Before anyone yells, I had a 20 gallon tank cycling. My husband doesn't know anything about fish. While I was visiting my mom for mother's day, he emptied the whole tank, cleaned everything(including the gravel), filled the tank back up, put everything back in and treated the water. This was on Friday. The temp was right on Saturday, so off to the fish store he went. The lady at there told him the tank was ready for fish since it had been 24 hours. (I'll be calling her tomorrow when they're open.) So she gave him one baby oscar and one an inch-by their scale. You can imagine how I felt when he told me everything he did. :mad2: Is it possible to save these oscars through the fishy cycle? I have a 10 gallon-stabilized, but I have fish in it, so that's out of the question. The ammonia was .5ppm and the nitrites were .5ppm. After a 50% water change, the ammonia is the same, but the nitrite is .25ppm. Should I keep doing water changes and vacuuming through the cycle? ANY help is GREATLY appreciated!!! I'm a newbie myself and my husband obviously knows nothing about this hobby!!!
Un-cycled tank with 2 oscars.
- Thread starter Mrs. Burns
- Start date
I don'y have all the answers (newbie myself) but I have done enough reading on the board to know that you do water changes throughout the period when you are establishing the cycle (one of these more experienced hands can tell you how much - I think a 1-2 x weekly 25% is a typical recommendation). The bacteria are not growing in your water, they grow in the substrate and your filter, so you lose nothing by changing water. You can also keep vacuuming.
Well, I am vacuuming on a regular basis now-once a week. But I don't know if I need to do water changes every day since these are oscars, and I really want to save them. They are going to my 55 gallon then eventually 75 gallon once they are cycled. Just to let you know that I know they can't stay in this 20 gallon.
Ahhh. Husbands try to be so helpful at times. I'm sure that he thought that he was doing a good thing for you. We love our husbands anyway. As far as the fish and your tank goes I would recommend that you do at least 40% water changes 2-3 times a week and more if necessary. Oscars are very messy eaters and they will not eat everything you give them. Also make sure that you vacuum the gravel as well. Keep an eye on your water perimeters too. On the up side, oscars can be very amusing and entertaining. Some can even be taught to be hand fed and to be petted. Now that is one nice pet fish! I'm sure you will have loads of fun with them.
Be happy!
Marinemom
Be happy!
Marinemom
Well, the oscars were for him, but he thought it all needed to be cleaned. I guess he thought I had everything running for looks. I'm over being mad at him now. He didn't know. But another question, to add salt to keep the nitrite from hurting them, I read that you put a tsp of salt to every gallon of water. Do you know if you add it all at once, or gradually with the water changes?---I just tested nitrite and it's back up to .5ppm already!
Did he clean out the filter? This is where most of the bacteria is located so if he left that alone you should be pretty good. If he did you can try putting decorations, some gravel, or part of the filter from your smaller tank in the bigger tank to jump start the cycle process. You can also buy a product called BioSpira which contains the bacteria that will instantly cycle a tank. You just have to make sure it has been kept refridgorated in the store and kept cold until you use it. I would personally get BioSpria as I have used it in the past and I have gotten great results. Good Luck!
Well, he didn't clean the filter, but I changed the pumps for now until the cycle gets done or at least better. I may try BioSpira, but right now all I have is Stress Coat and Stress Zyme. I treat the water with it every water change(of course). But the stress Zyme also contains live bacteria to help give it a jump. I'm just wondering if I should add salt to lower the toxicity to the fish. And if I should, do I mix it all in at once or gradually.
I'm not sure if the salt will help with the nitrites but it will help to calm the oscars if they are skittish. The dose is 1 teaspoon for every 5 gallons of water. I would not add it all at the same time. Instead, just add it gradually. You do not want to shock the fish and I think the sudden change in the water would lead to problems. The salt will also help the fish build up thier slime coating which in turn protects them from the onslaught of disease. They can fight off disease better but do not overdo the salt either. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. I hope this helps.
Marinemom
Marinemom
Thank you so much!!! I'm going to add the salt now. It's not that they are skittish, the bigger one is just acting a little strange compared to yesterday. He's turning to his side now and then. I know it's normal for them to sleep this way, but he turns while he's swimming. I hope this works! Thanks again! Everyone here is so nice and helpful!!!
Stress coat will increase their slime layer. Stress Zyme will do nothing for the bacteria in the tank. Get a good hand full of the gravel from your established tank and place it in the new tank. If you do not want to mix it, place it in an old pair of hose and place that in the tank. That should give a good jump on the much needed bacteria.