Is my convict ok? Please help, new to fish.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
FishingOut;4260856; said:
^2nd that. It sounded like an ammonia spike. Id do a 40% water change right now. and keep an eye on the ammonia until your beneficial bacteria can handle the bioload.
It could also be some disease from that nasty pet store water. Chances are your tank water is just unstable right now.
Click to expand...


I have a well with a water softener, that is why I got some water from them... they said it was too hard for a fish...???

was gonna get some tap water from work an bring it here for w/c... if i can find a pet store open will just adding the bacteria be fine until then?

Sorry for all the questions... this is all rather overwhelming for me lol
 
Michiba54;4260868; said:
I have a well with a water softener, that is why I got some water from them... they said it was too hard for a fish...???

was gonna get some tap water from work an bring it here for w/c... if i can find a pet store open will just adding the bacteria be fine until then?

Sorry for all the questions... this is all rather overwhelming for me lol
Click to expand...

Understandable. This is why you do the research befor getting a pet.
Hard water is better than water that is constantly changing. Driftwood will help slowly soften water. Plus work as a biological filter.
Fish store employees arnt the most knowledgeable and he was probably just trying to sell you more BS. No bacteria needs to be added. 40% wc now and 25% everyday for the next 6 days and it should be able to regulate itself. BE SURE to feed twice daily but not overfeed so it doesnt rot in water. Some food needs to be present in water for BB to grow. Convicts are tough little guys and i hope you the best.
You NEED to do a large 40-50% waterchange immediatly though if already havent done so. If the fish has turned purple it might not make it through the night. Clean hard water is better than ammonia water. Your tank will regulate, you do have to keep an eye on your fish and water parameters until that happens. good luck
 
Yes what Mark said. They should get used to whatever water you have.

Make sure there is no Chlorine in it.

Do waterchanges as Fishingout said. It is the only way too remove the amonia from fish waste.

DO NOT clean your filters for a month or so. Most of the beneficial bacteria will grow here and you dont want to destroy it.

He will be pepping up soon enough.

GL....Bill
 
How is he doing still flashing? I would get a liquid test kit, they are reliable. And just keep up with the water changes. Cons are VERY hardy. He should be okay. Just a suggestion, look at them closley and see if you can see any grain like salt on them, white spots, it's called ick if you didn't know that. If you see these spots they need to be treated.
 
Hello again, the last guest has left... afew more question. :nilly:

Afew of you said my water should be fine, is there any sure fire way to tell if it will be safe for long term use? I checked the ammonia levels with an API test kit an the color said zero. Going to check the PH/no2/no3 before I go to bed. ( its hardcore water lol)

My 2nd question is assuming there isnt anyway to know if my water is safe, should I just go ahead with my plane to take water from work? its from the county an my dad thinks they only put chlorine in it.

Water at my house has alot of iron, the ice cubs taste like salt, an its from a well with a softener.

And the flashing seems to have stop too... male is sleeping (?) in the clay pot.

Thanks~
 
Like it has been said - for now this water is better than water with ammonia in it.

Before you get any more fish - and for your own sake - take a sample of your water (in a well-rinsed/and clean container) to the local county office (call them to find out where to get water tested). If you are on a well, the local 'health unit' or something equivalent should test your water for free, they will tell you if it is safe to drink, and you should be able to get a list of all the results of what is in it. Once you do this, post it on here and members will be able to help you determine whether your water is usable for fish keeping.

Where I live (on a well too, in the country), I did get my water tested before I moved, and found that it COULD work, but I would have a lot of algae problems and not as much sucess with keeping fish. Thus I installed an R/O unit for a water source for all my fish tanks which we also use for all our drinking water (and making coffee, etc...).

Finding this out is important not only for your fish, but it will also help you out 'in the kitchen' per se.

Cheers,

Chris
 
yeah cons are tough fish you may be able to get by without using CYCLE, and CYCLE is beneficial bacteria, Prime is a de-chlorinator that gets rid of chlorine, chloramines and ammonia so you will need this anyways if you use the water from work to de-chlorinate it. but like others have said hard water that is stable is better than unstable water, but not sure how the water softener affects the fish...
 
How are your Cons doing now?

Don't bother wasting money on so called bacteria in a bottle 'Cycle' or whatever it's called. Beneficial bacteria needs a source of ammonia, plus running water/oxygen to keep it alive, so it's not going to stay live for long in a bottle on a fish shop's shelf.

Waterchanges are the only thing you need, but plenty of them. Daily large waterchanges when you are doing a fish-in cycle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom