tropical fish questions.

[longwaytogo]

We have just put fish in new aqyarium, but having archieved don't think its been set up long enough. Anyway think we bought two pregnant guppy's how do you know when to put them in one of those isolation things?

Should I be putting some aquarium salt in?

ok gingerbear just as you predicted and as you have seen they are dying off, guppy today but that was no great shock he didn't look well from day one. So having looked at the link can't work out what to do for the best now. Should I go to my mates and get a squeeze out of her sponge or should I be doing something more than that ie: water testing kit or something?

Oooh i love cichlids! Frontosa fish my fave!

Never got to have any though. Had a beautiful tank with Rainbow fish in and congo tetra's...had to get rid of when DS came along.

longway....i think it might be worth investing in a basic tropical fish keeping book, and locating another tropical fish supplier. Because any supplier worth their salt wouldnt have sold you fish so early on.

Right, LWTG
1 How many fish have you left and what are they?
2 Change the tank water - 50% of it, now.
3 Get a test kit as soon as you can - you need to keep the ammonia and nitrite level low as possible with fish in there.
4 Join the forum on TFC - there are lots of experienced and helpful people there who really helped me when I first got my tank. TFC forum
5 If all your fish are dying take the remaining ones back to the shop and complain like hell ask for your money back!- guppies are very weak stock these days, and no longer considered suitable for cycling a tank. Platies - only 2 or 3 for 80 litres would be better. But, if you can get a sponge or some crud from the sponge from your friends tank - do that and do a fishless cycle.
I will help all I can xx

i personally would get a testing kit(we still have the one we started with and we're nearly 12 months down the line at a first attempt with tropial fish)so they do last a while.

we still have 3 out of the 6 original neon tetras (these were the first in the tank after a fishless cycle)

our original guppies also made us proud this summer by becoming parents themselves so we now have a second tank(a lovely biOrb)with the 7 dwarves in(ie:the babies)

good luck with your tank- definetly read the link by Gingerbear and take it slowly....

A month long fishless cycle is a must isnt it?

Another thought Did you dechlorinate the water before you added it?

VVV, not necessarily, about 2 weeks is average (if you dose with ammonia) If you fishlessly cycle with a couple of dead prawns or some fish flakes (the older method) it can take longer.
IMO Ammonia method rocks - it is quick, and you can fully stock your tank straight away once the cycle is finished.

Right I have 5 zebras, one fighter and 2 pregnant female guppies. I don't think there is any way the shop will take them back after my conversation with them on sat. I will go to fish shop get some pipe to change the water and go to my friends and get a squeeze of her sponge.

I will put it in a clean sandwich bag, come home do the water change and put the squeezings in with filter running yes?

oh yes also off to library to see if I can find a book.

Can your friend look after the fighter, and guppies and 3 of the danios? You still have far too many fish for cycling. Deffo get the muck from her sponge - get her to rinse out the sponge into a container of old aquarium water - not tap water, else you will kill the bacteria. The browner and crappier looking the gunk, the better for your tank.
Yes - Get a syphon tube - plastic pipe with a wider section.
Get the test kit.

yes - do the water change (don't forget to dechlorinate it) and then add the gunk.

do I need to add water conditioner to the new water (bought it on Sat) Will ask her if she can look after the fish, her tank not very big but also not a lot in it.

Ask her what fish she has in it - if there are any gouramies, they are not a good combination with siamese fighter.
You need to add dechlorinator to all water you add to your tank - chlorine will stress your fish and that combined with ammonia and nitrite will kill them off very quickly.
(Red inflamed gills are a typical sign of chlorine poisoning)

I think gingerbear knows more than me!

I di dhave gourami and a betta together, never had any problems. I foudn the angels finished off my betta. Poor betta!

Kelly, I am an anorak
Have got into fishkeeping in a scarily geeky way, and I love it!

I love it, but don't have the time to read enough. They are fascinating though. I lvoe my fish. What do you have?

2 tanks - 1st one 120 litres - lots of plants, zebra danios, flame and glowlight tetras, honey gouramies, ottos, my faves - corydoras, nerite snails (fab algae eaters)
2nd tank - 35 litres - cardinal tetras, red fighter, more cories and two shrimps.

I want a bigger tank, but we have no room and I couldn't afford the water bill.

I'd love a second set up for tetras. Mine would eat tetras in one bite except for strangly, one tiny black widow. And luckily we aren't metered.
I have a 7" parrotfish then 2 large angels, 5 silver dollars, 2 clown loach, 2 other cichlids with an unpronounceable name, a 10" plec, and a 6" catfish. It is overstocked atm, due to taking on soem of aunts fish when she wanted rid of her tank. I shoudl really look into rehoming, but don't want to give any up!

ok have said bucket and gravel cleaner thingy so now off to empty half of tank.

Woman in shop said to only empty 1/3 of tank and to add more fish bec more fish = more bacteria so will right itself quicker. also said that the zebras ate the guppies tale, so why they got them in the same tank then?

grr at stupid fish shop woman! No you don't need more fish!

right have changed about half the water.

Could the problem be caused by a big wood thing that i bought. Its like and orange/brown wood and the water looks ever so orangy. Thought it was caused by the curtains behind tank but when it was in bucket it still looked orange.

Should I take the wood out. Oh my word what a mess this all is. Lady said she would test my water but forgot to keep old water so will have to take some now that have added new water.

the wood - is it bogwood? Does it look like this ? If so the stuff leaching out of it is tannins - natural colour from the wood. It is best to soak new bogwood overnight in boiling water to get rid of the colour. It won't harm your fish though. take a sample of the water to be tested (if you haven't got a test kit yet) Whereabouts are you? Is there a Pets@home nearby? You will definitely get a kit from there.

API master test kit
They are expensive - but they do over 700 tests - mine has lasted 9 months and I still have loads left.

yes it is like that wood only orange and brown, so if its been in the tank we may as well leave it there now hadn't we?

There is a pets@home in chester so will have to pop there or get my dh to pop into the aquarium place on the way home from work tomorrow. Can't take it back to local pet shop till Fri now as she says the girls who will be in are new.

Friend may have a testing kit will have to ask when I go for spnge gunk. How much water do i need with the sponge gunk then. If I fill 3/4 fill sandwich bag with her water then squeeze the sponge will that be enough?

Sorry questions, questions, questions!