jrizzo

I don't know where to start with the mistakes I have made thus far. Let me start by saying that I live at least an hour from a pet store that sells fish and a store that sells only fish. So, on Saturday evening we went to Wal-Mart. The tanks there were clean and the fish appeared healthy. However, there was not anyone who knew anything about aquariums. I was thinking about a beta fish. I ended up getting a 10 gallon aquarium with everything to set it up and some fish. I got 6 Mollies, 4 black phantom tetras, and 5 red eye tetras. I did not realize all the issues with cycling a tank until after I had set up the tank. Right now, I have a foul smell coming from the tank. The tank is also really cloudy. I think I was overfeeding the fish. Is it also overstocked? I have lost 3 fish already. This morning I did a 50% water change and then a 25% water change. I left for a little while and came home and the tank was smelling really bad, so I did another 25% change. When I do the changes, I have been using a gravel vaccuum. I have also used Nitroban in it. The pH level is 6.2 right now. I have not purchased an amonia test kit due to the fact that I have not been able to find one yet ( I may end up buying one on-line). I don't know how often I am able to change the water and still allow the tank to cycle. The fish seem okay right now, however they are hovering at the top of the tank. Any suggestions you have would be welcome. Thanks for your help.

finmama

You probably have very high ammonia in the tank. Take the fish back!! or they will all probably die. Get a master test kit too.

Firecracker

OK I'm a beginner too but that's WAY overstocked. 1" of fish per gallon of water is the typical rule, with more conservative folks recommending half that.

I'll let the smarter folk help you out with saving your fish. Good luck.

angelfish220

a nice 30 gall would fit your fishys nicely

jrizzo

I realize that I need a bigger tank, but what do I do in the meantime? I should be able to get one soon, but is it best to take the fish back or just keep doing the water changes until I can get another one cycled.

sirdarksol

I would take the fish back, personally. None of those fish are super-hardy, and aren't terribly likely to survive going through the cycle in such a small tank.
If it were me, I would figure out precisely what I wanted, get into contact with the fish store you mentioned, make sure they'll have what I want in stock, and set up a time to pick the fish up, after the tank has cycled. Bring along a cooler of some sort (even just a cheap styrofoam one is fine). If I could get some packing peanuts, that's an added benefit. They'll help cushion the fish.
Of course, I don't know if you have your own means of transport, or someone who'd be willing to drive you around for two hours just to pick up some fish.

Edit:
Oh, yeah, and Welcome to Fishlore.

jrizzo

Thanks for the help. I definitely have my own means of transportation, the biggest issue is that I have a 2 year old son and it can be hard to find the time to drive. I am really into the fish, I didn't realize how cool they were. I don't mind the drive. The cooler idea is a good one. Now that I have had fish in my tank, what do I do to finish the cycle? Do I have to do anything or will it finish on it's own if there are not any fish in it? Thanks for the help.

sgould

There has to be a constant source of ammonia in the tank to feed the process, or the cycle will stall, the bacteria will die off, and you are back to square one. If you can get the fish out of the tank, you can continue the cycle without them by either A) adding a pinch of flake food every 12 hours (messy), B) adding a piece of raw shrimp and leaving it, or C) adding several drops of pure (no surfactants, etc) ammonia daily. You can find ammonia at hardware stores typically.

COBettaCouple

That smell is ammonia. I'm glad you're taking the fish back. You'll be able to cycle your tank faster without fish in it and easier.

Adding aeration to the tank during cycling and turning the heater to maximum will encourage the bacteria to grow and colonize a little faster. Every bit helps.

Blub

mirciulie

Don't wanna sound stupid, but do you have a filter? I didn't read anywhere what kind or if you have one. Maybe I just missed it.

I don't know if you need a filter for cycling the tank (I'm a newbie also ) but you'll have to get one for when you put the fish in.

Ntruder1400

The filter is good to have when cycling for the simple fact that most filters have a place for bacteria to grow. Most HOB filters have at least 2 "cartridges" - one that does the filtration that needs to be changed every so often, and another one that allows a place for the bacteria to grow that never gets changed.

Narcicius

I'm glad you came here, I hope all the fish live, nad you get cycling as soon as possible.

Firecracker

OK I have a question about this. My tank is in the latter stages of cycling (Ammonia at zero, nitrites/nitrates high but dropping) and I have only one filter in there but there are slots for two. My fiance thought it needed to be changed so he tossed the filter that was in it. I didn't put a new one in because I thought I had read that a new carbon filter would filter out the bacteria that we are trying to get to grow.

Did he set back the cycling process?

Should I put a new filter back in?

Should I put one or two back in if I do?

Should one or both of them be carbon filters or something else?

Thanks!

Faye Rod

Read my thread "Carbon Filter Removal." There is info there on ordering filter floss to put in the place where the carbon filter was. Was your smell the old filters?

Firecracker

Nope, didn't smell it. Kris was just looking at the recommended filter changes listed on the package, and didn't know it might be different for a new/cycling tank.

COBettaCouple

You need a filter. An aquarium is a closed system and a filter helps keep that system healthy. There's various types of filters, but we prefer HOB (hang on back) filters. They GREATLY help with cycling since a major home for good bacteria is the filter media, especially the filter sponge.

Faye Rod

So - I'm new to this but will repeat some of what I've learned on Fishlore - not what the fish store people have told me. It's best to use only a water conditioner while cycling - something like Prime or Aquasafe - to treat the water you add when doing water changes. Nitriban (which I have) will slow the process -it's best to test, do water changes, and test some more when there are fish in the tank! Without fish I'm not sure how many water changes you do until your test show 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 10-20 nitrate. I'm waiting for that day!!!