my 20 gal setup

[cornpops]

"Well, you're probably gonna lose your fish, since you didn't cycle the tank. I would take the fish back (if you can) and properly cycle the tank. Do a search for "cycling" and you'll find all the info you need. BTW, stay away from those API stress zyme, etc. products; they're all garbage. Stress Zyme claims to be beneficial bacteria but in reality there's nothing but dead bacteria in there.

Live bacteria must be refrigerated for it to survive. I think Bio-Spira is the brand to use, if you're gonna use bottled bacteria. IMO, all you need is a few goldfish and a good test kit to cycle the tank. Save the money from the additives to buy fish when your tank is cycled! Good luck! "....jcardona1


----that sucks that stress zyme doesn't have live bacteria. Where did you find that out.? What is the best possible solution to use. Also...the fish seem to be doing fine as of now (about 5 days). I did a 60% water change last night because the ammonia level was reading 1.0. I have a couple friends with tanks that have been correctly balanced and maintained so i have a safe harbor if I need one. He also works at the LFS and I wouldn't have a problem changing the fish to a safe tank if something severe happened. I'm open for any suggestions. Thanks!

 

[elevatethis]

I don't think you responded to the comments regarding the fish that you've put in your tank.

First and foremost, the Pacu. Do you realize how large those things get? Do you realize that to properly house that fish you will need a tank in the several hundreds of gallons? and that's just to start...

I would second the notion to bring ALL of those fish back, cycle your tank, and choose some smaller fish that won't outgrow a 20 gallon. Look into some of the shell-dwelling africans or apistograma's (dwarf cichlids) instead.

I'm telling you, with the fish you have right now, your experience with this tank will not be pretty. And shame on the LFS for knowingly selling you those fish to put in a 20 gallon...its unfortunate but it happens every day. They've got to pay their rent somehow...

What pet store sold you all of this? I'm actually in Charlotte too...

 

[SyncereOne]

You say you have friends with tanks....see if you can get some cycled media from them...a filter sponge, or possibly some biomedia. If any of them are running multiple filter setups, get a filter exactly like thiers if it fits your tank, and try to use some of thier media, keeping in mind not to take all of thiers so you won't crash thier biofilter. This will be the quickest and cheapest route for you to go. With that 20 gallon, either stick with some smaller africans, like shellies, or leave the 2 cons in there. Otherwise, look to tropical fish.

Hope that helps...

 

[SyncereOne]

elevatethis.....i'm in richmond too!

 

[toehead11183]

sunds like you're setting yourself up for trouble. you might want to get you a bigger tank!

 

[cornpops]

I don't think you responded to the comments regarding the fish that you've put in your tank.

First and foremost, the Pacu. Do you realize how large those things get? Do you realize that to properly house that fish you will need a tank in the several hundreds of gallons? and that's just to start...

I would second the notion to bring ALL of those fish back, cycle your tank, and choose some smaller fish that won't outgrow a 20 gallon. Look into some of the shell-dwelling africans or apistograma's (dwarf cichlids) instead.

I'm telling you, with the fish you have right now, your experience with this tank will not be pretty. And shame on the LFS for knowingly selling you those fish to put in a 20 gallon...its unfortunate but it happens every day. They've got to pay their rent somehow...

What pet store sold you all of this? I'm actually in Charlotte too...

- I got everything from a store called "Last Place On Earth" petstore. How many fish should i keep in my tank? and what kinds...right now i have 2 convicts, 3 africans, 1 pacu, 2 blue cobalts, and 2 plecos. I have plenty of caves for them to hide in. The only thing I've noticed is that the pacu seems to be getting beatin up a little bit over the past few days. He seems ok as of now though.