hopesmom

It is so big compared to my 20g! I couldn't find Bio Spira here so I used another brand of refrigerated stuff called Turbo Start, Has anyone used it? It claims to cycle your tank in 5 days...tommorrow my tank will be 1 week old, and when I check the parameters today it was ammonia 1.0
nitrites .50
nitrates 5.0
Does this seem right to you guys?
I have done 2 water changes (about 30 % each time, and will do another tonight if you think it will help)
The fish in there are: 4 small black skirts
1 red platy
1 Australian rainbow
and 2 silver-tip tetras
They all seem happy except for the platy who hides most of the time, near the top corner by one of the heaters.
Any thoughts about Turbo Start, my parameters, or anything else I would appreciate very much!
sorry so long a post! I've been gone a while!
Denise

hopesmom

did 50% water change yesterday, checked my parameters and they are the same. changed the water again tonight and found 1 dead black skirt tetra.*
is that how I have readings on all 3 (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) at the same time?
I think I was sold a bottle of junk. The lfs claimed it was exactly like Bio Spira. Now I have killed 1 fish already. Feeling bad...
Denise

Lucy_kk

I have stuff like bio-spira but it is by tetrafin and it is awesome, it has bacteria in it and you have to keep it in the fridge but it is fantastic, you can basically add fish straight away. Its not even too expensive.
Im sorry to hear abour your black skirt, although when i had problems adding too many fish a while ago (without the tetra fin stuff) i found that my tetras were the first to go, i think they are just very sensitive.
Hang in there!

hopesmom

thanks lucy! I checked the parameters again today and they are Still all the same! this is after doing 50% water changes everyday, and using a whole bottle of Turbo Start. Can't add these fish to my 20g as it is overstocked already...that's why I got the 90g - and why I'm so anxious for the 90g to cycle. anyways, I do thank you for your support... will see about tetrafin product...
thanks!
Denise

0morrokh

As far as I know Bio Spira is the only product that actually 'works'. It actually contains the bacteria that is responsible for the nitrogen cycle, so the tank is cycled instantly. Other products may speed up the cycle, but they are generally considered a waste of money.
Sorry about your loss, I hope you don't lose any more fish.
The Platy may be hiding because he is lonely. Try getting him a few friends (once the tank is cycled of course). Also the tetras should be kept in groups of six. Maybe you know this already and are planning to get more later, I just wanted to make sure. They will be happier in a nice big shoal.
I know how you feel about tanks taking so long to cycle, hope yours finishes up soon.

hopesmom

hi Omorrokh! the platy has begun to venture out more... will it be happy with a red wag platy or does it have to be a "mickey mouse platy" just like him?? (I was planning on moving the red wag I already had in my 20g over to the 90g when it was cycled).
I also have 3 black skirts in my other tank that I'll move in with the 3 that are left in the 90g, so they should definitely be happier - if they survive this cycle, that is!
Denise

0morrokh

Since they are the same species, the Platys shouldn't care about color. I'm assuming these are both females, right?

hopesmom

well..I'm not sure...but I think the wag is a male and the mickey mouse is a female...guess I'd better look for pics on the net to make sure...from the descriptions I've read, I think I'm right...

Denise

boff

Sorry i haven't got back to you sooner .I use Nutrafin cycle and have no problems .Ive never seen bio Spira ,what i cant under stand is how can it cycle your tank instantly,how much do you have to use then .Have you only got 1 Rainbow because they love to be in groups of at least 4 and 6 would be better, you could have that many in your tank ,and you can mix different types of them they all seem to get on. Have a look at this link http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Glossolepis.htm there are so many nice fish .By the way i got some of those Blue rams they are only young at the moment and a bit shy ,but i will take some pics soon to show every one

hopesmom

hi boff! yes, I only have the one rainbow so far...am waiting for the tank to finish cycling to get more. I love rainbows! so many beauties to choose from, it is hard to decide. The color on mine is so faded, I know he or she must be unhappy...but it gets along with the platy and tetras just fine...very nice fish. I also like the look of blue rams. Do they like to school too? What do you feed your rainbows? I've forgotten, do you have live plants? I only have fake atm. Have you ever had any cichlids in a tank with rainbows? if so, did they get along? Thanks for your help!

