Need Help And Fast! I Don't Want To Lose My Fish.

[Fluffy Bala Sharks]

I've had this new tank set up for a little over a week, after the first four days I finally added my first fish, six zebra danios ranging from the only adult, one inch and the other five being young juveniles. I don't turn the light on too often, and due to this stupidity, I hadn't noticed the water becomming incresingly cloudy, last night I added my two Bala Sharks, Fluffy and Sil which are only a few months old around two inches both. Now don't get me wrong, they're all doing perfect, they aren't looking stressed out, they aren't going insane and lieing on the bottom or anything.

It's just the water. I'm wondering if it was my mistake, of accidently picking out a twenty-gallon bio-wheel filter. And my tank is a fifty gallon. This was a poor mistake on my part, I wasn't paying attention and well. Yeah. Is it because of the wrong filter size or am I feeding them too much? I give them two small pinches of tropical fish flake food, and they finish it all up in about ten minutes. I'm just really worried, I love my balas and I don't want to lose them. Please! Any help AT ALL would be appreciated!

 

[discus dreamer]

Your tank has probably not cycled properly yet. have a look at the pinned topics on cycling and if the fish look like they are in distress or just to be on the safe side you could start changing about 20% of the water each day. Make sure you use a dechlorinator in the water you add.
The size of filter will start to matter when you have more fish or your balas get bigger, which they will, but I don't know anything about biowheel filters so someone else can advise on that.
DD

 

[Fluffy Bala Sharks]

I know they'll get bigger, about fourteen inches actually. x_X And I changed twenty percent of the water today and yesterday. And from my understanding the bio-wheel filters are the best on the market. I have been using dechlorinator every time I change the water, and still no difference, not even the slightest. I mean, my fish look as happy as can be, but I don't want to risk losing them.

Do you think there's anything else I'm doing wrong?

Edit:

I just recorded my fishies behavior, I mean the water doesn't look to bad on camera, but. >_> Neh... But my Bala Sharks seem too like this rock in particular, this was rather more less just to show how they're acting, so much for being in 'stress' and all that... I think they look fine. x_X

View It! Now.

You also, a few seconds in could see my full grown danio running into the back of the tank at his reflection, which I'm completely confused about, he's been doing that since I put him in.

 

[Fluffy Bala Sharks]

Bump, I need more opinions. x-X

 

[WILDER]

Added to many fish to soon.
The tank is still cycling.

 

[TerraDreamer]

Bump, I need more opinions. x-X

What are your water stats. Do you have a water testing kit? Post your water stats.

I can tell you right now your tank is not even close to being cycled. You probably have zero beneficial bacteria.

 

[Jozlyn]

I would do a big water change - 30% + - but don't forget to make sure it's the same temperature as your tank water and don't forget to de-chlorinate it.

Ohh and when you pour the new water in, do it gently onto a rock or decoration or similar so that you don't stir up the water even more.

I'd be inclinded to do that every day until your tank has fully cycled and settled properly.

Good luck

 

[meso81]

On Joz's Note, It may be possible considering your tank is new that you may be stirring up gravel dust and etc. when pouring your water for the changes. I really don't think a bio-wheel could cause anything bad, as far as not having a substantial size filter to accurately flow your water fast enough may have something to do with poor filtering and cloudy water. When my tank was new an uncycled I had cloudy water all the time.

As far as the fish go, I am not sure if your fish will be affected during this, I dont know how hardy they are.. My clowns have been threw thick and thin..They pulled threw alot of my neglagance and impatience, but they are still well and outlived all my otherfish, and I added them about 2 weeks after I started my tank over a year ago..

Also from past experience I would highly recommend an R.O. Filter for your water changes. Your water source may have particals or other participating factors in your cloudy water.

 

[Tolak]

Read this; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099

Your experience is nothing out of the ordinary. Cloudiness is typical for a cycling tank. What you are doing would be considered a traditional cycle using fish. Those danios are an excellent choice for that, about as hardy as they come. Balas aren't as good a choice for cycling as the danios, but since they get rather large folks have been putting them in undersized aquariums for ages, and they survive. They will get too large for a 55.

The general guideline for a traditional cycle is one inch of slim bodied fish per 5 gallons, provided that fish has an adult maximum size of 3". You are stocked ok for a traditional cycle.

There is no reason to bother with ro, if your tap water is safe to drink it should be safe for your fish provided they are properly acclimated.

I would pick up a test kit that tests for ammonia, nitrite, & nitrate. Change 20% of the water daily, and test daily. Pick up another filter, there is noting wrong with running two filters on a tank, it's something I prefer to do.

Here's a little chart to help you understand cycling better;

 

[Fluffy Bala Sharks]

Thanks. Yeah, I know my two Bala's will be getting very big about fourteen inches bigm but typically probably around twelve, hence why I plan on getting a bigger aquarium in the future when the time comes. Everything in the Aquarium is brandnew, except my water heater and thermomiter. However, the more I watch my fish, they don't at all seem stressed in any way, they seem calm and happy, just swimming about like nothing's wrong. My sharks follow one another constantly, considering they're the type that like to shoal. But my full grown Danio if you noticed in the video I posted, he rams himself into his reflection. When I got him at the store he didn't do this, could the cloudiness in my tank have something to do with this?

I don't however have an aquarium testing kit, ( On a side note, could it be possible if the fry was small enough to get sucked into the filter and dissapere. >_> I can't seem to find the smallest fry of my danios, he went missing. ) I could try and find one at Wal-Mart, though, where I purchased my Bala Sharks, and if they don't have one, which I'm sure they might, I could try Ag-Way where I got my Danios. I have been on a regular basis the past few days, changing 20% of the water, and it benefits having the flat top rock in my aquarium, that's what I poured the water over when I first filled the tank up.

I've been kind of rambling sorry. x.X But I was looking over a 'professional' siteI beleive it was called ' www.aquariumfish.net ' that said let the Aquarium Cycle for three days or longer, which I did, for about four days before I bought my Danios.


You have to understand, this is my first 'solo' aquarium, and I.. Panic. Easily. x.X;

 

[Miss Wiggle]

read this topic

it's about how to cycle a tank with fish.

you need to get a test kit, no iff's buts or maybe's. it's essential that you get one. until you do and post some results it's nigh on impossible for us to tell you what's happening in your tank and what action you need to take.

it's pretty clear the tank is cycling but where it is in the cycle and how bad the levels are is anyone's guess at the moment, and the action you need to take is dependant on that.

 

[Fluffy Bala Sharks]

And again, I said I would try and get one where I can, if not I'll go to Maryland and get one. I asked for help, not to get rudely lechured, Miss Wiggle. ):

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sorry if that came across as rude, i didn't intend it to be, i can be a little blunt sometimes that's just my way. sorry anyway if i upset/offended you.

however i stand by what i've said, without test results we can't give much more help.

 

[TerraDreamer]

I highly recommend the Freshwater Master Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals...

http/www.aquariumguys.com/mastertestkit.html

Get the large one as shown in the link. It tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, low and high pH. It's a good value and easy to use. I know Petsmart carries it but the price in the link is better.

Regards.

 

[Fluffy Bala Sharks]

What should the water smell like? o_o I smelled it and it has a faint fishy smell. it's not too bad, nothing that can be noticed unless you stick your face like right close to the water and really sniff.