Michelle Hill

I bought a new molly today, its my first one i've literally only started my aquarium today. I've put 6 fish in 2 guppies, 1 molly, 2 neon tetras & 1 gourami. The rest of the fish are swimming abot ok, but the molly has just stayed in the top corner and won't move, is this okay? Can anyone help please.

pepetj

Hi Michelle, welcome to Fishlore.

In your aquarium info you answered NO to the nitrogen cycle question. Your tank is one day old and has some fish in it. Your tank is not cycled. You need it to be so life is sustainable there. Uneaten fish food and fish poo will decompose and introduce ammonia in your water. There is a type of bacteria that once settled in your tank will brake down ammonia into nitrites; later on another type of bacteria will brake down nitrites into nitrates. This is the nitrogen cycle.

Since you have fish already in your tank you are forced to do a cycle with fish. That means one thing only: You will need to do daily partial water changes (say 50%) so your fishies can survive the toxicity of ammonia and nitrites which are quite harmful and could be lethal to your fish. Nitrates are less toxic and all cycled tanks keep them in low numbers by weekly partial water changes (say 20%).

You need to purchase a liquid reagents based freshwater aquarium test kit that measures pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Each tank is different but usually it takes some weeks to complete a cycle with fish.

If you can return your fish to the store, then you have the choice of going with a fishless cycle, will shall take you only a couple of weeks.

Check this link for info on the nitrogen cycle:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Michelle Hill

Hi Pepe, the cycle is complete I was up in the petshop today and was given Orangic Aqua start up kit, the shop assistant advised the tank would be ready in minutes when I put the items in. the molly seems to be swimming around now, i just think he likes that corner . I've tested the water too for Nitrides a few minutes ago it is clear. Thank you for your information.

pepetj

Ok, so you are covered as for ammonia and nitrite toxicity. Maybe your Molly is getting familiar with the new environment and claimed that corner?

I am not familiar with that product, but I hope it has the right type of bacteria so you don't need to keep adding them (same that happens with Cycle) to keep your tank cycled.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Michelle Hill

According to the shop assistant it was only once I needed to do it, I will not need to do it again only if i am doing a total water change.

Thanks for you help

Michelle
Ireland

sirdarksol

Did a bit of quick research, and it seems that Organic Aqua is comparable to Tetra SafeStart, so you're probably good on the cycle. I'd still suggest testing for Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates after a week, just to make sure your tank has cycled.

Welcome to Fishlore!

Michelle Hill

Hi Sirdarsol,

Thank you for your advice, I will do a check after a week or even maybe in a few days for Ammonia Nitrites and Nitrates and hopefully all will be well.

Michelle
Ireland

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!

ive never heard of that product either but hopefully its like safestart....some prime water conditioner will help alot if your fishies are still larthargic as it will still make the ammonia available for the cycle process but neutralize it for the fishies health...goodluck!

jdhef

If you check your water in less that 7 days after adding, you may find scary readings, so I would just wait the one full week. But you may find after 7 days that your tank didn't cycle fully. If that is the case, you'll need to do daily 50% water changes for a few days until it does.

I cycled one tank with BioSpira (the old formulation of SafeStart) with pretty good results. I just had slightly elevated nitrites after 7 days. I did 50% water changes for 3 or 4 days and I finally cycled completley.

On a second tank I used Dr. Tim's One and Only. It supposedly works just like SafeStart, but after 7 days I had ammonia and nitite readings...so more water changes.

Shawnie

be very interesting to know how that product works...far as I knew, and and experienced, bio spira and safestart were the only two real live bacteria...ill be watching this

Michelle Hill

Thanks Shawnie, i put conditioner in the water last night, so hopefully all will be good. All the other fish seem happy enough, the molly will have a swim around and go back to the corner so maybe it is a bit out of source.

thanks for the Reply

Michelle
Ireland

Michelle Hill

Hi Jdhef,

Okay so I will wait a week to test it & hopefully it will give me a good reading.

Thanks for the advice

Michelle
Ireland

sirdarksol

This product appears to be something from "across the pond," which may be why we haven't heard about it.

Shawnie

just remember one good thing about fishkeeping, your fish stores most always dont give good info..they give info to sell things...so do alot of your own research and dont trust what they say just because they say it ...

Michelle Hill

mmm OK Shawnie I will keep that in mind in future, oh I do hope it was good info he gave me instead of a spin off for a sale, fingers crossed hey, I will keep u posted how things go with the fishies

Michelle
Ireland

Shawnie

ill keep mine crossed also..be nice info to know if there is something avail for you all that works!

Michelle Hill

thanks Shawnie

pepetj

Is your Molly doing ok?

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Michelle Hill

Hi Pepe,

yes the molly is doing fine, it swims around for a while and then goes back up into the corner?? Also is it true you cannot keep Angelfish with guppies?

Michelle
Ireland