whiteflower
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2013
- Messages
- 2
Hi Everyone! I am hoping an experienced fish-keeper can help us. My 12 year old son and I purchased a 20 gallon Tetra Aquarium set>We filled it with gravel, properly rinsed, set up the filter, heater etc. filled with water added declorinator, (Aqua Start) plastic plants a dragon and a cute Tiki hut (all rinsed and dried) turned the filter on for 3 days added "Special Blend" Microbe Lift. We then unwisely added 2 Mollys, 2 Platys and three Guppies>I bought an ammonia test kit>ammonia was 0.25, fell to 0 on day 4, back to 0.25 Day 6>a molly died the first day (it seemed kind of sick) then 2 guppies! I did a partial water change (how DO you do this correctly?) conditioned the new water (correct temperature I believe) and the 2 platys died. One molly and one guppy were going strong but my son was so upset and crying he did not want to watch them die too>had my husband bring them back to Petsmart so in his mind they will be happy and live. Realized from reading that we should have "cycled " the aquarium without the fish which we want to do now. I would like my son not to give up! Advice? Filter still running, water is clear>how can I motivate my son not to give up? any ideas/help would be appreciated. The temperature in the tank seems a little high at 79 degrees F. Also how do I test for PH and is this necessary? Do I vacuum the gravel now or wait? Many thanks in advance for any and all advice! PS>fish were fed but sparingly.