Hi guys
This is my first post and I hope you can help! I am completely new to the hobby. I knew nothing about keeping tropical fish when I got my aquarium, and knowing what I know now I would not have done what I have done so far.
Basically, I have had my aquarium for 10 days. I have:
* a Aquaone Ecostyle 47 tank (38 litres)
* Three silver sharks, 6 black widow tetras and 4 platys.
* Gravel, a flat rock, a skull and live plants
After some very poor advice from my LFS, I bought the tank, gravel/plants etc and put the fish in the first day. After a day or so, two of the platies were showing signs of fin rot and fungus. I removed the carbon from the filter (left the sponges in) and treated the aquarium with interpret anti fin rot medicine. When my partner called into the fish store I bought them from, the tank the platys were in was under quarantine so I don't know if that was related to the fungus mine have. The treatment is due to be finished tomorrow and for those two platys, they look worse rather than better. I am unsure if I should medicate the tank again - will it be very harmful to the fish that do not have it?
I now also know that my tank is overstocked - the fish shop said it would be OK as I stated I would buy a larger tank when I was able to afford it in a few months. Should I remove the two platys with the fungus or treat the entire tank again (I don't have the money for a hospital tank unfortunately)
All the fish are looking a bit 'gaspy' at the moment (for the last couple of days) - not at the surface of the tank, but in the water and are looking lethargic. They eat fine. I have been doing partial water changes every day for three days to see if that helps and add filter bacteria as well as declorinator. I have been vacuuming the gravel to remove any waste that may break down into ammonia but I don't know if that will prevent the beneficial bacteria from forming?
Im sorry for the essay - its just I want to give my fish the best chance and feel I have been given poor advice by my local fish store as to the amount I was able to put into my tank and when. With this many fish, how long can I expect the cycle to last?
Thanks
Kirsty
This is my first post and I hope you can help! I am completely new to the hobby. I knew nothing about keeping tropical fish when I got my aquarium, and knowing what I know now I would not have done what I have done so far.
Basically, I have had my aquarium for 10 days. I have:
* a Aquaone Ecostyle 47 tank (38 litres)
* Three silver sharks, 6 black widow tetras and 4 platys.
* Gravel, a flat rock, a skull and live plants
After some very poor advice from my LFS, I bought the tank, gravel/plants etc and put the fish in the first day. After a day or so, two of the platies were showing signs of fin rot and fungus. I removed the carbon from the filter (left the sponges in) and treated the aquarium with interpret anti fin rot medicine. When my partner called into the fish store I bought them from, the tank the platys were in was under quarantine so I don't know if that was related to the fungus mine have. The treatment is due to be finished tomorrow and for those two platys, they look worse rather than better. I am unsure if I should medicate the tank again - will it be very harmful to the fish that do not have it?
I now also know that my tank is overstocked - the fish shop said it would be OK as I stated I would buy a larger tank when I was able to afford it in a few months. Should I remove the two platys with the fungus or treat the entire tank again (I don't have the money for a hospital tank unfortunately)
All the fish are looking a bit 'gaspy' at the moment (for the last couple of days) - not at the surface of the tank, but in the water and are looking lethargic. They eat fine. I have been doing partial water changes every day for three days to see if that helps and add filter bacteria as well as declorinator. I have been vacuuming the gravel to remove any waste that may break down into ammonia but I don't know if that will prevent the beneficial bacteria from forming?
Im sorry for the essay - its just I want to give my fish the best chance and feel I have been given poor advice by my local fish store as to the amount I was able to put into my tank and when. With this many fish, how long can I expect the cycle to last?
Thanks
Kirsty