HELP with fish tank please.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I don't have an ammonia tester, sorry. I will go in to the LFS and have them test it though. And the fish have already been in it and the bacteria has been set up - so hasn't it already been cycled? And don't worry, I won't be adding any more fish anyway. Also, the temperature is fine (24oC).

And thanks for the heads up! I don't think she suggested out of the blue though, it was me who asked her if that was the problem because I googled "Why are all my fish going up to the top of the tank?" and that's the explanation that I found. The filter was all clogged up though so we have cleaned it out and there's bubbles coming out the filter now and the fish are back to normal. I'm just crossing my fingers that everything stays that way.

And thanks for the info! I have read about everything I found though (and have read through several books that I bought as well), but you're definitely right as there isn't really a limit to what you can know about fish I guess. :p
 
lol, ammonia tester is seperted by those nasty makers to get you to spend extra money because you should have a nitrate test,nitrite test, and ammonia test at home always. 99% of tank issues particularly when your new to the hobby are often related to water quality issues. my best educated guess was when your filter got clogged up you got an ammonia spike.. and that coupled with some poor tank-mate choices ='d the issues you've been haveing.

def pour over anything and everything you can find in reguards to the nitrogen cycle and tanks... understanding it as compleately as possible imo is one of the most important "knowledges" you can have. a healthy tank ='s healthy fish. I'de say even go threw the filtration/set-up subforum and start reading anything that catches your fancy. It will go a long way in the grand scheme of things.

and btw welcome to the amazingly frustrating and complex hobby that is fishkeeping =)
 
Lol, I thought that actually - stupidness. But in that case, i'll get one. :) And Ah, that does seem like a perfect explanation - thanks so much!

And Thanks for the info - i'll def. do that. :D

And Haha, thanks for the welcome. :)
 
Everyone who has seriously kept fish has had these problems. Get a bigger tank if your thinking about getting serious, and get a good filter. How would you feel if you were in a small dirty jail cell full of people who hate you as much as you hate them lol. I know its tempting too keep wanting to add fish, just to see the interactions or how a new species utilizes the water and food you provide, but you have to have self control lol!

Also, don't keep crustaceans, they are a pain in the butt.
 
Ah, well I guess that's a bit relieving then. And Yeah, I plan to get an 144 Gallon tank during the Summer providing the fish will be okay till then, and yeah, with that new tank there are 2 good filters coming with it. And Yeah, I see what you mean.

And Haha, really? I was actually really close to buying a crayfish (it was the beautiful "Red Marlboro Lobster" one too!) but I just left it because I didn't think it would get on with the eel. :p
 
Crayfish are fun, but they eat plants, any type. If you put any plants in with crayfish you will have a clogged filter and nitrogen spikes in no time. They also love fish, and will snatch any they can. I lost an oscar and a snook cichlid to crayfish who caught they while they had their backs turned. In addition, if you get two they odds of you getting a male and female pair is not unlikely, and they will mate like mine did. This flooded my tank with baby crayfish for a week lol. My fish ate them all, but it was still really weird. Get some ghost shrimp on occasions. Your fish will eat them, which is cool to watch, and they kind of clean a bit while they're in your tank.
 
Bad news; I woke up this morning to find the male Swordtail lying dead with its full head bitten off. :( I've arranged to take the eel back to the shop though so hopefully that's the last time anything like this happens. You know, when I first started researching things about fish I always thought that I would never take a fish back to the shop; but now I can see why people do it. I guess some fish just don't get along even though they generally should. :(
 
The eel did not bite the swordtails head off.. he doesn't have teeth.
 
Neither do the rest of the fish but...

Also, I removed the eel and put him into quarantine a few days ago and then put all the rest of the fish back into the main tank and everything is doing great! Hopefully it stays that way.
 
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