girlxinxgreen
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2015
- Messages
- 7
Hello, I'm new here
I received a 20l tank for my birthday and was advised at the garden centre that my water was good to go after a couple of days (they tested it). I have since discovered that 2 days isn't nearly long enough and, sad to say, my fish died (a male betta, platy and cory cat - I was also incorrectly advised that my tank was big enough for the three and they would be good tank mates - yes, I now know this was also wrong).
Since then (end of Aug) I invested in a freshwater testing kit (API master) with 25-50% weekly water changes, adding a couple of flakes of fish food every couple of days as I read on another forum that this is how to do a fishless cycle.
My nitrite levels are still high though so I need so help because I think I must be doing something wrong if it's nearly October and it isn't ready for fish yet!
My levels today after a 25% change
pH 7.6+
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 2-5
Nitrate 20-40
I should say that I didn't clean out the tank after the fish died as I thought this might help in terms of cycling but should I have done that?
There is a teeny tiny snail that seems to be happy in there - an offspring from a plant I had in. The plant died however
Oh and when I finally put fish in I think I will either have a single male betta or 3 male guppies as I read this is pretty much all I can put in there. I'm ok with that - I just don't want them to die or get sick!
I appreciate any and all advice from anyone in the know!
I received a 20l tank for my birthday and was advised at the garden centre that my water was good to go after a couple of days (they tested it). I have since discovered that 2 days isn't nearly long enough and, sad to say, my fish died (a male betta, platy and cory cat - I was also incorrectly advised that my tank was big enough for the three and they would be good tank mates - yes, I now know this was also wrong).
Since then (end of Aug) I invested in a freshwater testing kit (API master) with 25-50% weekly water changes, adding a couple of flakes of fish food every couple of days as I read on another forum that this is how to do a fishless cycle.
My nitrite levels are still high though so I need so help because I think I must be doing something wrong if it's nearly October and it isn't ready for fish yet!
My levels today after a 25% change
pH 7.6+
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 2-5
Nitrate 20-40
I should say that I didn't clean out the tank after the fish died as I thought this might help in terms of cycling but should I have done that?
There is a teeny tiny snail that seems to be happy in there - an offspring from a plant I had in. The plant died however
Oh and when I finally put fish in I think I will either have a single male betta or 3 male guppies as I read this is pretty much all I can put in there. I'm ok with that - I just don't want them to die or get sick!
I appreciate any and all advice from anyone in the know!