Need Help With My New Tanks!

[Conure88]

Maybe you guys can help me out!
Iv just started getting into fish and so far not having much luck
Started off as a small 15Lt tank for my bro's birthday, i got him 2fighter females and a male, then i tried putting another male in there (inside a floating fish trap thing) to try and stir up my male to make him want to breed, after one night he was dead, then i got a feather fin catfish to try help keep the algae down (by now iv put in a few live plants and its getting really REALLY dirty really fast) he lasted about 2weeks, just found him dead one day, then i went and got a $70 catfish, its only a small one, i cant remember what there called but he was only small with leopard type spots and a nice big spike on his back!
Anyways, put him in, seemed really happy, then after 30mins carked it!!!
Yesterday i tried putting 5neons in, and went back in 30mins after letting them go, and there gone they cant have jumped out, there’s no gaps! i i highly doubt 3fighters could have eaten 5 small tetras in that short time?! i have no idea what’s going on!! but i think we will have to start a strike marker on the side of the tank! |||| ||| (lol joking)

Not only that, the tanks getting really filthy really fast! im CONSTANTLY changing the water in it! im starting to think its the live plants cause everything els is working! and only the 3 fighters have lived!

NOW! i just set up my own tank! a little 30Lt, i had it running with everything for 2weeks! everything BUT the plants, then i went and put plants in after that time, went and got 2 stunning little Bolivians and 2 small bristle nose and after one night the water went yellow, like pee! the fish look like there panting, and non of them are eating! iv had them 3 days now, ALREADY had to do a 1/3 water change and take out a few plants, but its no better and I don’t want to loose my little fish!

Anyone got any more suggestions?!! i cant figure out what im doing so wrong with them, and i would really like to set up a African Cichlid tank! but i cant even consider it unless i learn how to take care of my little one!


ANY help at all would be great! Im a shocker with fish at the moment, I don’t know much at all! So anything you can think of that might help please let me know, also how often can I do a small water change without hurting the fish? I did one in the Bolivian tank yesterday….. and it needs it again already

[Peter]

I have been keeping tropical fish since I was in primary school. I wouldn't think it was the plants. Do you have the light on all the time? It is important to keep the aquarium in darkness for the night to stop algea groing.

You haven't got any wood in your tank? That can sometimes cause the colour change in water. Also when you by new plants I would suggest wash the roots and the plant it self before putting in the aquarium.

Wherer are you going to get your fish? I suggest a proper fish place, such has veba's in fremantle or even bird fish and reptile place. Not just a pet shop, as they often have sicker fish. I would take a sample of you water into them for them to test (they usually do this for free) and they will tell you what you need to buy or change to fix it.

With the algea I suggest an "algae stop" solution you poor in the aquarium.

[Amanda]

forget the plants, unless the tank is brimming with them and they are all dying/dead they aren't your problem.
30L is very small. What chlorine neutralizer are you using? do you have a PH test kit? how long was the tank setup BEFORE you added fish? what filtration do you have? is the water heated?
Fighters can stand horrendous conditions, in the wild they live in stagnant pools of water.
Bolivians love neutral to slightly acidic water that's at the soft end of the scale (between 10 to 50ppm) they like their water warm (about 26oC) So do the cats and the neons like it acidic and soft, oh so soft (10ppm).
I'll be able to help more after those questions

[Conure88]

cool thankyou guys, im only getting algae in the fighter tank, not the Cichlid tank, the fighter tanks set to 26oC and the Cichlid tanks set to 24oC, they both have a number of plants in there, they dont look like there rotting tho.
They both have AquaOne heaters (25Wtt) and they both have AquaOne Filters, mines a maxi i think and my bro's is a mini.
My tank have one really small peice of wood in it, but i completly washed it before i put it in to get all the junk and germs off.
I also washed the plants for the same reason.
I dont have a light on either tank but there rite near a window so they get light pretty much all day.
I got the 3fighters from Better Pets, and the Cichlids from City Barn.
Iv had the 15Lt for just over a month now, but the 30Lt (Cichlids) is only new.
I set up that tank 2weeks ago, put in my stress coat, then an hour later i put in stress zyme to try and kick start the tank, i left it running for 2weeks with the heater, filter and gravel.
The day i went to get the fish (4days ago) i put in my plants and the log in the morning and left it running while i went out for the day.
Then after a few hours i brought the fish, let them sit for an hour, opened up the bag, put a little of my water in every 15mins like i was told b4 i let them go.
The bristle nose seem to be doing ok, but my little Bolivians arnt looking very happy, they kinda look like they cant breath but im scared 2 do another water change when i only just did one 2nights ago

[Amanda]

Ok the algae is comming from the natural light, the UV in it and the spectrum helps it to grow. With the fish in there, there is waste products for the algae to grow. To remove the algae problem, move the tank to another spot where it gets less natural light and put a light on top. Saves adding chemicals.

Without doing any tests on what you have said My guess (and this is a guess) is because the tank was empty until you put plants in 4 days ago, the water has only just started to cycle (even tho you put stress enzyme in). With nothing in it the bacteria has no food or waste product to break down, then all of a sudden there is a huge bio load on the small amout of bacteria that has established.
If you can, try to find a fish shop or pet store who will test your water (not just PH). Some do it for a fee, really good ones do it for nothing. My guess is there may be ammonia present or the Ph is acidic which will happen before an ammonia spike.
When you change the tank water dont ever clean the filter too, it will remove all your good bacteria. do one one month then swap next month.
Another question.... is the water surface being broken? like the water splashing in or an airline blowing bubbles in your tank? they mightn't have enough air in the water. The warmer the water gets the less oxygen is dissolved in it.

