Hi guys
I am getting desperate here and was hoping if anyone can help as even my local fish store won't give me any valuable advice, at least one that made a difference.
I started my aquarium in September. It is a tropical aquarium of 60 litres currently just having 3 corydoras, gravel and a few live plants, some rocks and one plastic plant. When I first installed the tank I let it with no fish cycling for about 1 month. Then I took water to the fish shop and got it tested. The result as the guy said was perfect and was allowed to add my first fish. I only put a pair of dwarf gouramis. As I am only a beginner I did ask for hardy fish, as I realised the hard way gouramis are not.about 2 weeks later I added the 3 corydoras. My gouramis got sick within a month. The female got White spots and the male got an ulcer. I tried melafix and the White spot treatment and nothing. My female died first the male although got the ulcer was very lively.
The pet shop gave me medicine for internal bacteria. So I tried that.I tested the water before I put the medicine in and all was perfect then added the medicine. I was Away for 2 days on a trip and my sis was taking care of the fish. I came back to find my gourami extremely ill looking, complete change within 2 days. Tested water and all reading was on the top. My gourami died the next day. Since then started doing pwc every day. Nitrite turned quickly to zero and nitrate back to 0-20 but ammonia cannot get it down ten days now. My corys initially were getting to surface frequently for air then the last 5 days seemed again relaxed and lively as usual. Although ammonia is still high. Today I saw bubbles on the surface and fishes started behaving nervously again. I did the usual pwc but ammonia still high. I had to use the ammo lock, although I read iti is to be avoided but thought it was an emergency. Also used ammo lock twice when I first detected the high ammonia. I tested the tap water and has 0 ammomia. Honestly don't know what else tp do. I read that medicine could possibly have killed my good bacteria and tank is cycling again. But after 10 days shouldn't have seen a difference in ammonia levels. One more thing pet shop gave me a bottle to boost bacteria. Don't think made any difference.
Really counting on some solid advice.
Many thanks
I am getting desperate here and was hoping if anyone can help as even my local fish store won't give me any valuable advice, at least one that made a difference.
I started my aquarium in September. It is a tropical aquarium of 60 litres currently just having 3 corydoras, gravel and a few live plants, some rocks and one plastic plant. When I first installed the tank I let it with no fish cycling for about 1 month. Then I took water to the fish shop and got it tested. The result as the guy said was perfect and was allowed to add my first fish. I only put a pair of dwarf gouramis. As I am only a beginner I did ask for hardy fish, as I realised the hard way gouramis are not.about 2 weeks later I added the 3 corydoras. My gouramis got sick within a month. The female got White spots and the male got an ulcer. I tried melafix and the White spot treatment and nothing. My female died first the male although got the ulcer was very lively.
The pet shop gave me medicine for internal bacteria. So I tried that.I tested the water before I put the medicine in and all was perfect then added the medicine. I was Away for 2 days on a trip and my sis was taking care of the fish. I came back to find my gourami extremely ill looking, complete change within 2 days. Tested water and all reading was on the top. My gourami died the next day. Since then started doing pwc every day. Nitrite turned quickly to zero and nitrate back to 0-20 but ammonia cannot get it down ten days now. My corys initially were getting to surface frequently for air then the last 5 days seemed again relaxed and lively as usual. Although ammonia is still high. Today I saw bubbles on the surface and fishes started behaving nervously again. I did the usual pwc but ammonia still high. I had to use the ammo lock, although I read iti is to be avoided but thought it was an emergency. Also used ammo lock twice when I first detected the high ammonia. I tested the tap water and has 0 ammomia. Honestly don't know what else tp do. I read that medicine could possibly have killed my good bacteria and tank is cycling again. But after 10 days shouldn't have seen a difference in ammonia levels. One more thing pet shop gave me a bottle to boost bacteria. Don't think made any difference.
Really counting on some solid advice.
Many thanks