I'm going to tell you a sad story. Well, it's not too sad yet, but I need a little help I think. About 2 months ago we decided to get a tank. I like fish, really I do, but you have to understand I grew up in a family where we called my father the Charles Manson of Icthiacide. There wasn't a fish alive he didn't kill. I don't want to turn into the Son of Sam.
So, I go get a 30 gallon tank and begin the cycle with 2 platty and 2 mollies. First 2 months or so cruise along with our four little fish, we got no problems. I don't test the water, because well I'm a noob and the fish looked good, so, what's to worry about?
We're in this one Petsmart in La Jolla, Ca, which has the cleanest and nicest tanks I've ever seen, and we figure its time to get some new fish. So, we buy 5 neon tetras and 2 clown loaches. The girl obviously knew squat about fish so I got no warning that the loaches would grow to be about a foot or so... The fish take to the new tank and they all seem to be enjoying myself. I meant to leave it like that for a bit, no really I did, but I just had to go back to Petsmart for some new decorations for the tank. I also had decided I needed five more tetras because the school really didn't seem all that big.
While I was talking to the guy we were walking past the goldfish, and I threw out that I needed to get myself a goldfish tank one these days cause they're so cute, and he tells me that a lot of people think of them as cold water fish, but they do fine at 76 degrees. He does ask me what other fish I have, and he tells me that the clown loaches may be aggressive and they grow to like 12 inches and he tells me I can return em if I want. So, I leave the store that day with the cutest little gold and white Ordanda, 5 more tetras, and 2 balloon mollies.
Grand tank total:
2 clown loaches
2 balloon mollies
1 black molly
1 white molly
2 platys
10 tetras
1 Oranda
I know, I know... overstocked, goldfish with tropicals, 2 soon to be, If I get extremely lucky, huge clown loaches. I read up on what I've done to my poor tank and am quite worries about all of my little guys. To make matters worse, the tank got cloudy the next couple of days after I added the extra fish, shocking I know, so I bought a penguin biowheel (only got the 150 for some reason) and took out my whisper filter, destroying whatever biobed I had in there.
So, my guilt knows these fish aren't going to live like this for long. I somehow manage to talk my woman into letting me buy a 110 gallon or so acrylic tank, which is now on special order. I was determined to get a second tank for goldie as I became convinced they could not live together (I lowered my tank temp from 78 to 75 to make goldie happier, but I definitely think the other fish didn't seem as content). I got a second 30 gallon to move goldie into it, took 50% of the water from the current tank and to goldies, moves one of the rock ornaments, and 2 of the plastic tanks to help with the cycle. I currently have my old whisper on goldies tank, which a ran in the old tank for a few hours before moving goldie to her new home.
I move goldie last night, test the water in my tropical tank. Last night after the 50% water change, I had .25 ammonia, 0 Nitriate, and 10 Nitrates. Today, the ammonia is up to .5 with the others at the same level. I brought the temperature in the tank back up to 78 degrees.
Now to the status of the fish, they all appear ok except for my one platy which was not looking good. Actually, up until I got goldie out and change the temperature both of the platties weren't too hot with their dorsal fins all clamped (I assume clamped means pushed together and down), and my girl's back looked like it was almost broken with her body always on an angle. Since the water change and the removal of goldie, they both seem a little better. The males fins are no longer clamped, and he's eating. The girl looks a bit better, but still hides behind plants most of the time with a nose angled down. She eats some, but not much. The rest of the fish appear ok except for one tetra which dissappeared yesterday, the day I moved goldie. My guess is that goldie ate it during the night, but who knows that ones a mystery. I can't find a carcass anywhere.
So, my question is what do I do? Since I have Nitrates can I assume my tank is partially cycled? Is the ammonia just from the increase in the fishload? Am I starting the cycle from scratch? What should I do? I assume daily water changes while the ammonia levels are at .5. What amount is safe? How much water do I change? Any help appreciated, I know I'm fish noob, but as Samuel L would say "I'm trying Ringo, I'm trying real hard..."
So, I go get a 30 gallon tank and begin the cycle with 2 platty and 2 mollies. First 2 months or so cruise along with our four little fish, we got no problems. I don't test the water, because well I'm a noob and the fish looked good, so, what's to worry about?
We're in this one Petsmart in La Jolla, Ca, which has the cleanest and nicest tanks I've ever seen, and we figure its time to get some new fish. So, we buy 5 neon tetras and 2 clown loaches. The girl obviously knew squat about fish so I got no warning that the loaches would grow to be about a foot or so... The fish take to the new tank and they all seem to be enjoying myself. I meant to leave it like that for a bit, no really I did, but I just had to go back to Petsmart for some new decorations for the tank. I also had decided I needed five more tetras because the school really didn't seem all that big.
While I was talking to the guy we were walking past the goldfish, and I threw out that I needed to get myself a goldfish tank one these days cause they're so cute, and he tells me that a lot of people think of them as cold water fish, but they do fine at 76 degrees. He does ask me what other fish I have, and he tells me that the clown loaches may be aggressive and they grow to like 12 inches and he tells me I can return em if I want. So, I leave the store that day with the cutest little gold and white Ordanda, 5 more tetras, and 2 balloon mollies.
Grand tank total:
2 clown loaches
2 balloon mollies
1 black molly
1 white molly
2 platys
10 tetras
1 Oranda
I know, I know... overstocked, goldfish with tropicals, 2 soon to be, If I get extremely lucky, huge clown loaches. I read up on what I've done to my poor tank and am quite worries about all of my little guys. To make matters worse, the tank got cloudy the next couple of days after I added the extra fish, shocking I know, so I bought a penguin biowheel (only got the 150 for some reason) and took out my whisper filter, destroying whatever biobed I had in there.
So, my guilt knows these fish aren't going to live like this for long. I somehow manage to talk my woman into letting me buy a 110 gallon or so acrylic tank, which is now on special order. I was determined to get a second tank for goldie as I became convinced they could not live together (I lowered my tank temp from 78 to 75 to make goldie happier, but I definitely think the other fish didn't seem as content). I got a second 30 gallon to move goldie into it, took 50% of the water from the current tank and to goldies, moves one of the rock ornaments, and 2 of the plastic tanks to help with the cycle. I currently have my old whisper on goldies tank, which a ran in the old tank for a few hours before moving goldie to her new home.
I move goldie last night, test the water in my tropical tank. Last night after the 50% water change, I had .25 ammonia, 0 Nitriate, and 10 Nitrates. Today, the ammonia is up to .5 with the others at the same level. I brought the temperature in the tank back up to 78 degrees.
Now to the status of the fish, they all appear ok except for my one platy which was not looking good. Actually, up until I got goldie out and change the temperature both of the platties weren't too hot with their dorsal fins all clamped (I assume clamped means pushed together and down), and my girl's back looked like it was almost broken with her body always on an angle. Since the water change and the removal of goldie, they both seem a little better. The males fins are no longer clamped, and he's eating. The girl looks a bit better, but still hides behind plants most of the time with a nose angled down. She eats some, but not much. The rest of the fish appear ok except for one tetra which dissappeared yesterday, the day I moved goldie. My guess is that goldie ate it during the night, but who knows that ones a mystery. I can't find a carcass anywhere.
So, my question is what do I do? Since I have Nitrates can I assume my tank is partially cycled? Is the ammonia just from the increase in the fishload? Am I starting the cycle from scratch? What should I do? I assume daily water changes while the ammonia levels are at .5. What amount is safe? How much water do I change? Any help appreciated, I know I'm fish noob, but as Samuel L would say "I'm trying Ringo, I'm trying real hard..."
Thanks for all your help.
