Beginner Blues

[BettyBoop]

I love my fish!

We have had a few problems. Have only been up and running for about 4 weeks. I have to admit we did almost everything wrong. We put fish in after 48 hours. We just picked fish according to what appealed to us. The store only told us what our tank would hold based on the size of the tank. I'm not even sure what we got but I'm going to check.

First problem is cloudy water. I went back to the store and was given some drops to put in and told it should clear up. So I did the drops waited a day and did a 10% water change with some vacuuming. Didn't help. Also changed carbon filter.

Next problem, last week I got 2 algae eaters...again don't know what kind just what was recommended at the store. 3 days later I had two dead fish minus eyes. So now I'm down to 3 fish and the 2 algae eaters. And still have cloudy water.

One of my fish is a longtailed gold tetra and the other two I'm not sure.

Another problem is algae everywhere. At least I think its a problem....its definitely unattractive.

I've also cut down on the feedings to try to help because there was fish poop everywhere.

I wanted to test the water so went and bought testing strips and wouldn't you know it? when I got home I found that the box was empty. SO! I'm going back today and will test tonite.

Any suggestions?

 

[WILDER]

Here is an article to help you out.
http/www.thefishworld.co.uk/id63.htm
http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm

 

[laboul]

Goodness, you've had bad luck. Well, I had it, too, but I now have a happy tank. It took 3 months so be patient

Read all the pinned threads in the forums... up at the top. These will help a bunch.

 

[dwarfgourami]

If algae are a problem, could it be that there is too much light in your tank? Is it in direct sunlight? Maybe you need to cut down on the hours the lights are on? 10-12 hours/day is recommended for a planted tank but I know some people have them on less than that. I'm even more of a newbie than you are (my tanks aren't running yet!), but I kept fish 30 years ago, and managed to run through an awful lot of beginner's problems then, some of which still linger painfully in my memory.


Also, what type are your algae eaters? Keeping Chinese algae eaters was one of my early mistakes- I'm never going back there again! they are cute little things to start with and quite helpful with the algae, but soon grow into vicious buggers who prefer sucking their friends' sides (causing nasty wounds) to any algae going. It was quite a relief when mine jumped his cage and escaped to algae eater heaven (though a bit of a shock as I trod on his lifeless body first thing in the morning) I have heard that Siamese algae eaters are better.

Best of luck with your tank.

 

[cheekeyarab]

I am sorry to hear of your bad luck. I am a beginner too so have no advice for you.

I know how you feel though as I last all my guppies to some vicious black widow tetras (they're pretty but I wouldn't recommend them!)

Hope you have better luck in the future!

 

[Stickyrabbit]

How much advice did your fish shop give you when you first bought all your gear?

Sounds like they have been a little counter productive for you? Maybe find someone who is more helpful.

I also broke all the rules whith my tank but have learn't stacks here since then.
Put my fish in abut 48 hours after the water too. Most of them snuffed it within 3 weeks but some will celebrate their 1st year this month so don't despair.

Keep trying.

Once you get your readings i bet you get all kinds of advice.

 

[Stickyrabbit]

Oh yes! Something else no-one told me is you need to feed your Algae eater in adddition to all the algae he has floating around.

 

[BettyBoop]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm hanging in there and determined to make it work! My readings are way bad! NItrates are at unsafe levels, nitrites are at dangerous levels, My water is hard, KH is ideal, and PH was alkaline last night but was neutral this morning.

I plan to visit a "FISH ONLY" store as opposed to all your variety of pets needs store this afternoon.

Nobody told me to feed algae eaters too! What do they eat? At first we had the lights on for several hours, but I have since been keeping them off for the time being. And there is no direct sunlight there.

 

[Metermaid]

Hi Betty, don't lose heart - this is a fantastic hobby, but you are having yourself a baptism of fire - unfortunately maybe you jumped in a bit quick before getting knowledge you needed first - well lots of us here have been there ! - I would definitely recommend as you suggest, getting yourself to a specialist aquatic store rather than an all around pet shop. There will be others here much better equipped than me to tell you how you should proceed with getting your tank back online - as I say, stick with it

Good luck

Rita

 

[pendragon]

I agree with one of the posters above and want to reiterate that you need to find out what kind of algae eaters you have. Just take our word for it, you don't want Chinese Algae Eaters. If that's what you have, go ahead and plan on taking them back to the LFS. If they don't offer you money to take them off your hands, that's fine, it still needs to be done. Just getting them out of your tank is payment enough in the long run.

pendragon!

 

[BettyBoop]

I found out...they are chinese algae eaters and they are going back today!

 

[pica_nuttalli]

algae is the least of your problems at this stage anyways! actually the algae will assist with your fish making it all the way through the nitrogen cycle; algae and other aquatic plant life love ammonia and will help reduce the levels of it in the water.

another way you can ease the stress of cycling is cut back on feeding. you might want to only feed a small amount every other day. most fish can get by for a short period with remarkably little to eat. cutting back on feeding will be the easiest way to reduce the amount of waste in your tank.

with just the three fish in there, you're almost back to an appropriate stocking level for cycling with fish. don't buy any replacements until the cycle is finished! and even then, add new fish slowly.

 

[BettyBoop]

UPDATE! Got rid of the chinese algae eaters....cut down on feedings and light....been doing 10% water changes every other day. Nitrate and nitrite levels are beginning to go down! Does this mean I'm making progress!?!?!?!

If I add a live plant should I do it now or wait till tank cycles? what do ya'll recomendas far as what kind of plant?

My husband is upset that I only feed every other day. He thinks I'm hurting the fish. Any ideas on that.

Thanks!

 

[sinistral]

If you do add a live plant, you could add it at any time.

Feeding fish every other day isn't likely to hurt them...in fact, it may be better because it ensures that you aren't overfeeding. Most tropical fish can go for at least a week without feeding.

As pica_nuttalli mentioned, plants do utilise ammonia and nitrates (not nitrites) for metabolism. Because of this, they can be helpful during cycling if fast-growing plants are added in large quantities (I'm not recommending you try this right now, btw). They also have the added benefit of usually being colonized with "helpful" bacteria if you put them in straight from the store.

Adding just a few live plants isn't likely to have benefit, but it certainly couldn't hurt either.

As for which live plant...a lot depends on how much lighting you have on the tank, and secondarily on what your substrate is. You might have a glance at the pinned topics in the planted tanks section, as there is a topic for beginner planted tanks or something similar. I would recommend doing some more reading on plants as they add a whole layer of complication (and reward and enjoyment) to the hobby.

Having said that, it's really hard to go wrong with java fern, java moss, and anubias.

EDIT: for spelling, and also to add a link about good beginner plants. There *was* a link posted in the plants and planted tank section, but that seems to have been removed since last I looked.