method that would be the most beneficial for the fish. I am not in a rush to get them into the tank - if their temporary home will be okay for the time it takes to run the cycle.

And a final question - since their first owner was not totally up on fish keeping - and I am here to learn -- what sorts of things do I need to look for in terms of their overall health? I want to add a couple of scoops of their gravel to add to the bacteria colonies (since I had nothing to jump-start my own tank) - I know that these have been the only fish in there for at least 6 months. (I remember feeding them this summer!). So what do I need to know - before transfering the gravel into mine?

I know there are alot of questions here - I appreciate your experience and guidance!

Heather

 

[mishi8]

Hmmm, a bit of a dilemma. Do you want to keep these particular kinds of fish? Keeping them in a cramped, unheated and unfiltered fish bowl isn't the best choice, it's going to cause the fish stress and likely cause illness. Not to mention that you are now fishless cycling your 10 gallon, and fishy cycling a fish bowl. If you want to keep these fish, you would be better off seeding the 10 gallon well and complete the cycle with fish.

The fish you were given, however, may not be ideal for a 10 gallon set up. The platy would be fine, the cory might be okay, but will need at least two more cory companions, and the pleco is just too big for such a small tank.

 

[itstheantitang]

If they are moving out of the province, on the day they move, take the fish to the lfs.
If you don't want to do that, Do a water change on the 10 gallon (2 gallons) and add the fish. Then do a water change every day ~2 gals~ until the cycle completes, or you get rid of the fish.

 

[samsaramom]

Ah, the trouble with being nice eh?

I think I will do the water change etc tomorrow and give the ammonia the extra time to drop (since I topped it up to 5ppm this morning).

I was intending on getting some platys anyway...I knew the plecos needed to be in a bigger tank. (Their original home was a 5 gal tank eeek!). I'll call the LFS to see if they'll take a donation...

The bowl is filled full of the water from the aquarium they lived in. I tested the water and Nh3, N02 and No3 are low (zero).

So, if they best way to go about this is to introduce the fish in the tank, is put them in a bag. Do I empty the bad into the aquarium? (I have not researched that far ahead since I was mid-cycle!!)



Thanks again

Heather

 

[hurricanejedi]

You let the bag sit in the aquarium for a while to let the temp adjust. Then take some water out and put some of the aquarium water in (maybe half?). This will give them time to adjust to the new pH or whatever else in teh aquarium that might be different. Then net the fish and put them in as mixing water isn't always such a good idea....but if its your own water it might not be so bad. I just know thats the procedure I would go with if the fish came from a pet store or something.