Rainbow Shark Problem

[andyqiskewl]

Hi!
Im new to the tropical fish keeping hobby and I just bought a rainbow shark two days ago.
However for the last one day my rainbow shark has been acting strange, it is constantly reversing and swimming back into a vertical pipe(decoration) in my aquarium and has been doing so for the last 24 hours.
I am not sure if this is just normal for a rainbow shark or ... not.
It has not eaten either or come out of his hiding place.

I have a heater and filter, the water was conditioned etc.

I have also attached a photo for more accurate description.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Image

 

[Blubble37]

how long has the tank been set up, what filter are you using, tank size? take a look at the link in my signature, it sounds like you have an uncycled tank with ammonia problems from the symptoms

 

[andyqiskewl]

how long has the tank been set up, what filter are you using, tank size? take a look at the link in my signature, it sounds like you have an uncycled tank with ammonia problems from the symptoms

The tank has been set up for about 3 days. I added some live bacteria on the first day in hope of speeding up the cycling process.. but maybe I should have waited longer?
Is there anything I can do to help my fish? Would it eventually become normal?

 

[Blubble37]

3 days is nowhere near long enough, you now need to do huge 95% water changes every day to cut down on the ammonia levels in the tank, otherwise your fish will indeed die

what filter are you running?

Leaving it and hoping for the best is not the way to do things, thats the way to kill your fish, taking action is the way

 

[andyqiskewl]

3 days is nowhere near long enough, you now need to do huge 95% water changes every day to cut down on the ammonia levels in the tank, otherwise your fish will indeed die

what filter are you running?

Leaving it and hoping for the best is not the way to do things, thats the way to kill your fish, taking action is the way

thanks for your help! the filter is "Filter box includes; wool, charcoal and bio-balls". its the 3-step filter system i think.

So i should change 95% of the water?! wow thats a lot.

 

[slimeneo]

Yes, you do. Essentially you'll be doing this nearly everyday. Youre doing a fish-in cycle now, and it's very dangerous for your fish to be exposed to such high levels of ammonia. I would suggest you get a testing kit to test your water. Good luck!

 

[andyqiskewl]

Yes, you do. Essentially you'll be doing this nearly everyday. Youre doing a fish-in cycle now, and it's very dangerous for your fish to be exposed to such high levels of ammonia. I would suggest you get a testing kit to test your water. Good luck!

Thanks a lot for the information.
I'll change the water tonight.
So what I'm gonna do is add conditioner to the new water and remove 95% of the current water?
Every day for how long?

 

[Proxo]

Everyday until your ammonia levels stay at 0, so you'll need a testing kit .
I'd also cut back the feeding to pretty much next to nothing.

Also never clean your filter out with tap water, use a bucket of tank water

 

[andyqiskewl]

Everyday until your ammonia levels stay at 0, so you'll need a testing kit .
I'd also cut back the feeding to pretty much next to nothing.

Also never clean your filter out with tap water, use a bucket of tank water

Thanks.
Do you think my fish will survive this terrible ordeal?
Maybe I should just cycle the tank with no fish. . .
I wish I came here before buying anything!!

 

[Proxo]

If you keep the ammonia level low, they should be okay depending on the fish though as some are more sensitive then others.
Most of us in this hobby started out wrong, including myself

 

[phoenixgsd]

my mother has a rainbow and when it goes in its cave it turns upsidedown and stays like that, its always done it, weird

 

[andyqiskewl]

Do you think that the rainbow shark could be eating algae off the inside walls of the cave/pipe?
cos that would be a lot better than ammonia poisoning!

 

[MBOU]

The others are pretty much right about cycling your tank (your other option is to return the shark and do fishless cycle which involves a lot less anxiety!!)...

But sharks sitting like that is normal, they always sit and hover in funny positions lol