I can't recommend the complete test kits enough, like Pete I've had tanks since I was 10 (OMG Im so old LOL) and even if you only have a $2 goldie... it's so much easier to help them when you know what's going on in their tank.
I had my filter die one day and no one noticed... until the fish started acting weird. The ammonia and nitrate levels shot thru the roof, the giveaway was the smell of the water. 6 minutes later I knew the exact problem, drained 90% of the water (off a 400L tank!) started the refill and then worked on the filter. Nearly all of my good bacteria to break down the waste was in the huge cannister filter, no good to me if it's dead!!! Managed to get the darn thing working and I saved them all. Very lucky cause it was $300 of fish!

[Amanda]

another question, is the tank in a busy area? is it near the kitchen or where people might use aerasoles?

[Conure88]

my brothers tank defiantly has ammonia, and a slight algae build up (its doesn’t seem as bad anymore since i threw out a heap of plants that had started to rot)
My tank though doesn’t seem to smell, its just really discolored, i did another small water change today (I couldn’t help myself cause they looked so upset)
I haven’t cleaned the filter in my tank today, but i did the other day, when i do it all i do is take the sponge out and clean it in a bowl of the aquarium water so i don’t kill all the bacteria.
Also I have the filter set up so its blowing bubbles, its just under the service so it helps circulate it and break the top slightly.
The fighter tank doesn’t have that though, they only have the trickle.
I agree that i added things way to fast! i know with a new tank your only meant to add a couple fish at a time, but no one told me the deal with adding plants.
They don’t look like there’s anything wrong with them besides that, besides the fact they look like there struggling to breath they don’t have any rot or white spot or anything so i don’t know

[Conure88]

Aug 2, 2008 12:47:46 GMT 7 Amanda said:

another question, is the tank in a busy area? is it near the kitchen or where people might use aerasoles?

Sorry i didnt see this before!
Na its just in my room, i dont spray anything near it, i dont even keep deoderants or purfumes near the tank

[Amanda]

Live plants don't add to ammonia, just dead ones and their dead leaves. I'd say it's definately new tank syndrome for your 30L then. Cause they have air and circulation. Fighters breathe from the surface so they don't always need the air/circulation, tho sometimes the manky little sods do. For a little fish that doesn't do much they make SOOO much mess! Ammonia doesn't always smell either, it makes the tank appear cloudy or milky, sudden ammonia spikes do stink. Most of the time it stinks of fish because a spike also causes high acidity which eats away at the mucus of the fish. This stresses them out and they produce more mucus... which causes the stink.
You can get a liquid from stores called Ammo gone or ammonia remover you can add to the tank, you can also get ammonia preventatives to add to the filter unit. They don't prevent major spikes but they help control the smaller levels.
Keep up with the part changes, only up to 25% and definately keep up with the stress coat, you can't really OD them on it right now. Don't feed them too often, if they still look stressed don't try to feed. It will only add to the ammonia at the moment.

[Alasse]

ok...my 5c worth

Keeping female fighter permanantly in with a male can lead to the death of either the females or the male. Breeding fighters is a difficult thing and not something to be taken lightly. It is a very time consuming past time.

To breed them you really need a 2ft heated, sponge filtered bare base tank, with the water level at half, they have quite a number of fry so you will need that sized tank, condition the male, in the 2ft and females separately, preferrably on live food. After 2 weeks of conditioning, place the female inside a decent sized glass jar and place this into the 2ft. The male will flare and show off at the female ,building a bubble nest and she will show black bands when she is ready to breed. When they appear ready let her out into the tank, but watch them, as the male can get VERY determined and if doesnt want to play the game he can on occassion kill a female. If it all goes well, they will go under the bubble nest and he will wrap himself around her, squeezing eggs out and fertilising them. When he unwraps, eggs will drop and he will chase them and grab them in his mouth, then carry them back to the nest and spit them into it. The female will assist in this too after a short time of stillness after the wrapping. They will continue to wrap until all the eggs are dispelled from the female. As soon as they are finished remove the female. The male WILL kill her to defend the eggs. Leave the male as he cares for the eggs and young fry. He can be removed once the fry are free swimming. This was the easy part *LOL* I can continue on if you like, just ask

Male Betta are best kept solo, if you feel you need to put something else in, bristlenose, otos or cory cats are suitable tank mates. The tank is too small (15litres) to have much else in it.

RE 30 litre tank.

2 weeks with no fish did nothing, the tank will now be cycling

You stated the water went yellow, do you have any wood in it?? Sounds like leaching tannins to me. Tannins will not harm your fish, it just looks tea stained. The 30 litre really requires a 50W heater also

When tanks are cycling doing small water changes daily can help fish get through by removing ammonia, which is a fish killer. DO NOT clean the filter for as long as possible (if the water flow slows clean type thing). You need to keep as much bacteria in there as possible at this stage.

Do not add anymore fish until the tanks have finished cycling, too much bioload will end with fish deaths while the tank is going through this stage.