Denise

boff

Hi Denise ,yes there are so many nice looking Rainbows but not many people seem to keep them, i think its because as young fish they look abit drab ,but when they grow up they are stunning .You were saying about your Rainbow looking pale ,it might be your water quality at the moment ,if its not to good the colour can look washed out .My Boesmans in the morning when i turn on the light in tank are purple but they soon change to there normal blueish colour ,and they change colour depending on what mood they are in like if they are flirting with another one so, i would not be to concerned at the moment. The Rams dint school they like there own little places and defend it ,the males are territorial so if you get some buy 1 male -2 or 3 females or 2 females because the females are not territorial,but will fight to work out the top fish but they wont hurt each other ,when i got my 2 the bloke in my LFS said i had 2 females but i have found out that 1 is male so i will go and get another female. I feed my rainbows lots of live food when i can get they do love brine shrimp , mosquito larva which i get from the water butts in the garden ,they will eat any thing live they chase flys that land on the glass which is funny to watch also frozen bloodworm good quality flake and sinking pellets .My plants are silk ones but it does not matter real or fake they dint care .Ive never had cichlids in with them until now ,i chose the Rams because of there size and temperament because cichlids seem to be abit aggressive and will eat smaller fish and i don't want to up set the balance in the tank.Sorry to go on ,good luck with your tank and if you need any help please ask ,all the best boff

0morrokh

Platys need to be kept in trios--1 male and 2 females. The males love chasing and bothering and pestering the females, so you need two females to divide his attention or he will not stop bugging the one female.
Unless you plan to just let all the fry get eaten (and a few ones will probably survive anyway), I would not mix Platys of different colors. If you are going to breed, at least try to breed a certain color strain.
There is a post at the top of the breeding section called "sexing livebearers", check that out to make sure you are correct about your Platys.

hopesmom

well early Fri morning the 90g started leaking all over the place. big mess. my boyfriend and I did the bucket brigade until the water level was low enough to get the python hooked up to syphon out into the sink instead of the livingroom carpet. Then he ran my daughter to school and on to Walmart to pick up a 55g (biggest they had), while I started moving the fish into my already overpopulated 20g. Set up the 55g with the gravel, rocks, plants and filter media from the 90g. Put the pleco, the cherry barbs, the platies, and the african dwarf frog in the 55g because they are still healthy. everyone else went in the 20g. It is cycled. The 55g of course is not. 2 tetras died over the last 2 days. I have a bunch of disease ?? so I'll start a new thread in that section of the forum. Been a very rough couple of days for my fishies (and me!)...
Denise

boff

Ime sorry to hear about your tank and your fish .Was the 90 gallon a new tank then, if so you can take it back .

hopesmom

no it was used, and evidently we didn't get all the seals good...I can't believe it sat in our driveway full of water for days, and then when we finally bring it in and set it up it didn't even last 2 weeks! Back to the drawing board on that tank. lol :

I found which rainbow I have... it is a melanotaenia goldiei, and the orangey dented spot behind both eyes is normal. Thank God!
I will get him/her some mates. Do you know if rainbows will eat African Dwarf frogs?

thanks! Denise

boff

That bad news,leave it a couple of days think its fine then oh no wet carpet. Your rainbow looks nice can your LFS get any more for you when your tank has cycled ,if not it will school with any other rainbows.My mums got some Neon rainbows melanotaenia praecox which are a nice looking fish.

I did have a dwarf Congo green frog for about 6 months with the rainbows and they took no notice of it at all,but sadly it died last month but nothing to do with the fish .My rams are starting to come out of hiding now they have got used to the tank,but still very difficult to take a good picture of them this is about the best at the moment but this picture does not do it justice . Good luck with your new tank Mark

Attached Images

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hopesmom

thanks, Mark. yes, they will get more mates for my rainbow, but yours is very pretty! Thank you for letting me know about your frog..I really want to move the rainbow to the big tank asap as the 20g is cram full of tetras atm! Kermit (my adf) will be safe to stay where he is then.
We were thinking about tearing out the carpet and having stained concrete floors. Now the carpet is really gross, so it looks like it is time to decide what we are gonna do!
Denise

boff

The stained concrete idea sounds good and put a big rug in the middle if you know what i mean ,but the concrete will be cold in winter or do you live in the south .Have you found any bio spira yet . Could you take your fish to your Lfs for a bit until the new tank is ready thats what my LFS will do, just an idea cheers mark