Help: 50 Gallon - Community Tank

[Nethan]

Hi All,

I am new here.

Need advice.. just converted my 50 gallon to Freshwater Community Tank.
20 Neon Tetra, 3 red platy, 1 corydoras, 1 common pleco, 3 beacon fish, 7 Gold Bard, 4 red resbora, 5 Chinese Danio
2 Angel (been removed)
I tried to introduce 6 guppys but unfortunately they were all gone, one by one within 3 to 4 days time. Have tried it twice, sadly still same. 1st round I found that Angel Fish are the ones that did it. Removed them, then second round the guppys lasted abit longer but still can't last a week.

Another thing is my 20 Neons after 2 weeks now left with 15th of them. What could be the problem? or are there generally sensitive to the water quality?

Need advice.. anyone?

[Barbrella]

Neons and corydoras are quite sensitive to any toxins in the water. Do you show any nitrites or ammonia? What is the nitrate level?

How long has the tank been set up, and did you add all those fish within a short period of time?

Also, 50 gallons won't be big enough for a common pleco at adult size.

Oh and welcome! I"m sure you'll get all the advice you need here.

[Shawnie]

welcome to fishlore!!!!!!!! some advice that im sure you have heard, is you are way overstocked!! too many create issues all around...ive heard platys have eaten neons from one of my neighbors...im sure others will know that info here as my neighbor isnt the brightest in the box...angels are very sensitive to water conditions...do you know your water parimeters?( ammonia , nitrites, and nitrates )

[Nethan]

Originally Posted by Barbrella

Neons and corydoras are quite sensitive to any toxins in the water. Do you show any nitrites or ammonia? What is the nitrate level?

How long has the tank been set up, and did you add all those fish within a short period of time?

Also, 50 gallons won't be big enough for a common pleco at adult size.

Oh and welcome! I"m sure you'll get all the advice you need here.

Hey! Thanks for the tips.. just checked out the water chemistry section. Mayb need to get myself a set of fresh water tester.
btw my Pleco is just a baby bout 2 inch and 50 gallon should be big enough.

I've just set it up bout less then 3 weeks. Previously for 4 yeas was a tank with 3 japanese koi bout 1 feet long each and a pleco 1 feet long too.

[Nethan]

Originally Posted by Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!!!!!! some advice that im sure you have heard, is you are way overstocked!! too many create issues all around...ive heard platys have eaten neons from one of my neighbors...im sure others will know that info here as my neighbor isnt the brightest in the box...angels are very sensitive to water conditions...do you know your water parimeters?( ammonia , nitrites, and nitrates )

Thanks for the warm welcome..

Overstock?? But all are so tiny.. the biggest would be my red platy bout 1.5 inch & pleco bout 2 inch.
Thks for the tips.. will keep an eye on the platys.
Gee.. ! Thought i've seen the last of chemistry when I left high school.. Well, should get myself a set of freshwater tester.

[Barbrella]

The testing kit is necessary. I have a feeling your tank is not cycled, which is why you're losing fish. The Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater testing kit (liquid) is your best bet. The test strips are not very accurate.

[Iluvatar]

I have a fifty gallon tank but not set up...yet

[steveangela1]

Originally Posted by Nethan

Thanks for the warm welcome..

Overstock?? But all are so tiny.. the biggest would be my red platy bout 1.5 inch & pleco bout 2 inch.
Thks for the tips.. will keep an eye on the platys.
Gee.. ! Thought i've seen the last of chemistry when I left high school.. Well, should get myself a set of freshwater tester.

Welcome to fishlore!! I agree w/ Shawnie about being overstocked,
The common plecos really do need a bigger tank, you should stick w/ the dwarf fancy plecos for a 50g tank. They are very nasty buggers, and put out alot of bioload into your tank.
Overstocking, even if your fish are tiny can cause your water chem to be way off, the fish produce far to much ammonia than the bacteria can put up w/. Which builds up in the tank and becomes toxic.

