New And I Did It All Wrong...

[quantumnerd]

Hmmmmm

I see a problem.

I think you have too many fish in your cycle, and as a result, you probably have too much amonia.

Rehome or kill the fishies that are in excess, cause we want at least some to survive...

 

[waterdrop]

She has 3 fish. I don't see it as too many if she performs enough water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite below 0.25ppm.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lana]

She has 3 fish. I don't see it as too many if she performs enough water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite below 0.25ppm.

~~waterdrop~~

is all i have to say on the post above your

 

[OhMyFish]

The readings continue to be good with the nitrite rising to almost .5. We did a 50% water change this evening. Hopefully, the nitrite will go to zero and not rise...or rise as slowing as it has done this past week. (Ammonia continues to be zero, pH 7.4 although we did add more coral as most had dissolved, nitrate at 5.) The fish seem OK and always very hungry when fed on the 3rd day. However, I dare not feed them more as I certainly don't want to enter the "vicious circle" again!

 

[waterdrop]

OMF!

Gotta hand it to you, you sure have made a lot of progress getting a difficult situation under better control! Your fish are sounding a lot happier.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OhMyFish]

Never say die...

I'm not sure if it's just the way I am or if it's my strong desire to show my son my example to learn to find a solution, even when the problem seems too difficult and overwhelming. DS is already talking about what we have learned the hard way!

 

[OhMyFish]

Update...one week has past since the last water change...fish still alive...fish have been fed two times during the past week...nothing has been added to the tank...ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5, pH 7.4...

From D'S: "Can I get another fish now?"

I do think the tank is under control and finally, I think I know what to do! Thanks to each and every one who helped us through this disaster! I intend to be very, very slow about adding fish. Never, ever do I want to have another experience like this one!

 

[waterdrop]

wow, great OMF! keep us posted~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

well done, yes as you have quite rightly identified, the longer you leave it before adding fish and the less you add at one time the better.

 

[OhMyFish]

It's been awhile...life has gotten very busy...but I'm happy to report that we're still on an even keel.

25 days ago, we added one emerald green cory and 2 bloodfin tetras to our existing silver-tip tetra, x-ray tetra and neon. Unfortunately, the neon didn't survive. We found it the next day floating at the top, minus his eyes.

During these 25 days, we have only done a 50% water change once in order to clean the algae and a 30% water change once as DS thought maybe the ammonia level was going up (the color did look slightly greenish). The readings continue to be good and the algae seems under control.

So...the current plan is to add another emerald green cory, another silver-tip tetra and another x-ray tetra. That will be a total of 8 fish, 2 of each. If all goes well, DS wishes to add 2 glo-fish. I think that will "complete" our tank.

The tank is still existing with only the underground filter. I've learned that it takes days...even a week or two...for the filtering to take place. I try to be patient as I known DH will not agree to any other filter...yet! Perhaps one day but not yet!

With all that said, I just want to thank each and every one who responded in this thread again. Although you may have answered my questions many times in other threads, you took the time to answer in this thread--the one I was reading and watching. Thank you. You all helped me tremendously and I do feel confident in taking care of this tank.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

awww that's great news oh my fish, really glad things have stabilised now and you're feeling confident.