Hello all. I just found this forum this morning and have come across some disturbing information. I have had a ten gallon tank with seven neon tetras in it for about six months now. I inherited a 20 gallon tank from my Grandfather last weekend and decided to upgrade. I set the tank up Saturday with the filter from my old ten gallon (Tetra Whisper rated for 20 gallon tanks) and the rocks and plastic plants from my old aquarium. I added a 100-watt heater and an eight-inch air stone with pump. I set the tank up and let it run for 10 hours to let everything settle. The temp was holding steady at 79F and the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings were all 0. Ph was 6.5.
I assumed all was ready to go for my old fish. I had just put them in a large bowl while I set the new tank up. I put them in the new tank and they seemed fine. Yesterday (Sunday) I hit the local fish shop and picked up seven guppies (two males and five females), three "spotted" corys, and two African dwarf frogs. I used the rocks and filter from my old tank because I had heard that the bacteria “cycle” was important for the fish. Unfortunately for the fish, I did not have a clear understanding of this “cycle.” Somehow, in all of my research to make sure I purchased compatible fish, I missed the nitrogen cycle. I have obviously added way too many fish way too fast. I tested the water before I put the new fish in (my old fish had been in for about eight hours) and I still had no ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. Well, I am expecting that the ammonia will be off the charts when I get home from work today (Monday) and I will have some serious problems on the way from NO2 and NO3.
My question is this: Do I have snowball’s chance in saving my fish if I keep up with daily water changes? Has anyone made such a newbie mistake before and pulled it off? The fish are all inexpensive, so I am not worried about cost, I just hate to see all the little guys suffer and die because I was dumb.
I assumed all was ready to go for my old fish. I had just put them in a large bowl while I set the new tank up. I put them in the new tank and they seemed fine. Yesterday (Sunday) I hit the local fish shop and picked up seven guppies (two males and five females), three "spotted" corys, and two African dwarf frogs. I used the rocks and filter from my old tank because I had heard that the bacteria “cycle” was important for the fish. Unfortunately for the fish, I did not have a clear understanding of this “cycle.” Somehow, in all of my research to make sure I purchased compatible fish, I missed the nitrogen cycle. I have obviously added way too many fish way too fast. I tested the water before I put the new fish in (my old fish had been in for about eight hours) and I still had no ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. Well, I am expecting that the ammonia will be off the charts when I get home from work today (Monday) and I will have some serious problems on the way from NO2 and NO3.
My question is this: Do I have snowball’s chance in saving my fish if I keep up with daily water changes? Has anyone made such a newbie mistake before and pulled it off? The fish are all inexpensive, so I am not worried about cost, I just hate to see all the little guys suffer and die because I was dumb.