OK, sorry for the 300th Post on Fish in Cycle but just wanted to see if I am on track here. Every since being duped into "just running the filter for 24 hours" I have been reading this forum nonstop for knowledge.
Here's where I am at:
Someone bought my 7 year old a 20 gallon all in one Top fin tank from Petsmart. After receiving very little advice I came back the next day and bought 2 red wag plattys 2 mickey mouse plattys 2 ADF and one dalmatian molly on advice from the salesperson. I have well water and the temp has been set at 78* since the first day.
Two days later the dalmatian died. I went to Petsmart and they said it was new tank syndrome and they said my water levels were fine. At this point I started researching and found out basically the tank is no longer my 7 year olds, it is mine.
Anyway, the next morning the frog and a MM platty died and I went to Petsmart and got a syphon and after reading about cycling I started with the water changes.
After reading some more, I went out and bought a AC 50 (right now have the sponge the carbon and the bio) running with the Top Fin 20 carb cart) I plan on adding a second sponge to the AC and getting rid of the carbon as some suggested on this site.
I have been doing 25% water changes every day since the MM died.
I initially purchased Test strips for $24. After reading about the liquid testing I went on Amazon and bought API Freshwater MAster for $19 (32 at Petsmart) The API arrives tomorrow so I am using the strips for now.
The levels have been 0's across the board since the first 5 days. Saturday, a Red platty died when I came home from work. I tested the water and the ammonia was between stress and danger ( I am color weak so I rely on the wife testing). I did a 50% water change, checked the strips in an hour and we were at .5
Came home today and ammonia is at .5. Did a 25% water change. The fish are swimming around soooo fast. I haven't seen them swim like this. IS this a good thing? They seem to be happy, except the frog. I read the ADF's like to be with other ADF's. I don't want to add any fish unnecessarily until the tank is safe. Should I get another frog to make him happy?
I still have 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. Is this normal? If so, when can I see a spike in these?
Anything else I should be doing?
Thanks so much, I really wish I went on this site before going to Petsmart and getting the fish, but after reading here for a week, it seems like a lot of posters have the same problem. The pet stores should be a little more responsible and not just try to sell a fish. I mean, these fish are $1.00. How much can they be making?
Thanks again.
Here's where I am at:
Someone bought my 7 year old a 20 gallon all in one Top fin tank from Petsmart. After receiving very little advice I came back the next day and bought 2 red wag plattys 2 mickey mouse plattys 2 ADF and one dalmatian molly on advice from the salesperson. I have well water and the temp has been set at 78* since the first day.
Two days later the dalmatian died. I went to Petsmart and they said it was new tank syndrome and they said my water levels were fine. At this point I started researching and found out basically the tank is no longer my 7 year olds, it is mine.
Anyway, the next morning the frog and a MM platty died and I went to Petsmart and got a syphon and after reading about cycling I started with the water changes.
After reading some more, I went out and bought a AC 50 (right now have the sponge the carbon and the bio) running with the Top Fin 20 carb cart) I plan on adding a second sponge to the AC and getting rid of the carbon as some suggested on this site.
I have been doing 25% water changes every day since the MM died.
I initially purchased Test strips for $24. After reading about the liquid testing I went on Amazon and bought API Freshwater MAster for $19 (32 at Petsmart) The API arrives tomorrow so I am using the strips for now.
The levels have been 0's across the board since the first 5 days. Saturday, a Red platty died when I came home from work. I tested the water and the ammonia was between stress and danger ( I am color weak so I rely on the wife testing). I did a 50% water change, checked the strips in an hour and we were at .5
Came home today and ammonia is at .5. Did a 25% water change. The fish are swimming around soooo fast. I haven't seen them swim like this. IS this a good thing? They seem to be happy, except the frog. I read the ADF's like to be with other ADF's. I don't want to add any fish unnecessarily until the tank is safe. Should I get another frog to make him happy?
I still have 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. Is this normal? If so, when can I see a spike in these?
Anything else I should be doing?
Thanks so much, I really wish I went on this site before going to Petsmart and getting the fish, but after reading here for a week, it seems like a lot of posters have the same problem. The pet stores should be a little more responsible and not just try to sell a fish. I mean, these fish are $1.00. How much can they be making?
Thanks again.