eaglescout316

So i've used the information on this site to do a fishless cycle on my first tank, a 29 gallon. Added 5 gold danios and a pleco this morning. Fed them (guessed wrong and fed too much, it's a learning process), and watched the danios dart all around the tank, and the pleco has just been squatting under some fake plants. Dropped a sinking algae wafer in near the pleco, it shows no interest but then i read that they're best fed at night.

I'm one of those people that is always afraid they did something wrong when it's their first time. After a few hours of high energy, all 5 danios have stopped swimming around and are hovering about half a foot away from the algae wafer and 4 inches off the gravel. They're grouped really close together. Is this somewhat normal for new fish to the aquarium? Of course i didn't expect 100% nonstop action, but it's such different behavior that i though i should check.

Thanks for your help,

Cory (no, seriously, that's really my name)

Alessa

Ok, the first thing you've got to do is to make sure the water parameters are all ok. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

if everything is within range (ammo 0, nitrite0, and some nitrate). then i would say they are just getting used to their new surroundings.

And... Welcome to fl!

Chief_waterchanger

Cory,

Danio are schooling fish and stick together because it makes them feel safer.

What kind of plecostomus did you get, do you know? The common plecostomus will out grow your tank in a year or two, just incase you didn't know that.

If you want an easier time of feeding your fish feed twice a day (morning and late afternoon/early evening) but feed VERY VERY tiny amounts. You will feel like you are under feeding the fish, but Danio's stomachs are about the size of one of their eyeballs, and the pleco grazes on microfauna in the tank and the wafers and pellets will get eatten primarily at night, you are correct.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Danio just hovering around periodically.


WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Hope to see you in many more of the conversations on the site. We always welcome newcomers.

PS: The only idiotic question is the ones left unasked; So do not sell yourself short. Your urge to learn and make sure you are doing things properly is a good thing.

Lucy

Hi Cory, welcome to Fish Lore

There aren't any idiot questions! It's always best to ask if you're not sure of something.

Your aquarium info says your tank is 7 days old. Did you use Tetra Safe Start (Bio-Spira) or seed the tank with used filter media?
That's the only way you'd get your cycle complete in 7 days.

What are your reading for ammonia nitrites and nitrates?

Sometimes it takes a while for your fish to get used to their tank, if your water readings are ok, I'd just give them time to adjust.

Danios are schooling fish, so they huddle together to feel safer.
You're correct about the pleco, he'll most likely feed at night.
What kind of pleco is it? Some can get really big, too big for a 29g.

Good luck, and post some pics of your set up soon.


Edit: geez, I type slow. lol (Hush clinton)

eaglescout316

Before i added the fish i had 0 on the ammonia, 0 on the nitrites, and a color just fainter than a 10 on the color chart for nitrates. I used bio-spira. I'm just starting graduate school and while i normally would've waited for the bacteria to grow the long way, it seemed like bio-spira was the way to speed things up before the busy first few days.

As far as what kind of pleco it is...i don't now the exact kind. Petco had it listed as "pleco (small)," and the salesman there said that it would be fine in a 29 gallon. They also had "pleco (medium)" and "pleco (large)" and the size of all three of them looked the same, so i made the assumption that the quantifiers were about end size. If it does outgrow the tank in a year or two, then i can deal with that. There'll be someone out of the entire campus of UPenn that wants a pleco. If not, there's a small fish store on campus, maybe they'll want one. When/if i have to get rid of the pleco, i'll get some of my namesakes instead.

Lucy

Since your water's ok, it sounds like your fish just need to get used to being in the tank. Give them plenty of plants and stuff to hide and feel safe in.

You could post a pic of your pleco, someone will be able to identify it for you.

jdhef

Okay Cory, since you are new to this let me ask you one question just to make sure you didn't get yourself in trouble.

Did you add your fish immediately after adding the BioSpira? When using BioSpira you need to add the fish right away so that the ammonia they produce feeds the bacteria. If you waited a few days, the bacteria in the BioSpira could have starved and died off and you could be going through a cycle now.

eaglescout316

In the meantime, fin nibbling. Got back from a trip to campus and the danios are active again, but they occasionally chase each other around. I didn't see actual nibbling and the fins don't look damaged (they're "long-finned"), and no specific fish is being an aggressor, so are there any tips for what to look for? Also, once it starts, is there any way to handle the situation? Especially if "everyone's doin' it," because if one was being particularly bad i could take it back (would Petco fight me on a fish return? Should i have kept the receipt?) but if all 5 are doing it i start to wonder if something else is going on.

