First please note that I know I screwed up and am trying to do damage control now.
I bought my first 50 gallon freshwater tank and relied on LFS to guide me before I did my own research (mistake one) and did not let my tank cycle before I added to many fish even though they were added somewhat slowly (mistake two) and now my tank is cycling with fish that should never have been added yet and some are stressed I am sure (mistake three) and adding additional tiger barbs against my better judgement before my tank cycled at the advice of the LFS beccause I orginally bought 3 and found out 7 is minimum to reduce aggression (mistake four).
I have ordered my own API testing kit (will be here in 2 days) as the testing I am having the LFS does not seem to be consistent (they use strips). I have been devoring several books I purchased and conducting online research to educate myself on how to care for these beautiful fish. I realize I should have done this first but I honestly thought if I told my LFS that I was new to this and didnt know what I was doing they would guide me correctly.
My tank is 4 weeks old and I have done weekly water changes/gravel vacumming until this past week as I was told by my LFS now that it is cycling I should not do it until it finishes. Online research (many hours of) has providing conflicting opinions. Some say you must complete your water changes/vacumming during the cycle and some say no.
So far my fish seem to be fine except the tiger barbs are still fighting with 7 in the tank. I originallly purchased 3 as my LFS told me they are a community fish and since they are a "schooling" fish they need at least 3. After a week some aggression was happening and one became injured (he is now in a hospital tank (2.7 gallons..I am cycling a 10gallon as we speak but that is going to take time) and I was advised to get my number up to at least 7. I informed them my tank has not cycled and I was worried about overload and was told they would be okay. I bought 5 more (3 smaller tigers and 2 green tigers). I have 7 in main tank now.
I cannot provide numbers on PH and amonia/nitrate yet as the LFS only tells me my nitrates are very high and amonia is high due to the cycle. They told me there is nothing I can do now but let nature take its course. They advised against tank cleaning and or water change to try and reduce. Online research stated some have used Prime every 48 hours to neutralize the nitrates/amonia which I started doing (first two doses I doubled and now every 2 days I am doing a single dose) and the fish seem to be more active and doing better.
Please note: I know clown loaches are scaless and I cant medicate my main tank (setting up ISO tank now) and I know they will need a 125 gallon min in a year or so. I bought my 55 gallon to start with the plan to purchase a 200 gallon after I became more seasoned. I am having a custom built stand/unit for this tank being built now and hope to have it by Jan 2014.
Here is the list of fish I have in my tank:
50 Gallon Fresh Water Tropical Tank
Only 2 live plants at this time-lots of plastic plants
Lots of hiding places
2 mini peppercorn Catfish
2 Dalmatian Mollies
5 Tiger barbs
2 Green tiger barbs
3 Clown loaches
2 Long finned Black Skirt Tetras
4 Platys
2 Long Finned Red Minor Tetras
Red finned shark
(23 Fish in Total)
Any advice for me from more seasoned tank owners would be appreciated. I am seeing aggression again with my 2 larger tiger barbs but dont want to add any more until the cycle is finished obviously. Not sure what to do with the barbs at this time and not sure the LFS will take them back as it has been over 2 weeks and they are not ill.
I feel guilty for not having done my research before stocking my tank but now just want to work my way through it with minimal damage to my poor fish.
I bought my first 50 gallon freshwater tank and relied on LFS to guide me before I did my own research (mistake one) and did not let my tank cycle before I added to many fish even though they were added somewhat slowly (mistake two) and now my tank is cycling with fish that should never have been added yet and some are stressed I am sure (mistake three) and adding additional tiger barbs against my better judgement before my tank cycled at the advice of the LFS beccause I orginally bought 3 and found out 7 is minimum to reduce aggression (mistake four).
I have ordered my own API testing kit (will be here in 2 days) as the testing I am having the LFS does not seem to be consistent (they use strips). I have been devoring several books I purchased and conducting online research to educate myself on how to care for these beautiful fish. I realize I should have done this first but I honestly thought if I told my LFS that I was new to this and didnt know what I was doing they would guide me correctly.
My tank is 4 weeks old and I have done weekly water changes/gravel vacumming until this past week as I was told by my LFS now that it is cycling I should not do it until it finishes. Online research (many hours of) has providing conflicting opinions. Some say you must complete your water changes/vacumming during the cycle and some say no.
So far my fish seem to be fine except the tiger barbs are still fighting with 7 in the tank. I originallly purchased 3 as my LFS told me they are a community fish and since they are a "schooling" fish they need at least 3. After a week some aggression was happening and one became injured (he is now in a hospital tank (2.7 gallons..I am cycling a 10gallon as we speak but that is going to take time) and I was advised to get my number up to at least 7. I informed them my tank has not cycled and I was worried about overload and was told they would be okay. I bought 5 more (3 smaller tigers and 2 green tigers). I have 7 in main tank now.
I cannot provide numbers on PH and amonia/nitrate yet as the LFS only tells me my nitrates are very high and amonia is high due to the cycle. They told me there is nothing I can do now but let nature take its course. They advised against tank cleaning and or water change to try and reduce. Online research stated some have used Prime every 48 hours to neutralize the nitrates/amonia which I started doing (first two doses I doubled and now every 2 days I am doing a single dose) and the fish seem to be more active and doing better.
Please note: I know clown loaches are scaless and I cant medicate my main tank (setting up ISO tank now) and I know they will need a 125 gallon min in a year or so. I bought my 55 gallon to start with the plan to purchase a 200 gallon after I became more seasoned. I am having a custom built stand/unit for this tank being built now and hope to have it by Jan 2014.
Here is the list of fish I have in my tank:
50 Gallon Fresh Water Tropical Tank
Only 2 live plants at this time-lots of plastic plants
Lots of hiding places
2 mini peppercorn Catfish
2 Dalmatian Mollies
5 Tiger barbs
2 Green tiger barbs
3 Clown loaches
2 Long finned Black Skirt Tetras
4 Platys
2 Long Finned Red Minor Tetras
Red finned shark
(23 Fish in Total)
Any advice for me from more seasoned tank owners would be appreciated. I am seeing aggression again with my 2 larger tiger barbs but dont want to add any more until the cycle is finished obviously. Not sure what to do with the barbs at this time and not sure the LFS will take them back as it has been over 2 weeks and they are not ill.
I feel guilty for not having done my research before stocking my tank but now just want to work my way through it with minimal damage to my poor fish.