water/fish changes

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lisaann4jc

AC Members
Oct 21, 2005
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I have a 20g tank, was overstocked....

6 tiger barbs
6 zebra danios
5 red serpae (tetra)
2 platys
2 micky mouse
2 adfs
1 kouhi loach
1 med/lg snail
1 catfish

It didn't start that way, but as a newbie, I just bought some community fish that I thought were pretty & compatible. After buying some of the above mentioned fish, I began reading online about fish. Trying to accomodate what I was reading, (having 5 & 6 of these fish), I got overstocked. My barbs became more aggressive toward the other fish and I lost 2 tetras and 2 danios. Today my LFS took my barbs and agreed to test my water. The water was extremely high in ammonia and a little high in PH. He advised me to take out the coral, do 1/2 water change and 2 hrs later another 1/2 water change. (I'm on my 1st) I can add more fish by Monday if the water is ok.

After I get my initial water changes done and the chemical levels right, how often should I change the water? How often do I change the filter cartridge?

My husband would really like a male betta, would it go okay with the fish I have? If so, what other fish could be added, and how many without overstocking? If not, what could I add besides any tetras or platys?

Thanks! :girl:
 
I have:

3 red serpae
4 zebra danios
2 mickey mouse
2 platys
2 frogs
1 kuhi loach
1 snail
1 catfish

what is cycling?
 
lisaann4jc said:
what is cycling?
Click to expand...

Read the stickie thread under the FW Newbie Forum. Cycling is a process that happens to organic materials in your tank -- uneaten food, fish waste, etc all decompose into ammonia -- then nitrites -- then nitrates. Ammonia and Nitrites at high levels can kill your fish and almost definitely will stress them and may shorten their lives if they survive.

With the overstocked tank, I'm betting that you're creating a very high level of ammonia. Your cycling process likely is underway and you are probably in the high risk time period now.

I suggest getting a chemical testing kit (ensure it includes ammonia, nitrites, and nitrate) -- and start testing your water daily until the cycle completes. There are many tactics to minimize the impact of the ammonia and nitrite spikes -- but you have to know they are happening before you can do anything about them. You should get the kit -- and then post your results -- I'm sure that there will be plenty of advice for how to proceed from there.
 
And no, a betta will not work with those fish. It will have its fins shredded, most likely by the serape.

And I would wait until you have no ammonia in the tank or nitrites 24 hours after a water change before adding any more fish.
 
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