I'm new to the forum, and I really wish I'd found this place sooner, because I've already learned enough to know that I should have done things differently than I have so far. But here I am, better late than never.
I was given a tank recently, about 53 gallons from what I can tell. Like many noobs I plunged right in, and have already made some mistakes, though I'm not sure yet how bad they really are.
Last Saturday I setup the tank. I filled it with gravel, water (adding Wardly 3 in 1), and got the filter running. The filter is an old Whisper 4, but I was told by the previous owner that it did fine in the tank for him, and was all he needed. I've since then been told I should have something that does 500 gallons per minute as opposed to the 400 gpm this old Whisper does.
Sunday I spoke to the people in my local fish store, and they told me I should be able to add fish the following day. So Monday I bought two green Swordtails, a Bala Shark, and a Iridescent Shark. The following day I bought two Balloon Mollyies, and two Cory Cats.
At that point in time I had no idea what I was doing, actually I still don't know what I'm doing. LOL But I now believe I shouldn't have gotten fish so soon, and should have done a fishless cycle. But it's too late for that now.
This is already getting long, sorry about that.
Well, a day or so after I got the Ballon Mollies into the tank I suspected one was pregnant, did some reading up on it, and somehow actually realized I was right. I noticed what looked to be a hole near her anal fin, and immediately put her into a breeder net, the next morning I awoke to about 20 or so little babies. So now I feel like a worried parent, especially since realizing I've probably already made lots of mistakes.
Yesterday I took a water sample to the fish store and was told my ammonia level was very high. They told me to do partial water changes of 10-25% each day for the next week, and at each water change add "Prime" water treatment, using a dosage that would treat the entire tank, not just the amount of water I was adding. I've done three 10% changes since then, each time adding the prescribed amount of Prime.
Last night I found this forum, and read that I shouldn't change my filter (yeah, I had done it the night before, I had no clue, thought it was the right thing to do), so I put the old one back in. Could that have caused my ammonia level to go high?
Tomorrow I'm going to buy a test kit, and not be cheap by depending on the free tests provided by the lfs (look I'm already using acronyms )
I guess at this point I'm just worried. I'm worried that I've gotten some bad advice at the lfs a few times. I know I depended on their advice instead of doing my own research, and now I want to make sure I'm able to do what I can to keep these fish alive. My Iridescent Shark is acting weird, sluggish. One of the Mollies was acting a bit odd earlier tonite. I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid now or if they really are acting odd to be honest.
It's funny, ever since those little Molly fry arrived I've felt like a parent, and I really worry about them. When I told the people at the lfs about having them in the breeder net they suggested I just release them into the tank, and I just couldn't do it, they were so tiny, and I knew they'd either get sucked up by the filter, or eaten. I did release two, and haven't seen them since, the rest are still in the breeder net.
I guess it's too late to make this a short story, but I'll go ahead and get to the point instead of rambling on even more. LOL Does anybody have any advice? Like what to do with my Molly fry, and what to do overall about my ammonia level...and how bad the advice I've gotten so far has been?
I really loved the experience of having the babies, and would love to set up a smaller tank at some point to be able to keep any future fry my Mollies may have, as I was told that is certainly possible. I was thinking of trying to find a ten gallon and doing a proper fishless cycle. Bad idea? Good idea?
Anyway, thanks for reading my ramble, sorry this post is so jumbled, it's late, and I'm a worried fish parent hoping to get some good advice.
I was given a tank recently, about 53 gallons from what I can tell. Like many noobs I plunged right in, and have already made some mistakes, though I'm not sure yet how bad they really are.
Last Saturday I setup the tank. I filled it with gravel, water (adding Wardly 3 in 1), and got the filter running. The filter is an old Whisper 4, but I was told by the previous owner that it did fine in the tank for him, and was all he needed. I've since then been told I should have something that does 500 gallons per minute as opposed to the 400 gpm this old Whisper does.
Sunday I spoke to the people in my local fish store, and they told me I should be able to add fish the following day. So Monday I bought two green Swordtails, a Bala Shark, and a Iridescent Shark. The following day I bought two Balloon Mollyies, and two Cory Cats.
At that point in time I had no idea what I was doing, actually I still don't know what I'm doing. LOL But I now believe I shouldn't have gotten fish so soon, and should have done a fishless cycle. But it's too late for that now.
This is already getting long, sorry about that.
Well, a day or so after I got the Ballon Mollies into the tank I suspected one was pregnant, did some reading up on it, and somehow actually realized I was right. I noticed what looked to be a hole near her anal fin, and immediately put her into a breeder net, the next morning I awoke to about 20 or so little babies. So now I feel like a worried parent, especially since realizing I've probably already made lots of mistakes.
Yesterday I took a water sample to the fish store and was told my ammonia level was very high. They told me to do partial water changes of 10-25% each day for the next week, and at each water change add "Prime" water treatment, using a dosage that would treat the entire tank, not just the amount of water I was adding. I've done three 10% changes since then, each time adding the prescribed amount of Prime.
Last night I found this forum, and read that I shouldn't change my filter (yeah, I had done it the night before, I had no clue, thought it was the right thing to do), so I put the old one back in. Could that have caused my ammonia level to go high?
Tomorrow I'm going to buy a test kit, and not be cheap by depending on the free tests provided by the lfs (look I'm already using acronyms )
I guess at this point I'm just worried. I'm worried that I've gotten some bad advice at the lfs a few times. I know I depended on their advice instead of doing my own research, and now I want to make sure I'm able to do what I can to keep these fish alive. My Iridescent Shark is acting weird, sluggish. One of the Mollies was acting a bit odd earlier tonite. I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid now or if they really are acting odd to be honest.
It's funny, ever since those little Molly fry arrived I've felt like a parent, and I really worry about them. When I told the people at the lfs about having them in the breeder net they suggested I just release them into the tank, and I just couldn't do it, they were so tiny, and I knew they'd either get sucked up by the filter, or eaten. I did release two, and haven't seen them since, the rest are still in the breeder net.
I guess it's too late to make this a short story, but I'll go ahead and get to the point instead of rambling on even more. LOL Does anybody have any advice? Like what to do with my Molly fry, and what to do overall about my ammonia level...and how bad the advice I've gotten so far has been?
I really loved the experience of having the babies, and would love to set up a smaller tank at some point to be able to keep any future fry my Mollies may have, as I was told that is certainly possible. I was thinking of trying to find a ten gallon and doing a proper fishless cycle. Bad idea? Good idea?
Anyway, thanks for reading my ramble, sorry this post is so jumbled, it's late, and I'm a worried fish parent hoping to get some good advice.