Newbie "up and running"

[George&Ade]

Hi all well,got my new tank about 4 weeks ago (3ftx15"x12") 25 gallons i believe?got a biolife filter/heater,a water testing kit(to test all 4 levels)left tank to "run/cycle" for a couple of weeks,checking levels regulary,then added a few fish.(10 neons,6 head/tail light tetras,and 2 albino corys)have been doing water changes (10-25%)every couple of days.feeding very lightly,and trying to log on to this forum as much as possible to get as much info as possible (and there is a lot of help here...thank you) Fish are great,swimming around quite happily,im still checking levels,keeping temperatures between 74-76 and all seeems well(or so i thought till "wifey" intervened) Came home from work on friday to find she had decided to go and add more fish(a little too soon i think)shes bought 2 dwarf gouramis,2 plattys and 2 guppies.......a total of 24 fish now O.k......as it happens....everything seems fine at the moment......all fish seem to be getting on well,no obvious signs of diseases,and all 4 levels seem stable.Decided to do 10% water changes daily for a week or so,as maybe weve introduced too many fish too soon??? Are there any experts out there who would be good enough to comment on all the above please? ive tried to digest all the help given to others in here,and i think im doing reasonably well for a "newbie"
Many thanks..Ade

 

[Tempestuousfury]

It's recommended that you add 2-3 fish at the beginning. These fish add ammonia to the tank which is made safe by the bacteria over a period of a month or so. 24 fish would overwhelm the tank. I'm guessing you'll have a very high death count soon, but I might be wrong. Just keep the conditions good by doing water changes every few days. Don't add any more fish! I don't know why the ammonia levels haven't risen on your tests yet, they should be off the charts soon, I suspect.

I might be wrong, and I hope I am, otherwise you might have a problem on your hands. Don't worry too much, and if other people agree with me, then ask your lfs if you can return a few fish.

Get all of your fish info in your signature.

 

[George&Ade]

Thanks for the above reply.
As i say,ive been keeping checks on the levels for 4 weeks now and the results have been as follows;Ammonia.....0 since the start
Nitrite.....0.1
Nitrate....5
P.H.....7.0
I too have my fingers crossed and really hope nothing happens to the fish as ive spent endless hours watching them and getting used to their different behaviour patterns.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

How long has it been since you added the fish, esp. the newest batch? It seems starange to me that your tank has nitrites and nitrates even though your tank can't possibly have cycled that quickly.

 

[George&Ade]

Maybe im getting a little help "from above" seriously though,bought tank on 6th feb (i think)
Added first fish on 22nd Feb,
Latest additions last friday (5th)

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I guess we'll just wait and see.

Which reminds me. Make a log of all of the fish you've added, the dates you added them, etc. This helps when trying to figure out when a liveearer will deliver, what could have caused a problem in a tank, etc.

 

[George&Ade]

yep ok,ill do that.
Have also been keeping records of levels and water changes (percentage and temps etc.. since i started)
Thanks for the advice.fingers crossed for a while i think