When a hobby becomes a chore

[FishLuvr]

I'm almost to the point where im about to give up. I know i entered this hobby uneducated and ignorant to the needs and responsibilities that it takes. After learning the demands needed of me, i was more than happy to oblige. But it seems for every 1 step forward i take i get thrown back 2.

After my 1st tank in my sig, seemed to be cycled for at least two weeks i had an ammonia spike, several, several water changes later and that did not change. My second tank, which turned out better than the first (yet was only setup with in days of the first) lost all of its occupants after a dosing with Amquel Plus, Many people on this and other forumns insisted that it was impossiable that it was the Amquel plus as the problem. Even I (who had used it before) had doubts but it was the only common denominator in the situation.

After dosing with Amquel plus in both tanks at the same time, instantly the occupants of tank2 started to get disoriented and died all with in a 20 minute window. While a Silver dollar in tank1 died in the same time frame.

I recently came to deal with my losses in that tank and started to plan out the details on rebuilding it. (usuing a fishless cycle this time) Then while trying ONCE AGAIN to battle ammonia spikes in tank 1, (water changes several times aday) last night i tested it and had high amounts again, i did a 75% water change, 8 hours later when i woke up, i did another test, No change in the results the ammonia was just as high, so i gave in to the doubts i had originally about the Amquel plus being the culprit of my last tank disaster (after all, I had used it before with no problems) and doesed my 30gallon tank, 1 tsp per 10 gallons, and instantly My bala sharks, started swimming in diagonal circles and raming at high speeds the underside of the hood repeatedly, my silver dollars swam at high speed back and forth across the tank and my clown loaches (my absolute favorites) went crazy as well. They all died within minutes of the dosing.

i hope that you can understand the frustrations and disapointment i have at the moment. I only have my original 3 gouramis, and 1 pleco left out of all the fish that i had between 2 tanks, and i wouldnt be surprised if i got home tonight to find them dead as well.

Kevin

 

[abstract]

um, why havent you gotten a new water conditioner? seems only logical if that is the only thing that could have caused it to try another conditioner and see what happens.....

EDIT: also, what size tanks and what are/were in the tanks? there has to be some underlying issue here

 

[DaHerb_what_herb]

i would suggest getting something like nitra-zorb asap in order to remove the excess ammonia and nitrite, once you have removed the toxins i would suggest adding a dose of something like bactozyme in order to raise the levels of beneficial bacteria.

what filtration are you using?
do you have a good rate of flow and is the water well oxygenated??

well oxygenated water will help with the development of beneficial bacteria and as such should help in stopping the ammonia spikes. hope this helps, good luck

 

[boxman]

Hi Fishluvr, sorry to hear about your troubles.

I'm sure we all get to a point where we wonder where the fun has gone from a once very enjoyable hobby - don't worry, you will enjoy it soon!!

Just to clarify, you have two tanks, both of them now empty?

It may be worth testing your tap water as I have experienced high levels of nitrate in my water and after many water changes the penny dropped for me to test my tap water..... yup, nitrate levels were the same as the tank so I was only replacing like for like.

Not saying your tap water has high levels of amonia but I'm sure it would give anyone trying to help a good starting point to give advice.

 

[Bloo]

I'm a firm believer in keeping things as natural as possible and *not* using all sorts of products and chemicals to try and keep the water clear and healthy.
Water changes with dechlorinator generally do the trick and a good filtration system. And of course not overstocking, stocking slowly, quarantine and all that.
Same with the supposed added bacteria etc. - the general consensus seems to be that it's a waste of money and of no great benefit. It just adds to more stuff in the water.

Things should be all means stabilize where you just need to spend time doing your weekly water changes and filter maintenance - and that's it really. The first few months tend to be the hard (er) part.

 

[GSD]

i have had the smae problem with meds they kill all my fish so ive refused to use them ever again they do more harm than good

 

[Bloo]

germanshepherdlver, the root of the problems with your fish is more than likely the water quality and not the meds - if they keep getting ill and you have to keep treating, there is clearly something wrong......

