my convict is swimming around like a corkscrew
- Thread starter cornpops
- Start date
What still need clarification?
Since somebody mentioned you set your tank up on 2/16/08, you tank is not cycled and is not ready for fish, let alone all of those fish you have, you are way overstocked.
1. Take your fish back to the store or put them in your buddy's tank
2. Get a bigger filter. I recommend a big Aqua Clear filter, something rated for WAY MORE than 20 gallons
3. Do your research on how to properly cycle a tank
4. Do your research on the fish you have and see just how big they will get
5. After you've cycled the tank and your parameters are where they should be, introduce fish gradually, not all at once.
6. Stop smacking your fish on the concrete!!!! Do things right and you don't have to murder your fish!!!
1. Take your fish back to the store or put them in your buddy's tank
2. Get a bigger filter. I recommend a big Aqua Clear filter, something rated for WAY MORE than 20 gallons
3. Do your research on how to properly cycle a tank
4. Do your research on the fish you have and see just how big they will get
5. After you've cycled the tank and your parameters are where they should be, introduce fish gradually, not all at once.
6. Stop smacking your fish on the concrete!!!! Do things right and you don't have to murder your fish!!!
cornpops;1549403; said:
The filter pad is the sponge infront of the carbon
It is not how many fish you have, but more their eventual sizes. Your plecos are most likely commons-which will get to a foot or more. You also have a pacu that will get to 3 feet. You will also have size and aggression problems with your cichlids. I would take everything out except your two cobalts OR take everything else out except your three "Africans". We also need to know what fish these africans are.
NO, that will not help at ALL. With a three foot fish as bulky and skittish as a pacu, you are looking at around 700- 1000 gallons minimum. They have a growth rate comparable to a Red tailed catfish-which is about 2-3 inchs a month. You need to get a larger-think atleast 100 gallons-tank fast.y'all have some great ideas......but lets be real. I'm in college and in an apartment......i don't have money for a crazy state of the art facility. I just want my fish to be well off. you say it takes about 6 weeks to "cycle".....i have 8 total including 2 plecos
You're missing the point here dude. If you can't get the right filtration (nobody said anything about expensive state of the art stuff), you shouldn't be putting too many fish in that tank, especially fish that grow bigger than the size of your tank itself.
Like I said, you need to properly cycle the tank before you put fish in there and get a better filter. I think an Aqua Clear 110 would be just fine, and you can get one for about $60. It will give you the mechanical and biological filtration you need.
With the fish, some of those guys you just can't keep in a 20 gallon tank, no matter how much filter you have. You really need to research what type of fish your getting and how big they will get, that pacu will be a monster in no time. Nobody's trying to give you a hard time; just trying to steer you in the right direction...
Like I said, you need to properly cycle the tank before you put fish in there and get a better filter. I think an Aqua Clear 110 would be just fine, and you can get one for about $60. It will give you the mechanical and biological filtration you need.
With the fish, some of those guys you just can't keep in a 20 gallon tank, no matter how much filter you have. You really need to research what type of fish your getting and how big they will get, that pacu will be a monster in no time. Nobody's trying to give you a hard time; just trying to steer you in the right direction...
i know.....it's no question that i'll have to get rid of the pacu. I just want my other africans to get along with one another. Does anyone know of the perfect balance of my tank. Check my 20 gal setup. I want the best for my fish.
