wizardfitz

we just got into fish
we set up a 10 gal to start. filled it, used gravel from an old tank(sister). let it sit 3 weeks to get the ammonia/nitrite cycle going. had the water tested(petsmart) told it was OK. Put in 8 fish, 2 frogs and 1 snail over 2 weeks. had the water tested today and told ammonia was dangerous. did a water change 25% yest b4 the water was tested and another 25% today at the advice of petsmart. any idea what could have caused the problem? we had a tetra whisper internal 10 gal filter, which we changed to a tetra whisper external ex 30.

platy ben

You added to many fish at one time.

CWO4GUNNER

Not using your own test kit to monitor chnages yourself slowly adding fish to give bacteria time to meet the new demand. Only question left now is are you treating the toxic ammonia laced water with a detoxifier to stop it from killing your fish off. 50% water chnages everyday with detoxifer every 24 hours religiously to make it to new balanced cycle.

Torez

the bio shock from to many fish? and welcome to fishlore

CWO4GUNNER

Oh yes and welcome . We can be a bit objective at times in our desire to help. Please don't get the wrong idea as most of us have made these same mistakes, but in the end learning about them and getting it right makes it all worth it when you have a balanced tank with healthy critters.

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore
As you know, the gravel from your sis's established tank would contain benefical bacteria, however the bacteria needs a source of ammonia to live and continue to grow.
Did you feed the tank for those 3 weeks? If not, the beneficial bacteria would have died off.

I agree, that it sound like too many fish were added at once. It's better to add a few fish at a time so the bacteria catches up with the bio-load.

See if you can get more gravel off your sis to seed the tank again. In the mean time 50% daily water changes and use Prime to detox the ammonia until your tank cycles.

Good luck.

Bubba the Gump

and definitely purchase your own testing supplies so you can stay on top of your water readings over the course of getting the tank back on track and in the future as well.

wizardfitz

thanks for the replies. i did change out the water at 25% intervals daily, and had the water tested.(i will have to get my own test kit). so even though i cycled the tank with no fish, since i waited to long the good bacteria died off. Got it.
since the post i have changed the filter to a bigger unit. i also have a 90 gal just started and a 38 hexagonal. the 10 seem to be doing okay, esp with the larger filter. i am over killing on the filter size because of seems posts i read where people have several filters in one tank

my next question is where in the tank, side or middle should the intake be for the best result.
the 10 has a tetra 40 gal filter, the 90 has a Fluval FX5 and the 38 has a fluval 405. as well as some air strips and heaters. our goal is to have the hex with a red tail shark, some australian rainbows. and in the 90 a pleco and maybe some loaches. which we will add a few at a time, now that we know.
thanks for all the help

Dozey

You also mentioned that you changed filters. Did you run both filters for a month or more? The majority of nitrifying bacteria seeds in you filter’s media. Changing the media (replacing filter) removes the bacteria.

catfishlover123

Well, good luck with your tank!

wizardfitz

when i switched out the filters i rinsed of the media into the tank. what i was going to do with the fluval 405 and fx5 was take 1/2 of the biomax from the 405 and put it in the fx5 and start the fx5 in the 90 gal and put the 405 into the 38 gallon
is this a bad plan? right now the 90 gal has 2 cory cat, 2 sharks and 3 rainbows, the 38 has no one in it yet

dennis

As far as i know you should run your old filter with the new one for at least 3-4 weeks so the new filter can collect some beneficial bacteria. this way you can avoid ammonia spikes and mini cycles.

agabr123

seconded