Need A Few Answers

[Rdizzle]

Hi all, pretty new to this hobby. Just over a week new to it actually but i thought it would be a good idea to join a forum so i cpuld get some answers from people with more experience with fish than me. After all i do want the best for my fish.

I recently bought a small 5g tank to get me started, i bought a betta and two marble angelfish to join him. They all seemed to be getting along great. The betta was swimming around fine within 5 mins of being introduced and after 2 days the angelfish decided to leave the safety of the plants. However, this afternoon i went to check up on them and noticed that one of the angelfish was swimming a little erratically, upside down and just nosediving into the gravel and my bog wood. An hour of this and he started having a fit, or what seemed to be a fit. Afterwards he barely moved and was gasping for air. I checked on him again an hour ago and found that he had died.

Naturally this is upsetting at any time but 4 days of getting the fish and one dies? Its more worrying. I did a check on the water and all the chemical levels are fine, i feed them twice a day with tropical flakes and the temperature is at a steady 26C. Any ideas what could have caused this? And will my other angelfish be ok for the night? i know they need company but its not moved from the one spot all night, its not even in the plants, its right at the front of the tank.

Any ideas?

There are a few other things which i have on my mind but they can probably be sorted with the weekly clean (Tomorrow as it happens) One is, on the suction pads of my heater, and the top of it (everything other than the glass part actually) which is submerged has gained a slimy mucus, i'm not sure what this is but when i touched it, it fell off and flaked apart. Not good for the filter i'm thinking... And the last thing on my mind, bog wood pigment. Its filling my tank and isn't very nice on the eyes. I know it can't hurt the fish but any ideas on how to get rid? should i do more regular water changes or just get rid of it? cause i'm paranoid that its killing my plants, what with the lack of light in there.

Sorry for the long post folks, just alot on my mind since one died within a week. If you've got this far then thanks for reading, and please help!

 

[mark.w.jones]

Unfortunately your tank is far too small for Angels. Infact you really need a 20 gallon minimum for just 2 of them so 5g is really not enough. That tank is only big enough for your single betta and that's it. You really need to take the other ANgel back before it dies to.

You then need to consider reading all the pinned topics and faqs at the top of this forum and the tropical chat one. To begin with, read the topic on cycling in my sig. That's what's going on in your tank at the moment.

 

[DevUK]

Angels need a deep tank too as they like swimming at all levels of the tank. The standard 12" deep tank isn't enough for them either so I'm told.

What sort of filter do you have in there? Did you cycle the tank before putting fish in? It is odd behaviour and suggests possible water quality issues. Is the other angel acting OK at the moment? I would definately consider taking the other angel back. Did the shop advise an angel for this size tank?

 

[Rdizzle]

Ah really? I know normal Angelfish grow big but the marble angelfish is only around 3cm now?

The guy in my LFS said they would be fine in there. He was the one who sold me the tank. But i'm more willing to take someone like yourself's advice over a guy who could know nothing. He was probably new that week knowing my luck

Gutted about that though. I'll take the other fish back tomorrow before it dies. Thanks for the advice though.

Anyone know what's going on in the rest of my queries? (I'll take a read of the topics at the top in the mean time)

edit after reading second post: Its just a standard internal air filter, i'm not sure on the specifics as i'm new to this. I did cycle the tank yes, for a week before getting the fish. The store clerk who served me said the two angel fish and the betta would be fine, they were all together at the time i bought them in a group of +20 with about 5 silver sharks and the betta i have now. I thought getting the angelfish which we with the betta would be a good idea so there wouldn't be any hostility...

 

[loachman]

I really wouldn't put angelfish in with a betta. It's almost certain they will fight. The tank is also too small for an angelfish as the other people have suggested. It's perfect for a lone betta, but not much else.

 

[Rdizzle]

Really? Then thats the last time i go to that LFS. They had loads of marble angelfish with the betta.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Aggression can be spread more easily in LFS by hugely overstocking tanks so that no one fish gets picked on. That way they can get away with putting together species that you can't in your own tank at home in the long term. Whoever sold you a 6 gallon to keep 2 Angels and a betta in is a k**b I'm afraid Stick to asking people in the forum before making decisions. Even experienced member ask advice.

 

[Rdizzle]

Thanks for the help. Will be returning the Angelfish in the morning. Is there any smaller fish i can get to keep the betta company or will it be too much for the tank/get attacked by the betta?

Or will by betta be ok on his own till i can afford a larger tank?

 

[Thirdfloor]

Thanks for the help. Will be returning the Angelfish in the morning. Is there any smaller fish i can get to keep the betta company or will it be too much for the tank/get attacked by the betta?

Or will by betta be ok on his own till i can afford a larger tank?

I think your betta will be perfectly content in there by himself.

 

[Rdizzle]

Hey, sorry for the bump. But i cleaned the tank this afternoon and got all the strange mucus stuff off but still none the wiser as to what it is. Any ideas?

 

[loachman]

Hey, sorry for the bump. But i cleaned the tank this afternoon and got all the strange mucus stuff off but still none the wiser as to what it is. Any ideas?

could be ton of things. Most likely are
1. brown algae/diatoms - looks like a brown film on the inside of the tank. will scrape off very easily and is very common in new tanks. goes away on it's own typically
2. biofilm - usually on filter components. Basically it's a bacteria colony and isn't really an issue.
3. cyanobacteria - blue-ish green bacteria that are photosynthetic. can quickly cover most surfaces in the tank.

 

[Underwurlde]

And the last thing on my mind, bog wood pigment. Its filling my tank and isn't very nice on the eyes. I know it can't hurt the fish but any ideas on how to get rid? should i do more regular water changes or just get rid of it? cause i'm paranoid that its killing my plants, what with the lack of light in there.

The bogwood is leeching tannins. This is perfectly safe for both fish and plants. Your plants are dying because of lack of light, poor substrate and no ferts. As they die they will rot and this will release nasty old ammonia into the water and possible kill your fish. If I were you, remove all live plants and replace them with false ones.

If you want clear water, remove the bog wood and boil it (you should have done this anyway) and then soak it in water for about a month or untill the water stops turning brown. Alternatively, add carbon to the filter, but you'll be replacing it at least weekly and it is not cheap.

Andy

 

[Rdizzle]

I spoke to the guy at another LFS. This one seems to know what he was talking about cause he said exactly the same thing as you have, about the wood and the mucus stuff. Apparently it will go on its own, and the tannins will do too. Tho i might try the boiling thing too just cause I'm inpatient lol.

About snails, Do i need a fully covered tank to keep them in or will i be alright with a gap at the back?

 

[mark.w.jones]

About snails, Do i need a fully covered tank to keep them in or will i be alright with a gap at the back?

Feature snails are great escape artists so yes you will need a tight fitting lid I'm afraid.