Water Parameter Problem???

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L

Linemanbrad

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 25, 2009
430
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Texas
Ammonia-2.0 PPM
Nitrite- 2.0 PPM
Nitrate- 5.0 PPM

What do i do? I did a 25% water change today... Those parameters are in the 20L tank... It has a 4" Oscar a 2.3-3" Red Devil and a 6" Senegal Bichir...

If i change on of them to my other 20G idk which to change because i just got 2 juvenils EBJDs today 1-1.5"

Do i get bacteria from LFS? Relocate one of the larger fish to my other tank? Do larger water change? Please help :confused:
 
Do as many 50-70% water changes as you need to so that the nitrite and ammonia stay under 1ppm. And that is to keep the fish alive. I would suggest that you get your self a bottle of safe start , its made by aquasafe and will cycle your tank very quickly. It will complete faze 1 in 12-18 hrs (ammonia--->nitrite). And then you should see the nitrite stick around at a lesser level for a few days. Just do a large water change before you put it in the tank because you can not do another one for 24hrs after.
 
You have too many fish in that tank. A 20g is not big enough for a four inch Oscar alone.
 
Do the big water changes, and use seachem prime.
 
and water changes are another problem... the tank is near the ground so it is very hard to get a siphon going but hen it does it is not powerful... do those pumps that attach to the air pumps actually work?
 
How long have the tanks been set up? What is the pH? What is your feeding regimen?
You will need a much larger tank, and very soon. The oscar will need a 55g to HIMSELF, the two EBJD's might do okay in a 55g, and the red devil and bichir need at least a 40, preferably more. That's 2 55g, and a 40, at the least.
Please research the fish you plan on purchasing BEFORE you purchase them. And don't listen to lfs staff, more often than not, they have very little clue as to what they are doing.
In the meantime, add some salt, do frequent water changes, and work on getting the ammonia and nitrite down.
 
agree with everything everyone else said.

id say its imperative that you get your ammonia down to at least .5. Im always against water changes larger than 50% at once. but maybe 50% in the morning and 50% at night til you get ur ammonia down to .5.
 
go to home depot get a 50g storage tub for 15$ then go to lfs and get an aquaclear 50 for 40$ fill the tub up half way add the water treatement then dump in your fish plus all of their water from the 20g then put the filter for the 20g plus the ac 50 on the tub. that'll keep them until you can get a bigger tank. theres no way all of those fish will last in a 20g. shoot my 55 is hevaily overstocked and it only has 2 fish in it.
 
You will never be able to keep the levels acceptable in that tank with those fish.
Now, to solve your current problem do the WC's like they said & keep it up for a few weeks. Thats just how long it takes... Prime is good to keep the fish calm during the process.
 
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