I'm in desperate need, I don't know how to care for my fish...?

Question

I need to know what to use to get rid of nitrite and nitrate and alkalinity.... also I made a mistake because the water was BAD I cleaned it 100% and the next day it all shot up to nitrite-80,nitrate-3.0,hardness- 0,alkalinity- 80, ph-6.8 . I USE DRINKING WATER, so it's perfect. I also use start right, bullseye 7.0, ammo lock, and prime....they keep dying I have 3 guppys 1 cory 1 pleco & 1 red claw crab in a 5 gal tank. I'm planning on getting a 29 maby 20 gal tank soon also. ANY SUGGESTIONS???

Answer 1

First of all, your 5 gallon is overstocked. The common pleco will get to be 18" long and is a pooping machine. You will need a 55+ gallon tank for him, so I'd take him back to the store. Cories are very social fish and need to be in groups of 4+. I'd take him back too, then when you get a bigger tank, you can get a nice group of cories. A few guppies should be ok in a 5 gallon. I don't know anything about the red crab, so I'll let someone else answer that part.

Did you cycle your tank before adding your fish? It's essential to do this before adding your fish to establish good bacteria. Before adding fish to a bigger tank, make sure it's cycled. Since you already have fish in a highly toxic environment, I recommend getting Bio-Spira (if you can find it). Otherwise, use Stability, it will do the same thing. It should help cycle your tank faster. Other products that claim to do the same thing are not as good. Do several water changes of about 30% every 2-3 days until your nitrites are under control (nitrites and ammonia need to be zero, nitrates should be under 20.) Make sure you add dechlorinator each time you add new water. I wouldn't add the pH adjuster, chemically changing pH can lead to pH swings that can kill your fish. You're better off keeping a steady pH that is slightly out of ideal range, most fish will adjust. Also, a weekly 20% water change will help keep your tank healthy once you get your nitrites under control.

Be careful taking advice from the workers at the pet store. Do your own research before buying fish, it's best to have a plan on what you want instead of buying fish on impluse. Here's a site that has a ton of GOOD information, this should help you plan for your bigger tank. Good luck.

Answer 2

I work part time in an independent pet store, in the aquarium department. People will ask if they can keep goldfish in a 10. When I say no and show them something like a 38, they freak out because it is 4x the price. Why? I gave them an answer they didn't want. You see, it is not really a question, they are really looking for an affirmation of what they already decided to do. They get mad, walk out and get the $30 10 gallon kit at Walmart and stuff it full of fish, because that was their plan all along. The fish are like $2-3 tops. Why drop $150 on a big tank when a small $30 tank will do. With the $120 savings, that's a lot of replacement fish. They don't even grasp these are living creatures. Most questions here are not questions, they are looking for people to agree with them. Right or wrong has nothing to do with it. I'd rather sell a single pair of apistogrammas to an "intermediate" fish keeper per day than 100 gold fish to what I'd basically consider morons. Selling gold fish to morons pays the bills however.

Answer 3

Try this it work for me
don't every change 100% unless the bottom of the tank need major help...change 2 Gal today. Three days later if nitrite are still high or if water is cloudy change another 2-gal for 3 days now when the water finally settle down go 1 gal week regardless if you need to or not. If it ever gets cloudy or nitrate get to high simply go back to two gal for 3 days rule. After a 3 week of no problem you can go a month without changing water... it is the start-up that is the hardest to get around....change filter only when it needs it. Don't clean the slim out of filter box this is the bacteria that keep nitrate down...I have twenty fish in two ten gal tanks that 40 fish...I also use tap water with Start Right...Use distilled water not drinking water it has might have CHLORINE in it...It will kill the fish unless you use the start Right to get rid of Chlorine.

Answer 4

Best bet, call the pet store and ask them. There are several things on the market that will help with levels in the water when used, you just need to know which ones are right. Did the salesperson tell you that all of these would live in harmony together? You ALWAYS want to tell a salesperson EXACTLY what you have in your tank when adding more. They will be able to advise you on what is best. Having the fish you have in there could be causing part of the problem, that really is too many fish in one tank that is 5 gallons big. Remember, 1 gallon of water per 1 inch of fish, giving yourself room for the rocks, airstone, any other things you might have in. So generally, a 5 gallon tank should house no more than 2-3 small fish tops. Also, MAKE SURE you are using a water conditioner with every water change and don't do 100% water changes unless absolutely necessary! Fish let off bacteria they need to survive and once this is gone, it stresses them and they have to start all over. This can actually kill them. Only do 10-20% water changes when you do them and always add a water conditoner. Tap water is good but it also contains lime and calcium fish don't agree with and the conditioner neutralizes it. Good luck!

Answer 5

bigger is better and actually easier to control
use this process.
get the new tank fill with tap water (add novaqua or other similar declorinator)
run with filters for 3 days test pH (adjust with pH up or down)
sounds like your tap water is about right to start
use the 5 in one test strips to make sure everything else is ok and add 1 tablespoon of salt to every 5 gal. of water. Helps prevent ick
Add cheap fish - let them live for a week or so before adding good fish- this allows your nitrates to set up (these fish can be the 10 cent feeders (you may go through a couple) add good fish in small batches 4-5 at a time
your upper limit is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water.
when ever you add fish mix the plants around some to prevent terretory disputes and feed right after adding fish to distract present fish. When you first set up the tank mortality will be high- sorry thats the way it is. Make sure to have to have Quick Cure on hand I have found it works best. I also keep a varaity of foods (flakes granules floating pellets etc) . Also for maximum water clarity I use an undergravel/powerhead with a hanging filter.
The powerhead handles big stuff and the hanging filter small stuff,
Be sure the powerhead is rated for the aquarium size and not to ststrong. I handle nitrate buildup with water change (20-30%)
Keep temperature constant when changing and still use a stress coat / dechlorinator just to help for stress. good luck

Answer 6

Carson couldn't say it better!! follow all of his advises. You can also try this site www.fishgeeks.com, It's been a great help for me, they have forums where you can get lots of help. I had a problem, like that (a crowded -new-no cycled tank), and I got away vacuuming and changing about 30% of the water every day for a week. Now my fish are all OK and happy and I have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and >20 nitrates. I lost about three little fishes in the process. Good luck!

Answer 7

well i use cycle(has benifical bacteria) and easy balance(maintains good water levels)...and i have a canister filter for 120 gal and i have a 90gal and i change about 1/4 or less of the water every 2 weeks or so and you have to do it religusly too...for the hardness i use water softner pillow and follow the directions....another product i use is amquel plus...you need to get the bigger tank as soon as possible too...1 in of fish/crustation needs 1 gal of water to trive and be healty =) or it will slowly kill the fish and crud up the water other than that do not over feed ...and clean the filter media every month or two....good luck i hope i helped!!

Answer 8

The problem is over-crowding! Pleco grow quite big and have the habit of stirring the bottom. The best suggestion is to replace it with a bigger tank.

Answer 9

ok,as long as you had the tank cycling for atleast 2 weeks salt water/1 week fresh water without putting any fish in,you shouldnt have any problems. but with only a 5 gallon tank,if you never let the tank level out over that time,and you kept putting fish in that died,thier bodies will cause the levels to sky rocket. you need to atleast clean the tank again,wait said time to cycle,then add your fish.or you can get a bigger tank,but you still have to wait till everything cycles before you add your fish.
i have a 75 gallon ciclid tank with 23 in it. and i do that everytime and never have any problems with my tank.

Answer 10

I would talk to a vet or the person who sold you the fish