Have had nothing but problems.

[Ringoffire]

My aquarium adventure started on a whim as a surprise for my young daughter. If I knew now all the trouble I would have I would have thought twice. But I got all my equipment and fish in one day with no idea what I was doing. Got home set it all up thought it would be fine, not so much. The only previous fish experience is with several Bettas over span of a few years. Needless to say the petsmart employee was happy to sell me lots of stuff with no recommendation on cycling the tank, letting good bacteria establish and so on. All of which I have now learned of from all my mistakes. Tank started with 2 fancy male guppies, 2 neon tetra, 2 green Cory catfish, 1 algae eater and 3 black Molly fry. 1leafy live plant (can't remember the name) and 1 dwarf hairgrass. Needless to say this is much too overstocked for my size tank. ( 3 gallons with carbon filter) and I know this is too small but will have to do for a bit till I can afford a bigger one. First I lost 2 of the fry( not surprised) a few days later both neon tetras after a random 2 hour power outage, and today both guppies to white fungus. Tried treating it with fungus clear but suppose it was to late. After they died I put the carbon filter back in and did a partial water change. After that I came to suspect the fungus possibly came from the hairgrass that had the same substance on it. I removed the hair grass. My question now is since I didn't complete the fungus treatment and removed the grass after the water change am I still at risk of the remaining fish being infected? Any advice is greatly appreciated as I have put forth a lot of effort and really want to succeed.

 

[Tommy10]

3 gallons is really only suitable for a Betta especially without a proper filter. I would return all your fish or re home them until you can get a larger, cycled tank. I'm sorry about the lack of advice you received but returning them is what would be best for the fish. Also if you so get a bigger tank (which I hope you do!) I would recommend going to a small LPS or here for advice as they are way more reliable! I hope this bad experience doesn't stop you from carrying on with the hobby because it's so much fun! And don't feel bad because its not your fault, u didn't know any better, and most of us probably started off just like you

Best of luck

 

[Rodeo one]

Can t help with the fungus question but want to welcome you to the forum& hope things get better for you.
Will recommend that you get a liquid API test kit so you know what your tank readings are & plan to do, at the very least , a 50% WC weekly. Hang in there, most of us started right where you are. The best thing you can do is ask a lot of questions here .

 

[Ringoffire]

Would it be dumb to move the remaining fish to a larger tank without it being cycled? I still have the 2 Cory catfish, algae eater and 1 black Molly fry. And if I could move them what size would be suitable? I suppose it's just a waiting game as far as the fungus goes.

 

[Tommy10]

If you can get another get it asap and start cycling it and move the fish in and start doing a 'fish in' cycle on a larger tank with a strong filter and maybe you can save them. As for tank size the bigger the better

 

[Rodeo one]

You could move them to a bigger tank but of course it s not that straight forward. I d get at least a 30 gallon, use everything you have now (substrate, decorations, filter-don t clean the pad, this is where your good bacteria live). Also, try to get some I cleaned filter pads from an established tank. You didn t say what your algae eater is, if it s a common Pleco , I d return it & get a few more Cory's ( they like to be in groups) .

 

[Rodeo one]

I cleaned filter pads is code for uncleaned . Stupid auto correct!

 

[ArtistGardener]

If you are willing to set up a 20 gallon, you might be able to save your remaining fish and get a real start on the hobby. Get the test kit, be prepared to test every day or every other day, do large water changes, and your tank will eventually cycle with the fish in. It would still be best for them (and you) if you returned the fish and started with a fishless cycle. There are great articles on this forum to help you--and awesome people.

If the algae eater is a Chinese algae eater, you should return him anyway--don't keep it! They are nasty fish when they get bigger.

 

[Ringoffire]

I think it may be the Chinese or Siamese algae eater. Not a pleco. Skinny tannish body with black stripe all the way down its body.

 

[Ringoffire]

Good to know about not cleaning the filter though, I was in the mind set of the cleaner the filter the better. Guess I've got a big decision to make.

 

[Sk3lly]

Good to know about not cleaning the filter though, I was in the mind set of the cleaner the filter the better. Guess I've got a big decision to make.

The filter media (sponges and bio balls) is where your nitrifying 'beneficial' bacteria colonise and live. This is your most important part of your tank and you should take extra care of it. You can wash out the sponges to clear them of gunk, but only ever in old tank water that you have siphoned out for a water change. NEVER WASH ANY PART OF YOUR FILTER IN TAP WATER. This will kill your beneficial bacteria. As people have suggested you need to get a liquid test kit. Test kits with strips are rubbish. Test water levels every other day until you get stable results. Any Ammonia or Nitrite reading above 0 is bad for your fish. The higher the reading the more toxic your water is for fish. This is the likely reason for your problems. High levels will kill fish on their own but it might also be stressing the fish. A stressed fish will have a much lower immune system and hence why they probably developed the fungus issue. Fishkeeping is a hobby that involves tons and tons of research and learning. If your not prepared to learn then you should probably return everything. We are here to help though ? good luck and dont give up

 

[ArtistGardener]

Your algae eater is a Siamese algae eater, not a Chinese, so he's a "good" guy. I hope you upgrade. It is an awesome hobby and a wonderful learning experience for your kids.

