oldoak66
New Member
I have a 10 gal (UK) tank - 54 litre - and I have fishless cycled it. It is planted and has a pea gravel substrate and a piece of bogwood for my plec. The fish inhabitants currently (due to some deaths in the family - 1 guppy and 1 neon) are:
4 neon tetras
6 harlequin rasbora
3 various cory (peppered, albino and bronze)
1 bristlenose
2 male guppies
I have been treating for white spot as the neons had an outbreak - using Interpet White Spot Plus.
I think I may have got the fishless cycling wrong or missed out a step. I also think I may have put too many fish in at one go. However, please direct me where I have gone wrong because, I know that the chemical levels can be raised due to more poo when giving meds but my levels drop to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and then a day or so later they rise again to 0.1 ammonia and 0.3 nitrite. I do a 40% water change and then all is well for a few days and then up they go again. The nitrate has remained at 25. Is it possible that I am doing too many water changes (but I feel sorry for the fish if the levels go high) and my filter is therefore not cultivating bacteria? I also realise that doing water changes dilutes the meds. But, how can I rectify the situation without killing my fish? Also is my tank overstocked - I would like to add a few more corys. I always use Tetra Aquasafe and I have added some Interpet Filter Start as well just to help out, even though I know it is probably not very good. I have sent for some Seachem Prime because I've heard good stuff about it.
I'm sorry if this is a bit vague but I'm new to all of this and I don't really know how to explain things better.
Thanks for any simple advice you may be able to give me.
4 neon tetras
6 harlequin rasbora
3 various cory (peppered, albino and bronze)
1 bristlenose
2 male guppies
I have been treating for white spot as the neons had an outbreak - using Interpet White Spot Plus.
I think I may have got the fishless cycling wrong or missed out a step. I also think I may have put too many fish in at one go. However, please direct me where I have gone wrong because, I know that the chemical levels can be raised due to more poo when giving meds but my levels drop to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and then a day or so later they rise again to 0.1 ammonia and 0.3 nitrite. I do a 40% water change and then all is well for a few days and then up they go again. The nitrate has remained at 25. Is it possible that I am doing too many water changes (but I feel sorry for the fish if the levels go high) and my filter is therefore not cultivating bacteria? I also realise that doing water changes dilutes the meds. But, how can I rectify the situation without killing my fish? Also is my tank overstocked - I would like to add a few more corys. I always use Tetra Aquasafe and I have added some Interpet Filter Start as well just to help out, even though I know it is probably not very good. I have sent for some Seachem Prime because I've heard good stuff about it.
I'm sorry if this is a bit vague but I'm new to all of this and I don't really know how to explain things better.
Thanks for any simple advice you may be able to give me.