NOOOOO!!!

[commanderdoom21]

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING!!!! THE FISH ARE GONE AND THE MACHINE GUN STORAGE ROOM WAS BROKEN INTO AND ROBBED!!! THE FISH ARE TERRORISTS!!!

Seriously. Today, I got nitrate and ammonia testing kits. I tested the ammonia. I have a booming ammonia level of FOUR!!!

Also, I tested the nitrate and the nitrate was 5.0 Is this bad or average?

Please tell me what to do!!! Is there a way of fixing the ammonia without buying something? I spend the money on a New Jersey Transit train set!!!! STUPID ME!!!!!!!! (it,s a nice train set though. 1 F-40 locomotive and 2 comet cabs) Anyway, WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Also, one of my platies are acting STRANGE. It was fine for the first few days. There is nothing physically wrong with it. However, there is this one little space the platy made a burrow out of. It made a burrow under an artificial plant leaf. It spends 80% of its time there. Otherwise, when it comes out, it's just fine. It also doesn't come out under any special conditions. It just randomly comes out for 3 minutes, and back in the burrow.

I think I have an idea as to what it might be. Someone said the anal fin of a male was pointed and the anal fin of a female was rounded. Where is the anal fin located?

 

[Moe]

Sorry to have to break this to you but, it sounds like you have an emergency on your hands. The ammonia and nitrite should be at 0. There is no acceptable levels of ammonia and nitrite. You should do a large water change right away about 30% to try to lower the levels. After that keep doing small water changes every other day 15% until the ammonia and nitrites read 0. Don't add any more fish!!!! The ones you have may actually die. It takes about 6 weeks for your tank to cycle with the fish in it. If some of them die, don't replace them yet until you get the ammonia and nitrite to 0. Then you can add 2 fish per week until your tank is stocked. The usual rule is one inch of fish per gallon. How big is your tank?

 

[commanderdoom21]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lithril]

Agree with Mo on this one, had a similar problem with my first tank, do a large water change ASAP (50%) then check the levels a few hours later if need be do another slightly smaller change, you'll probably need to do daily changes of 25-30% for a while until the levels drop and the tank start cycling (make sure you use dechorinated water on the changes). How often are you feeding your fish as it'll also help to cut the feeding back to every other day.

 

[lizard]

Seriously. Today, I got nitrate and ammonia testing kits. I tested the ammonia. I have a booming ammonia level of FOUR!!!
Also, I tested the nitrate and the nitrate was 5.0 Is this bad or average?

Did you test for nitrIte or nitrAte (note the differences in spelling)? A reading of 5.0 is bad for nitrItes. It is okay for nitrAtes. The ammonia level is high. Do a 15-20% water change now and continue to do so daily until your ammonia and nitrIte readings are zero.

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[commanderdoom21]

*sigh* THIS SUCKS!!!!! Ok, I will get to work.

 

[Juggernaut22988]

I wouldnt stress too much because your fish dont seem to be dying

The platy could be pregnant or sick (more detail is needed for diagnosis)