 

[gilpi]

Good to know about not cleaning the filter though, I was in the mind set of the cleaner the filter the better. Guess I've got a big decision to make.

Yes, never change the filter media, that is where you are going to grow the beneficial bacteria that will convert the ammonia (fish poo and un-eaten food) into less harmful nitrates.

I'll just repeat what others have said... lots of water changes, in time your filter will cycle.

Good luck!

 

[Ringoffire]

Thanks for all of your encouraging words. It's great to know there are people willing to help me through all my newbie blunders. The 4 remaining fish seem to be doing well. No more signs of fungus as of yet. I think I've got it worked out to get a 20 gallon tank and proper filter this weekend. I will be sure follow the advice of using all of the current materials and all the other great advice you all have offered. Decided I'm not ready to throw in the towel and surprisingly pretty attached to my little fishy friends.

Any suggestions on budget friendly filters that would be a good for that size tank? Also do ya'll recommend using the start up enzyme drops to promote the bacteria cycle?

 

[jwh0818]

Thanks for all of your encouraging words. It's great to know there are people willing to help me through all my newbie blunders. The 4 remaining fish seem to be doing well. No more signs of fungus as of yet. I think I've got it worked out to get a 20 gallon tank and proper filter this weekend. I will be sure follow the advice of using all of the current materials and all the other great advice you all have offered. Decided I'm not ready to throw in the towel and surprisingly pretty attached to my little fishy friends.

Any suggestions on budget friendly filters that would be a good for that size tank? Also do ya'll recommend using the start up enzyme drops to promote the bacteria cycle?

A great budget friendly filter is the aqueon quiet flow models. They are cheap and very effective

 

[ArtistGardener]

I second the Aqueon Quiet Flow models for a good value. Make sure it is rated for larger than your tank (for a 20 gallon, get a 30).

 

[ScotJudd]

In like my total filter flow rate to ensure the total water passes through at least one on the filters three times an hour. My 260l tank has two 700l /h filters. This is the manufactures figures on a brand new spanking clean filter. My 700's drop to 250 l/h prior to a light weight clean and about 400 l/h when cleaned. This nearly gives me nearly the three times an hour turnover that I'm aiming for.
The moral of my experience is get a filter, two is usually better, to give 6 times an hour turnover according to the manufacturer and you might find they settle in use to a reasonable level.
Saddo that I am I timed my filter outputs into a 10l bucket, before and after cleaning and was really surprised at the figures achieved.

 

[Aquaenthused]

A great budget friendly filter is the aqueon quiet flow models. They are cheap and very effective

They also have submersible filters that are amazing for messy fish!! I swear by them for my planted tanks!!

In like my total filter flow rate to ensure the total water passes through at least one on the filters three times an hour. My 260l tank has two 700l /h filters. This is the manufactures figures on a brand new spanking clean filter. My 700's drop to 250 l/h prior to a light weight clean and about 400 l/h when cleaned. This nearly gives me nearly the three times an hour turnover that I'm aiming for.
The moral of my experience is get a filter, two is usually better, to give 6 times an hour turnover according to the manufacturer and you might find they settle in use to a reasonable level.
Saddo that I am I timed my filter outputs into a 10l bucket, before and after cleaning and was really surprised at the figures achieved.

Usually for an understocked tank 3 cycles per hour is I've found does the trick. For a normal stocked tank 5 is better and helps me keep my little guys happy with 'normal' routine maintenance. For overstocked/ cichlid or heavily planted I go for 10 to 15 cycles per hour distributed over different filters in different water levels..

Oh- by the way, 3 gallon tanks don't really get a chance to cycle because of the necessity of changing water everyday. They make excellent planted shrimp tanks, but they have to be cycled with ammonia first to assure a complete cycle with out a stall then mini cycle after mini cycle for this purpose. Other possibilities are dwarf clawed frog pair, watermelon fiddler crab pair, single betta with one large mystery snail or 3 small bodied barbs (cherry, gold, Odessa etc)/ Longfinned danio/ Longfinned white cloud minnow and a single dwarf oto cat.

I personally think with your nano nightmare you just came out of you would find a 30g to be a perfect starter size... Good luck

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Ringoffire]

Update... Got new tank up and running yesterday transferred fish today. Due to budget and space constrictions had to go with 10 gallons. I know it's not as big as what everyone recommended but it loads better than the 3 gallons they were in before. The filter I got is the Aqueon quiet flow internal fully submersible 30 gallon. Still have 2 Cory cats, 1 Siamese algae eater and 1 growing black molly fry. Added one more amazon sword plant and still have sand substrate. Fish seem very happy to have more room. Plan on going tomorrow and returning test strips and small heater and getting the API test kit. I am prepared to continue doing water changes till this thing is all cycled. Thanks in advance for your help.
So first question is:
-Is that to big of a filter for 10 gallon? Could it be causing too much of a current? I got it in hopes of one day being able to get a larger tank. Plus it was a really good deal for that specific filter.
-next is I returned the other tank but kept the filter cartridge. How do I go about transferring any good bacteria that may have developed? Put the whole cartridge in the tank or open it up and put charcoal in tank?...... I not sure what to do with it.

 

[Rodeo one]

That filter should be fine. You can put something under the outflow to disperse it. Here s my redneck solution.