Classic Newbie

[impdotorg]

I Bought a 55 Gallon tank kit with filter, heater, covers,lights, gravel and ornaments yesterday. Setup everything and added chemicals to neutralize the chlorine. I waited 24 hours for the temperature to stablize and let the filter run to clear the water. Today I bought 12 neon tetra, 6 Tiger Barbs, 2 ghost shrimp, one 2" Pleco, and one 2" red tailed shark. I let the bags float in the tank for 45 minutes to let the temperatures equalize and then used the net to transfer the fish to my tank, and dumped the water from the dealers bags in the sink so that it did not contaminate my tank. Thinking that since I was only adding about 50% of the fish that the tank could support, it would be easier for the fish to get started and I could add more over time.

I can hear everyone groaning now.

I then found these forums and read enough to know I commited serveral newbie mistakes. My question is, how realistic is it to expect any of these fish to survive until the nitrogen cycle has had a chance to get established, and is there anything I should do to help it along?

Thanks in advance
Tom
)

 

[LoveMyOscar]

 

[Changes-In-Latitude]

Agreed, water changes. You'll want to test your water daily especially for ammonia at first and then nitrites. Keep the concentration of these low, between .01 and .05 ppm. Your fish will be stressed by this and will be more susceptable to disease during this time so spend alot of time watching for that as well.
The cycle will take a fairly long time, couple months maybe, so remember patience.

I've never used this product myself but I have heard people say it does work and that's Cycle. I belive it's made by Hagen. Might be worth checking out.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Hagen cycle is garbage, it doesn't do anything.

But, if you can find a product called Bio-Spira, that is the real deal, it will cycle your tank in 24 hours. It is expensive - for a reason.

Don't worry too much about nitrates. The lower the better, but most freshwater fish can handle much higher nitrates then any marine fish, and while under 20 is optimal, 40 or 50 or even 60 is harmless as well. The main reason why I bring this up is because some people have nitrates already in their tap water, and you shoudn't feel that you will kill your fish because if this if it applies to you.

If you can't find that Bio-Spira, then the next best solution is to obtain filter media from an existing setup. Filter floss is so cheap that a friend or your fish store will give you some. Put this in your own filter and it will speed up your cycle by a good margin.

Keep up the water change, and avoid using additives unless there is a very good reason for it. All fish really need is clean water.

Good luck!

 

[Phantom Thief]

Have to agree with the others, water changes is the way to go.

A long term problem here. you have a red TAILED shark? i emphasise the TAILED here. There are 2 types, one is the red FINNED shark, in which all the fins are red. this is a good community fish, very peaceful. The red TAILED shark on the other end, will be aggressive when its mature, and territorial. As is implied by its name, only its tail is red. For now its ok, but in the long term, its the fish to get rid of.

P.T.

 

[DrOizo]

You want your want to cycle your tank slowly now instead of letting the ammonia and nitrite shoot up with this big load of fish on it. To control the rise of Am and ni Try to get a Nitra zorb. It will absorb some of the am and ni and will relieve your fishies while the cycling occurs. The Thing has to be recharged every 5 days though with pure aquarium salt. It will say all this with the manufactures instructions

 

[jeepie]

I bought and set up a 10 gal tank the day after xmas and ended up with too many fish in a tank that wasn't cycled, (thanks Petsmart) kinda the same problem you have. I then found this site and started reading and asking questions, I started doing 25% water changes mostly every day to keep the ammonia level down until the tank cycled. Well I did this for about 2 weeks and nitrites never went up from zero, and I found that the ammonia test strips were very hard to read so I was going to go to Petsmart and buy a ammonia kit that had drops and some stress zime (sp) to help the tank cycle. On my way I remembered there was a lfs right up the road so I decided to stop there, couldn't hurt. I asked about the test kit and the girl said the strips were crap for ammoina, I also asked her if stress zime was any good. She said they had something better called Bio-Spira, and since I saw it mentioned here I decided to try it, I think it was $9.99. She also said you had to keep it cold so I figured must be something to it. I did a 50% water change and added the Bio-Spira on Jan 31, the Bio-Spira does make your water cloudy for a day, she said not to change the water for a couple weeks and test the water often. Well let me tell you that stuff is great, within 3 days my ammoina was way down and I also started to get nitrite readings, I just checked the water today and I now have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and about 35 nitrates, so in 9 days it looks like it went from out of control to cycled. Bio-Spira is great stuff and I would recommend it to anyone. Give it a try.
And thanks everyone for all the help you gave me, there is more to this fish keeping thing than you would think.

 

[impdotorg]

There are 2 types, one is the red FINNED shark, in which all the fins are red. this is a good community fish, very peaceful.

I mispoke, and after more research came across the same information. I have a red finned shark. Whew! I am heading out to pick up some additional items reccomended in this thread(test kits, Bio-Spira, borrowed floss). I must say that everyone has been very kind. It's refreshing to find a great community like this.

Thanks Everyone
Tom

 

[Dragonslair]

In response to your statement TCA that Hagan Cycle is garbage, I must strongly disagree with you. What evidence do you have that it does not work? I challange you to find a product that does not have nitrobacter and the same enzymes to start conversion of waste products. Bio-Spira has the same enzymes, just different starter cultures.
None of these bacteria in a bottle work if the catalyst is not in the water in the first place.
I can tell you this because as many of the older members of the site will know, I wrote to Hagan some time ago and had a direct reply from one of their aquaria scientists which I pinned on this forum for all to see. So I tell you no lies.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Dragonslair

I speak from nothing but personal experience. If it works, it doesn't work well, not nearly as well as filter media from an established tank (which, btw, is free).

 

[Dragonslair]

TCA,
I don't dispute your experience, just the fact that you said that Cycle was garbage.
Each man to their own and if that works-super, if not its back to the drawing board.
None of us should slander a product unless its proven, that was all I was getting at.
Maybe a better way of putting your point across was to say in my opinion I find that Hagan Cycle does not work for me. I know that it's just being politically correct, but there are young and inexperienced fishkeepers here who may read and believe everything that is written. It was not an attack at you my friend, just a point.

 

[LoveMyOscar]

 

[Dragonslair]

Another point of view. Fine. As I mentioned in an earlier posting somewhere it's horses for courses. I'm not here for crossing swords verbally. I respect other members point of view, that is after all what this site is for- to put views and advice across and the occassional debate.

 

[LoveMyOscar]