What should I do?

[LittleFish]

Hi guys,

Hope someone can help. I have had my tank for just about eight weeks now. Its 80cmX35cmX40cm 112 Litres. The trouble is I have been exposed to so much conflicting advice from all the local aquarium shops. The tank was cycled using a fishless cycle for 6 weeks using "Hagen Cycle" and fish food to supply the ammonia, as per instructions. Although I never actually got a reading of ammonia using my test kit "Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, INC", although I have always had a low reading of Nitrite, until recently (about two weeks ago).

At this stage I got all excited, and was sold 6 X Lemon Tetra, as these were supposed to be hardy fish. At the moment they seem relatively fine?!? However, they don't seem to be eating the food I am giving them. I have tried different types of flake food, even the same brand as the shop who sold them. This is normally 1 to 1.5 flakes every other day. The shop told me that if the food is not eaten to remove it, this is not as easy as it sounds. Why are they not eating, they haven't eaten for over a week?

My real worry is that in the morning, they seem to swim on their sides, only for an hour or two, then seem fine. Is this normal? Are they sleeping?

However, this morning I got a Nitrite reading of between 0 and 0.25, this I understand is bad news. Apart from more water changes what can I do. Water changes seem to be the answer to everthing. Even when the tank was cycling I was told to do one 10% water change a week. I hope someone can help...

To recap

Tank size 80cmX35cmX40cm 112 Litres
Fluval 2 Filter + heater, air stone
Live plants mainly amazon swords
Fish 6XLemon Tetras for just over one week
Ammonia=0, Nitrite=0 to 0.25, Nitrate=0, pH=7.4
Water initially treated with Hagen De-chlorinator.

 

[Kryten]

What temperature is your water? Also, you may find that a PH of 7.4 is a bit high, but can any moderators intervene her to argue?

Okay littlefish, lets see what we can do.

1. Do a 30% water change to dilute the nitrites in the tank, this could be causing the lethargy in the fish i.e. the fish lying on their sides.
2. The small amount you are feeding them may be going un-noticed in a planted tank as you describe. Put a good amount in, more than you need if necessary. Don't worry about clearing the food up. Your tank should be able to cope.
3. Try adding Safe Guard number 1, this is good for neutralising fish waste products, also helps reduce nitrites.
4. Temperature should be between 26 and 28 degrees, if it isn't, it would be good to sort this out
5. Make sure you take daily readings of nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, water hardness (carbon and general), do a second water change of about 20% the next day
6. If you have the air stone and pump activated, you may try turning this off. It is only needed if too little oxygen is in the water, or if you want to stock your tank a bit heavier

Try some or all of these and let us know how you get on. Just remember, more food is better, may help the little fishies to see it in the first place

 

[Angel Lady]

did you have 0 on all the readings before you put your fish in the tank if you did, it could be going threw a mini cycle after you added your fish it takes a tank a little while after adding fish to get use the fish and thier extra waste I hope I told you right on that I would feed them very little until you get the nitrite down.

 

[LittleFish]

Thanks guys, I will try the above. I think the fish are okay, they are not showing any signs of distress. I just hope they are getting all the food they need. There seems to be a fine line between feeding well and over feeding them. As for the temperature, it is a constant 25 degrees C, this I have checked with a thermometer, is this too low?

As for the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings, these were all 0 before I added any fish. So I hope this helps. The mini cycle, is this harmful to the fish?

Sometimes I wish I had got a dog instead
Thanks Kryten + fish keeper sharks & mollies your advice is greatly received.

Little Fish.

 

[Angel Lady]

i bet you are going threw a mini cycle everytime i add new fish to my tank i get one it should go back down if it just a little high i would do a 10 percent water change this should perk them right up and cut down on the feeding because it will only prolong the mini cycle feed them every other day until the readings go back to 0 again some of the moderators correct me if i'm wrong but I dont think i am.And good luck with your fish by the way have you checked your tap water for nitrites

 

[Kryten]

I don't think it will make much difference to the original problem, but I would raise your thermostat to 26 or 27 degrees celsius as this is the recommended temperature by most manufacturers

It could of course be that your thermostat/heater is not near the pump. I find it best to make sure that the heater is near the pump outlet spout, as this will propel the warmest water right round the tank

 

[Fishsmurf]

I don't think it will make much difference to the original problem, but I would raise your thermostat to 26 or 27 degrees celsius as this is the recommended temperature by most manufacturers

Kyten,

Not sure if this is a typo but temp should be set for for the fishes requirements not the manufacturers......

Littlefish,

I would follow FKSM's / Kryten advice and but just use water changes to keep the nitrIte level down at the moment...... How you getting on today?

 

[Teresa]

Hi littlefish,

I agree with fishsmurf about the temperature. I have mine set at 25 for my community tank but a little higher 26/27 for my smaller tank as this has my betta and gourami in it and they like it a little warmer.

25 should be fine for the tetras. I have read that tetras like the water soft, at a pH of about 6.8 but my tank is never that side of 7 and my neon tetras are fine. My water always seems to register about 7.4 no matter what I try. Changing the water sounds like a good idea.

It does sound strange that they are not eating, when I put flake food in the tank I get FISH FRENZY

 

[LittleFish]

Thanks guys,

The advice has been really useful. Have adjusted my heater, thermometer now reads 26 degrees C. More imortantly have been told to try pellet food instead of flake by local aquatic store. Result! Little blighters lap it up, they were probably to scared of the flakes to eat them.

Have also done a 10% water change and the nitrite seems to be falling. It is almost clear with the tiniest hint of pink.

As for the heater, it has been relocated to be closer to the filter. Hopefully, there will be a more equal distribution of warm water! )