 

[abstract]

i would suggest getting something like nitra-zorb asap in order to remove the excess ammonia and nitrite, once you have removed the toxins i would suggest adding a dose of something like bactozyme in order to raise the levels of beneficial bacteria.

you do know that the bacteria lives off of ammonia and nitrite? products that remove these only mask the problem...water changes should be the only thing used until the tank is cycled...these X-absorb products are useless - if anything just add a couple fast growing low light stem plants to absorb excess toxins

 

[Elisabeth83]

As I've been in this hobby longer and longer I've learned that if you suspect something is wrong with your fish it's actually best to just sit and observe your fish for a day or two before putting meds in the tank if at all. A lot of the time a water change can fix whatever was bothering the fish. It's so easy to get worried and dump in medications when your not even sure of the problem If your not sure of the problem the medications you put in the tank can actually be more harmful than good.

I believe water changes/ good tank maintainance are the key to sucess in this hobby. I do 2 25% water changes weekly Also stocking correctly and making sure you keep fish that are compatible.

 

[sinistral]

FishLuvr, I'm sorry to hear about your experiences Hopefully you'll give it another try (maybe after a little break?) and give it another go around.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Really sorry to hear this, it's awful when it happens like that, just everything going wrong at once. Hope things take a turn for the better soon. Your're not really going to give up are you?

 

[rdd1952]

FishLuvr, sorry for all the problems you have had. I have been there before. It's frustrating when you can't figure out what is causing the problems. It sounds like the first time was a matter of the tank nit cycling with maybe too many fish or what ever AND a bad bottle of chemicals. I would throw it away immediately if you haven't already or maybe send it back to the manufacturer along with an explaination of the problems you had.

The second time, when you said you did a fishless cycle, it sounds like you still didn't get cycled since you had another ammonia spike. If you go through the full cycling process, you should not have any ammonia after the nitrite spike drops to zero and you add all your fish.

Since you are frustrated now, it is the perfect time for a complete fishless cycle. That will take about 3 or 4 weeks. You won't have any fish to worry about dying and will still have something to do. I would do a 100% water change to make sure any of the Amquel that may still be in the tank is gone. Then add ammonia to raise to 5 or 6 ppm and wait. Check ammonia daily and when the ammonia drops to zero (about a week or so), test the nitrite. You should have a reading of 1 to 3 ppm. Add enough ammonia to raise the level back to about 1 to 2 ppm and continue checking daily.

Everytime the ammonia drops to zero, add more back to 1 to 2 ppm. Continue to check nitrites also. They will go off the chart. As a matter of fact, it will be so high that you won't have to shake the tube. As soon as the drop sre in the tube, they will turn purple. Once the nitrite finally drops to zero, you are completely cycled. Do an 75 or 80 percent water change to remove the notrates (which will also be off the chart) and add at least 75% to 90% of your full fish load. If you can't add them all immediately, keep adding ammonia (1 to 2 ppm) to feed the bacteria until you do add fish. Also, don't add just a few fish as they won't produce enough ammonia to feed the bacteria so the colony will start to die off and will end up causing a mini cycle once you add more fish.

Good luck. As someone else hs said earlier, stay away from chemicals. IMO, they create more problems than they solve. I hope it goes better for you this time. Remember, third times the charm.

 

[BigC]

You are getting too bogged down with technicalities regarding chemical test kits, water treatments etc. To set up an aquarium these days you seem to have to be a rocket scientist or nuclear physicisist.
To set up a fish tank, steralize everything with a good saline solution and rinse. Wash your gravel/substrate. fill with water and set all the electrics going. (filter, heater and air pump etc.) Leave this to mature for a week by this time you can add fish. Do a little home work on compatability and don't dive in for the totally exotic. Try to maintain a balance. Float the bag containing the fish in the tank for aroung half an hour, then open the bag and gradually equalize the water between bag and tank. You can do a water change once a week, changing 2gallons with a spoon full of tetra aquasafe or stresscoat added, with ten drops of blackwater extract. and thats all there is too it. I've been keeping fish for over thirty years and I have never lost a fish in the way some have been doing in this forum.
In my early days as an aquarist fishkeeping was a theraputic hobby. Nowdays I have never listened to sooooo! many stressed out fishkeepers.
Keep it simple and dont rush out and buy every medication/water treatment/test kit money can buy, There is simply no need.

 

[rdd1952]

Leave this to mature for a week by this time you can add fish.

I would tend to agree with most everything you have said except for this. With the problem he/she has already had. I would think the tank needs to be completely cycled before adding fish in order to prevent any ammonia/nitrite spikes this time around.

 

[BigC]

Like I said earlier I have never lost a fish using this method. I do test water and alter its chemical state when breeding Killifish. but for community aquaria I use the old tried and trusted method as I have mentioned.