midgiepooh
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2012
- Messages
- 37
This is my first post! Hi everyone, I sure could use some heavy-duty advice here!
The problem is, my daughter received a baby goldfish for her birthday yesterday in a 1.5 gallon, uncycled tank. The buyer didn't know any better, and neither did I until I started researching the net on fishkeeping.
I knew right off the bat that 1.5 gallons was too small. It just didn't "feel" big enough. The pet shop fellow got her the smallest fish possible, though, as if that makes it any better.
As you can imagine, the internet has terrified me about all the issues with cycling, and the danger imposed on the fish. I don't want to hurt the poor guy!
So today I bought a 20 gallon tank and started it up this morning right next to his tiny tank. I've followed the rules, dechlorinated the water, got a filter, an air stone, etc. But the same problem exists that I have a fish and no cycled tank!
I also have test strips for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. The water in the small tank (where the fish still resides) had a bit of ammonia so I did a water change. Roughly 30%, I suppose.
But what am I supposed to do in the meantime? It seems cruel to leave him in a 1.5 gallon tank for weeks on end until the bigger tank is fully cycled. But on the other hand, I don't want to switch him over until somebody tells me that's its just as safe (or dangerous) as having him in the tank he is in now!
Which is the lesser of the two evils? What am I supposed to do?
The problem is, my daughter received a baby goldfish for her birthday yesterday in a 1.5 gallon, uncycled tank. The buyer didn't know any better, and neither did I until I started researching the net on fishkeeping.
I knew right off the bat that 1.5 gallons was too small. It just didn't "feel" big enough. The pet shop fellow got her the smallest fish possible, though, as if that makes it any better.
As you can imagine, the internet has terrified me about all the issues with cycling, and the danger imposed on the fish. I don't want to hurt the poor guy!
So today I bought a 20 gallon tank and started it up this morning right next to his tiny tank. I've followed the rules, dechlorinated the water, got a filter, an air stone, etc. But the same problem exists that I have a fish and no cycled tank!
I also have test strips for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. The water in the small tank (where the fish still resides) had a bit of ammonia so I did a water change. Roughly 30%, I suppose.
But what am I supposed to do in the meantime? It seems cruel to leave him in a 1.5 gallon tank for weeks on end until the bigger tank is fully cycled. But on the other hand, I don't want to switch him over until somebody tells me that's its just as safe (or dangerous) as having him in the tank he is in now!
Which is the lesser of the two evils? What am I supposed to do?