Give me time, and i'll be answering questions not asking a barrage per post

jdhef

My Danio's chase each other around all the time. They don't seem to do any damage to one another, so I think it's just in their nature.

eaglescout316

Added the Bio-Spira and a capful of ammonia a couple of days ago. Tested the water frequently and when ammonia went down and nitrates went up (with nitrites staying 0), changed a good bit of water to bring the nitrates down and the fish were added within 2 hours.

I also have a bottle of Cycle handy, bought it with the fish.

eaglescout316

Outstanding! My younger sister has a 10 gallon tank and she's had a lot of trouble with fin nibbling so i was wary. She claims a Cory was big on it, which i found odd but she said she found dead, finless glofish until she got rid of the Cory and then they were fine.

Lucy

Cycle contains the wrong kind of bacteria. If you have't opened it, take it back.

eaglescout316

What's the difference that makes it the wrong kind? Since i did in fact open it, i guess i should find out what it's actually used for haha.

Angela_96

If you want a pleco for that size tank I would go for a bushy nose pleco they go great in a 29-30g tank. They are only like 4 inches at their longest size. But I would def wait until this cycle is completed. The pleco you have will outgrow the tank.

That is a common newbie mistake, my first pleco was a common pleco that I put in a 10g tank, the fishstore salesperson told me that it would be okay..

jdhef

The bacteria in cycle is not self sustaining and starves out the bacteria that is self sustaining, so you need to add it on a regular basis for the life of the tank.

Have you tested your water lately? Are you using strips (not accurate) or a liquid test kit (prefered).

Angela_96

I agree, the API test kits are the best, and honestly a test kit last you a lot longer than the test strips making them a better deal on your pocket. I had a api test kit last me around 4 months and I am ocd when it comes to testing my water in my tanks. Right now Foster and Smith has a deal on the kits they are 15 something for them.
That is def one investment with fishkeeping that I am glad I made.

eaglescout316

Liquid kit, API master freshwater. I just tested it and nitrite is the same, nitrate's reading the same, ammonia's gone up to .25. Can't help but think i screwed up . Just read somewhere that bio-spira should be refrigerated, mine was left in a hot car so i probably killed off the buggers. Instead of completing the cycle, i probably saw the beginning and thought it was over.

Live and learn, this mistake won't happen again, that's for sure. Any tips on helping my fish survive this?

Chief_waterchanger

Daily 50% waterchanges. (And test your tap water once just to be sure there is not currently ammonia in your tap water. )

eaglescout316

Tested my water when i initially filled the tank, straight out of the tap and before the filter was turned on for the first time, i had an ammonia level of .25.

Possibly another wasted purchase, i bought AmQuel+ which claims to remove nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chlorine, and chloramines. I've been using AquaSafe for my tap treatment, should i use AmQuel+ as well because of the tap's ammonia? Or is AmQuel+ another no-no that will be sitting on my shelf?

Lucy

I've never used AmQuel, but I've heard good things about it.

eaglescout316

Praise the Lord i may have got one right

Lucy

There's so much stuff out there, it's hard to know what works and what doesn't.

You might want to wait to see if someone sees this whose used it, since I really don't have first hand experience with it.

That's what makes Fish Lore so nice. The members give you first hand experience, no one's here to make money off you. lol

eaglescout316

Just an update. I found a local fish store (as in, not affiliated with a big chain) and gave them the pleco. I said going into the hobby that i wasn't going to name the fish because while i don't intend to have them die i figure i'll have more deaths at the beginning of the hobby than i'd like. It's one thing to say, ", i lost a fish" but there's more of a feeling of attachment when you say "oh no, Steve's dead."

When i described the pleco to my girlfriend and explained that i might have to get rid of it, she STILL went and said "it's name can be Ninja since it hides so well." Sure enough, when i found the store and they said they'd take it off my hands and had smaller species for sale, it sucked a lot more bagging Ninja and taking it away. Certainly a lot more than if i just had to get that darned common pleco out of the tank!

So at the store i got a rubbernose pleco (biggest i've heard of them getting to is 6 inches, with the average around three and a half) and a bottle of SafeStart that i just poured into the tank. I did want to thank you all for the advice on the pleco, because while i was at the store i said i bought the common one because the guy at petco said it would be fine, and the man at the independent store said "look behind you" and i saw some half grown commons. Holy. .

Lucy

I'm sorry, but they way you put that was funny.
Losing a fish is, of course, not funny.

Common pleco get huge don't they?
I'm sorry you had to take him back, but it was best for him.

eaglescout316

No worries, i put it in a funny way so people could laugh at it!