Hello All - I read the articles on cycling (after I had fish). I picked up five small goldfish at a stag and doe (they never should have been there I know - NOT my idea!!).
This is complex so brace yourselves:
- They were in 15g tank for 2 months until I learned more and realized they needed bigger tank. I knew nothing about cycling but had added dechlorinator. Started doing water changes (40% weekly) when I learned about cycling.
- They are now in a 90g tank - with Eheim cannister filter - ran the old filter alongside for two weeks. Tank still appears to be cycling - doing 10% water changes - AM - 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20 (seems weird combo).
- Moved old filter to 15g tank - added heater and ran for couple of days. Had done 40% water change and cleaned gravel and vacuumed gravel as I understand now that goldfish are very mucky. Tank had been filled with water but empty of fish for two weeks.
- Purchased cardinal tetras and harlequin rasboros for old 15 gallon tank - all died within the first afternoon (despite water changes and my best efforts to help). They had been delivered to store the day before - which I now realize they should not have been sold.
Had water tested by a different store - they said ammonia was up - but my API kit says 0.25 and with the water change I hoped to save them. My seachem ammonia alert disc (only had 3 months says safe).
So two questions:
- Are 10-15% daily or every other day water changes sufficient to help my goldfish in their tank?
- I am now terrified to put anything in the 15 gallon heated tank. I am leaving it alone for two weeks at least. Due to the goldfish being in here and moving the old filter back figured it would have been cycled.
I know now I have made some stupid mistakes - (when I had tropical fish years ago we just added water conditioner and they were fine - none died but I know now they must have been stressed) I have been seeking advice but the advice given was that when I moved the old filter back to old tank it would be fine as already built up the bacteria - clearly this wasn't true....
This is complex so brace yourselves:
- They were in 15g tank for 2 months until I learned more and realized they needed bigger tank. I knew nothing about cycling but had added dechlorinator. Started doing water changes (40% weekly) when I learned about cycling.
- They are now in a 90g tank - with Eheim cannister filter - ran the old filter alongside for two weeks. Tank still appears to be cycling - doing 10% water changes - AM - 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20 (seems weird combo).
- Moved old filter to 15g tank - added heater and ran for couple of days. Had done 40% water change and cleaned gravel and vacuumed gravel as I understand now that goldfish are very mucky. Tank had been filled with water but empty of fish for two weeks.
- Purchased cardinal tetras and harlequin rasboros for old 15 gallon tank - all died within the first afternoon (despite water changes and my best efforts to help). They had been delivered to store the day before - which I now realize they should not have been sold.
Had water tested by a different store - they said ammonia was up - but my API kit says 0.25 and with the water change I hoped to save them. My seachem ammonia alert disc (only had 3 months says safe).
So two questions:
- Are 10-15% daily or every other day water changes sufficient to help my goldfish in their tank?
- I am now terrified to put anything in the 15 gallon heated tank. I am leaving it alone for two weeks at least. Due to the goldfish being in here and moving the old filter back figured it would have been cycled.
I know now I have made some stupid mistakes - (when I had tropical fish years ago we just added water conditioner and they were fine - none died but I know now they must have been stressed) I have been seeking advice but the advice given was that when I moved the old filter back to old tank it would be fine as already built up the bacteria - clearly this wasn't true....