Help!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
What water temp do I add with the new water?

If you can connect the garden hose to the sink with a hot/cold water tap, then match as close to the tank temp... You hand will be enough to detect the temp tank and tap difference. If your cold water is hotter than the tank temp, no worries.
 
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And the filters were so dirty packed with dirt. So I wasn’t supposed to clean that?

Rinse in old tank water to remove the debris. Squeeze (if you can) it while rinsing. DO not use tap water as it will kill the good bacteria that consumes ammonia and nitrites.
 
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You have to clean the filters to remove the detritus waste. If you rinse it in old tank water, a majority of the bacteria will still live.
I never heard of this, I’ve wondered what to do when they get all the gunk in them. How often do you clean the gunk out?
 
I never heard of this, I’ve wondered what to do when they get all the gunk in them. How often do you clean the gunk out?

This is part of basic tank maintenance. A lot of people on this board know this. You just have to ask.

How often depends on bioload. If you wait until the filter's output is reduced by more than 25%, you waited too long to rinse the filters. You shouldn't notice a reduction in the filter's output by the time you clean out the filter. Start with every week, then increase by another week. If you squeeze the sponges in a bucket of tank water and the water is dark brown, you waited too long. It should be a light brown.
 
Welcome to the forum Kserious Kserious . Fair play to you for getting involved in the care of these fish. It's a shame your son doesn't share your sense of urgency!

As already mentioned, and also confirmed at petsmart, it looks like your parameters are far from ideal. Basically high waste output by the fish and lack of regular water changes/maintenance is the cause of this.

Get to grips with the regular maintenance aspect of the hobby and your situation will improve, though from a long term point of view, those fish either need a much bigger upgrade, especially the cat, or re-home them.

And take no notice of your son, come on here if you want good advice. Good luck.


I never heard of this, I’ve wondered what to do when they get all the gunk in them. How often do you clean the gunk out

This is basic stuff young man, you should have all this dialled in by now. You've been on here long enough, do you not pay attention, lol.
 
All good advice here. I'd just add one general thing: this tank is way too small for even one of these fish, let alone three. Each of them is much smaller than it should be at 2+ years of age. And there are numerous visible signs of stress and disease.

If you can manage to turn this tank around and improve the health of these fish it will mean a lot of work, i.e. changing a lot of water...and there is a good chance that you will lose them anyway. Fish-in cycling is tricky and risky at the best of times, let alone trying it with this combo in this small a tank.

Re-homing won't be easy due to their condition...forget about selling them, just try to find someone willing to try saving them...but I would suggest that as the best course. Good luck whichever way you decide to go.
 
This is part of basic tank maintenance. A lot of people on this board know this. You just have to ask.

How often depends on bioload. If you wait until the filter's output is reduced by more than 25%, you waited too long to rinse the filters. You shouldn't notice a reduction in the filter's output by the time you clean out the filter. Start with every week, then increase by another week. If you squeeze the sponges in a bucket of tank water and the water is dark brown, you waited too long. It should be a light brown.
Welp… I know what I’m doing today lmao
 
Welcome to the forum Kserious Kserious . Fair play to you for getting involved in the care of these fish. It's a shame your son doesn't share your sense of urgency!

As already mentioned, and also confirmed at petsmart, it looks like your parameters are far from ideal. Basically high waste output by the fish and lack of regular water changes/maintenance is the cause of this.

Get to grips with the regular maintenance aspect of the hobby and your situation will improve, though from a long term point of view, those fish either need a much bigger upgrade, especially the cat, or re-home them.

And take no notice of your son, come on here if you want good advice. Good luck.




This is basic stuff young man, you should have all this dialled in by now. You've been on here long enough, do you not pay attention, lol.
I do my best to pay attention lol. I haven’t rinsed my filters out in my 75 since it’s been set up. I’ll go do that now lol
 
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