When you get a test kit the one that is the most accurate is the API Freshwater kit, it goes for about 15.99-19.99 depending on where you shop. I have had the same kit since Feb and use it at the least weekly and haven't run out of chem's yet, so it was worth it. The strips are innacurate, and you get only 30 to a pack.

You might also want to go to the front page of fishlore and read about the nitrogen cycle it explains how the ammonia is produced by the fish, turned into nitrites, etc..... It also helps you understand why when you change out all the filter media you can put your tank through another "cycle" or add a ton of new fish, overload your tank, etc.

[Nethan]

Originally Posted by Barbrella

The testing kit is necessary. I have a feeling your tank is not cycled, which is why you're losing fish. The Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater testing kit (liquid) is your best bet. The test strips are not very accurate.

Well, I felt mayb the cycle has started cause few of my neons went missing a week back and couldn't find them, this helps with starting off the cycle, right? Suspect mayb the amonia or nitrite level too high. Will try doing a 20% water change and also get myself a set of tester. thks alot for the tips.

[Nethan]

Originally Posted by steveangela1

Welcome to fishlore!! I agree w/ Shawnie about being overstocked,
The common plecos really do need a bigger tank, you should stick w/ the dwarf fancy plecos for a 50g tank. They are very nasty buggers, and put out alot of bioload into your tank.
Overstocking, even if your fish are tiny can cause your water chem to be way off, the fish produce far to much ammonia than the bacteria can put up w/. Which builds up in the tank and becomes toxic.

When you get a test kit the one that is the most accurate is the API Freshwater kit, it goes for about 15.99-19.99 depending on where you shop. I have had the same kit since Feb and use it at the least weekly and haven't run out of chem's yet, so it was worth it. The strips are innacurate, and you get only 30 to a pack.

You might also want to go to the front page of fishlore and read about the nitrogen cycle it explains how the ammonia is produced by the fish, turned into nitrites, etc..... It also helps you understand why when you change out all the filter media you can put your tank through another "cycle" or add a ton of new fish, overload your tank, etc.

Hi..There! Thks for the tips. Already did some study on water chemistry, never like chemistry during school.
Will surely get the tester and thanks for the tester tips.
What's the diff. between dwarf pleco & common pleco? Always thought the're all the same.. mine just 2 inch long. Last time when ever they get too big i would just change them for smaller once frm my regular shop.

[Shawnie]

when you count the bio load of a fish, it should be as the adult size not the size of them when they are babies...I have a tank thats overstocked as well...and I have to do daily water changes and make sure my readings are all up to par because of the overstocked...if you read the liknks others have shared, in no time u will see some things that most of us have not a clue about ....not saying you dont, just saying this site is amazing for having healthy happy fish

[Nethan]

Originally Posted by Shawnie

when you count the bio load of a fish, it should be as the adult size not the size of them when they are babies...I have a tank thats overstocked as well...and I have to do daily water changes and make sure my readings are all up to par because of the overstocked...if you read the liknks others have shared, in no time u will see some things that most of us have not a clue about ....not saying you dont, just saying this site is amazing for having healthy happy fish

Guess you're right too.
Wow.. daily water change? Gee..That's what I'm afraid of. I have never done any water change since I setup the tank few weeks back.. is that bad?

[Barbrella]

What's the diff. between dwarf pleco & common pleco?

Dwarf plecos grow about 5 " - 6" maximum. Commons can reach 3 times that size and are suitable only for very large aquariums.

It's better to get one or two that stay small than buy the commons and keep taking them back to the petstore when they get big. Their odds of ending up in a really good home are small.

If you have nitrites and/or ammonia showing, you must do water changes until both read zero. After that, you need to do at least a 25% water change each week.

[Nethan]

Ok Ok lets give a permenant home for 1 lucky Dwarft Pleco.
I really didn't know they even exist.