Hi everybody, i posted another question like this an hour ago and i wasn't specific enough so here it is. I own currently 2 Redcap Orandas and i have a 10 gallon tank with one filter and also this little tea bag thing at the bottom to help the tank stay clean. When i added this tea bag thing, the tank was clear for about 2 days or so then it began to get cloudier and cloudier. Not its cloudy AND green. I can't even see through it! One of my redcaps died yesterday and i only have one left. May someone please help me on the steps to keep a fish tank clean? That would help me so much. Thanks a lot guys!
2007-03-23 11:33:08 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Sure , be glad to. I'll post a few of the basics and refer you to a link at the end where I would encourage you to read up on setting up a tank and basic maintainance.
It sounds like you have a new tank. What you are seeing is a bacteria bloom in response to the rising amounts of ammonia in the tank. That is most likely what killed your fish. I would suggest you spring for a test kit that will measure the ammonia level as well as nitrites and nitrates. You will need to know when they are getting dangerous so that you can change water and keep them low enough for the fish to live until such time and the bacteria that eliminate ammonia can build up in the tank. Once those are built up, you will face high nitrites. Less dangerous than ammonia, but still bad. You will have the same situation, change water until more bacteria build up to control that. The end product is nitrates that you will control with once a week small water changes.
This link is the first page of 5-6 and you can follow the links at the bottom of it to the rest. If you read through this you will be well on the way to a healthy and sucessful tank.
http://www.firsttankguide.net/setup.php
Best of luck and welcome to the hobby
MM
2007-03-23 11:50:07 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all understand what it is your are trying to do. You are trying to create an environment like nature in a ten gallon tank. You put two redcap Gold fish in a ten gallon tank. That isn't big enough for two gold fish. I would like to know if you have well water? That can cause a problem by it's self. Also how long ago did you set up your tank? Did you put any chemicals in it? The pet shop should have sold you a water conditioner to add to the water which will help protect your fish. Gold fish can live up to 12 year if there environment is correct. With gold fish you must be very careful that you don't over feed them. Once a day and only enough food that they can eat in 45 seconds. The cloudy water could be because of to much food left after feeding and now it is rotting at the bottom of the tank. Another cause is the tank didn't get a chance to establish before you put the fish in. Bacteria need to build up into the tank to neutralize the wast made by the fish. I would go back to the pet shop and talk to someone there. They should give you a water conditioner and you may need to change the water in the tank. Just remember to change only about half and allow the water to sit and come up to room temperature before you add it to the tank. If the water isn't the same temperature it will shock the fish. If your other redcap dies you my want to get a few books from your local library and do a little read up on fish tanks and set ups. They have a lot of books on the subject. Best of luck with your tank...Hope this helps...
2007-03-23 19:19:53 · answer #2 · answered by cape nut 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you over fed your fish? With 2 orandas in such a small tank you need a descent filter. Goldfish are very messy.
Did you cycle your tank before adding the fish? I made this mistake with my daughters tank. The water went cloudy and within days both fish died. There was far too much ammonia in the tank and I should have added one fish at a time.
Put some real plants in the tank to help oxygenate the water.
I don't know what you mean about the "teabags" it sounds like they are filters. These are very simple filters and not very useful for goldfish.
2007-03-23 18:53:19 · answer #3 · answered by Lolipop 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your problem is that you have too many big fish in a really small tank. Goldfish grow large, and create a lot of waste. If you want the tank to keep clean the only thing you can do is exchange your remaining goldfish for something smaller, or go get a 30 gallon tank. Keep in mind orandas grow to around 8 inches, so they need lots of space.
Also sounds like the tank is not cycled. Read up on cycling:
2007-03-23 18:43:18 · answer #4 · answered by fish guy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont know alot about your tank....so.....Ill just comment on what I know. Did you set your tank up correctly? Did you wait a few weeks before adding fish? Add the correct cycle products? Is there vegetation....see all the questions? Cloudy water and alge...what kind of filter do you have? go to a good website for tank maintence.......and check it off your list....then for the 40 bucks, buy a tank monitoring kit....check your ammonia level.....its the best money you will spend.....monitor the chemistry. Yours is all off somewhere.....start from fresh, drain out 40 percent of the water, and start over. good luck!
2007-03-23 19:42:55 · answer #5 · answered by michelle 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yea it seems fine but clean the poop alot
2007-03-23 19:17:05 · answer #6 · answered by iyikka14 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