Lucy

I'd really appreciate some input here.
Here is my original post:
Neons & Serpaes
I've included it because of the way my neons were acting towards each other.
I didn't have a test kit, so I was taking a water sample to a fish store weekly until they said it was ok to add fish.
On Dec. 30th, my 5 neons started to look really bad so I consulted with the fish store and they had me treat the tank with Fungas Eliminator. I also bought my own API test kit.

Here are the results:
12/30/07:
Ammonia: 0
PH: 7.6
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

1/5/08:
Ammonia: 0
PH: 7.6
Nitrite: 0-0.25 (It was hard to tell which)
Nitrate: 10

1/12/08:
Ammonia: 0
PH: 7.6
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

I did partial water changes after each testing.
Between the 2nd and last test, I lost 2 neons. , the other 3 are much better and the 2 serpae were never effected. Everyone seems very happy and content once again.

1) Is my tank really cycled now and is the nitrate level ok?

2) Could the 2 neons I added last been sick when i bought them effecting the behavior and health of the other 3?

Thanks to everyone who has helped me. I feel so dumb.

MissMTS

Hi! In order for your tank to be fully cycled, the ammonia and nitrites must remain consistantly at zero. It is hard to say whether or not your tank is fully cycled unless you have the test results written down from when the store tested your water. Usually the cycling process goes as follows: ammonia build up, then nitrite levels rise, ammonia levels drop to zero, then nitrite levels drop to zero, and nitrates will be present in your aquarium. I would just keep doing periodic tests and monitoring it to make sure that everything stays stable.

angelfish220

1 yes I would say that your tank is cycled. The only thing to be concered is your nitrates should be below 10. The only way to get nitrates out of your water is to do water changes so I would add an extra water change.

2 They may have been sick. they just might have been argueing you never know!

COBettaCouple

Your tank looks ok and neons, like so many fish at the stores now, can be sickly.

Blub

Lucy

Sounds like high school.
I wondered about that, since your only supposed add a few fish at a time. I seem to have 1 bully am hoping adding a couple more neon would help, but after losing 2, I'm kind of gun shy.

COBettaCouple

You could try an 'attitude adjustment'. Remove the bully to a mostly covered container and acclimate the new fish. Allow them to swim around for a little while, then acclimate the bully back into the tank. Also, rearrange the decor some while the bully is in his time-out. Sometimes this helps a bully lose the alpha position.

Lucy

Thanks! I'll try that.