catersun

Sooo. I responded to an ad for a free small tank with three fish. It was in need of a cleaning.

*snork*

The tank is a 12 gal JBJ nano cube.

THe light hasn't been working in a few weeks.

Well lets just start with when I tested the nitrates after 4, 40% water changes.... IN A ROW. They were still OVER 200. I scraped out SOOOO MUCH Algae, it was not funny. I honestly have NO idea how these fish are still alive. One is a bumblebee catfish, and two I have NO clue what they are. They both have VERY long flowing fins and tails.

Ug... I really have no idea where to start.

I'm trying to get the water quality to a better place.

THen Lights, and Pictures so ya'll can help me figure out what the hec kind of fish I now have. They MAY be african butterfly fish, but not likely.

Any words of wisdom?

0morrokh

That's absolutely pathetic. The first thing I'd do is go knock some sense into the idiot who gave you the tank.

Be careful not to change too much of the water at once for fear of shocking the fish. They have gotten used to high nitrate levels so you'll have to lower them slowly. Since I've never been in a similar situation I'm not sure what to recomment, maybe a couple partial water changes each day. Honestly though don't rush it...at this point the fish are adjusted to high nitrates so they're more likely to die from shock from going from high nitrates to low.

It may be better to leave in the algae for now. The algae is consuming some of the nitrates so I'd let it help the water quality for now.

What kind of test kit are you using? 200 ppm after 4 40% pwc's...that just doesn't seem possible.... Okay I just did the math and if I'm correct, after 4 40% changes only 13% of the original nitrate should be left in the tank.

Mike

I fixed the title of this thread for you - please watch the language when posting.
Thanks,
Mike

COBettaCouple

I'd definitely be treating the water with Prime. What are the ammonia and nitrites readings?

catersun

Sorry Mike... was just trying to catch people's attention.

At least the people who gave me the tank realized that it wasn't fair to the fish and gave it away... they could have really been miserable and just let the fish die.

I was only using quick dip sticks it was reading almost no nitrites. It seems to be well cycled. I plan on getting a set of tests with the API kit today. I have well water, so no need for prime. And if anyone recalls I have naturally hi PH from my well water... at least the tank was from the same area and well water, so I don't have to worry about them not being accustom to the ph.

I will be makeing a trip to the LFS that carries parts for this aquarium line. The fish guy there was kind enough to make a copy of the operations flyer so I could get a good idea what what suppose to be where in the filter. I pulled the filter sponge out, and it was COVERED and SATURATED in brown sludge. Made the tank, NASTY dirty, I eneded up doing another partial change after I pulled the sponge and rinsed it out really well. I'm also going to pick up some live plants for the tank.

I'm a fish meanie, I took all of their fake plants out and little decorations cause they were in the way of cleaning the tank well and covered in black algae. I have been able to get a good look at the bumblebee.... he is about2-1/2 maybe 3 inches long. has little white dots all over him.... I was really hoping they were air bubbles, but I really doubt I"m that lucky. Pictures as soon as I get the light.

The tank did not have a heater on it when I got it, so I've added one and raised the temp to around 80. (in the event that the bumblebee is sick if I find otherwise, I'll back it down.)

Anyone have any ideas how to get THICK algae off aquarium gravel? Adding a cory is NOT an option at this time.

If I could, I"d just move the fish to a different tank for the time being, but I don't think my cichlids would share well, and Zigmeister's tank is so dramaticlly different in PH I'm afraid it would kill them.

Butterfly

I wouldn't worry over much about the algae at this point. As was stated earlier it is actually doing you a favor by using up some of the Nitrates. Gravel vacuums and daily partial water changes will gradually(easy does it on the changes) get the water parameters where you want them then you can work on how the tank looks.
It does sound like the catfish may have a case of Ich. Raising the temp to 82 - 85F for 14 days and doing daily partial water changes will see the Ich gone. Feed the fish sparingly for a bit so they aren't adding a lot of waste back to the tank.
Liquid water test materials are more accurate than the strips so as soon as you can you might want to get some. If you take the water to the LFS and ask them to test the water make sure they give you the numerical readings instead of just them saying "oh it's ok".
Now we are awaiting pics of the other fish with baited breath to help you figure out what they are.
And by the way, good for you for taking this job on. The fish will really appreciate it.
Carol

catersun

API results

PH 8.0
Ammonia 1.0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20

I'm thinking we may be going thru a mini cycle after I went a little crazy on the cleaning. I'm floating a spare filter from my established tank for good bacteria.

Butterfly

Good job!! The Ammonia is the only thing out of range. Time and continued partial water changes will take care of that. Live plants will eat the Nitrates up.
Do continue to keep the temps up and continue the water changes(warmer water has less oxygen in it) to get rid of the ich.
Carol

catersun

Carol... since warmer has less oxygen, should I add an air pump with an airstone. (I've got a few spares laying around)

Butterfly

An airstone won't hurt and they might enjoy one. The airstone it's self won't add much oxygen but the surface movement will help absorb more oxygen from the environment. Good thinking. It would probably extend water changes during this time of raised temps to about every third or fourth day instead of every other day.
Carol

0morrokh

Glad to hear the nitrates are down to a more reasonable level (though I have a feeling the dipsticks weren't giving the most accurate readings).

It would be a good idea to use Prime even though you're on well water. Ammonia is very toxic to fish and the Prime will detox it (but the filter bacteria can still "eat" it, so it doesn't affect the cycle).

COBettaCouple

It might not hurt to add Ich-Attack if you wanted to.

catersun

Well.. the tank is starting to look better.

As of this evening the ammonia was down to .5.

I added a charcol filter and some porous filter media.

Still floating the filter from the cycled tank. couple of small plants, and added back the tree stump hideyhole for the bumblebee. He was happy to find it returned.

His white spots are gone today, so perhaps it was just some bubbles on him last night. Everyone is doing well. Water is clearing up.

Had to order a bulb for the tank as none of the local LFS had any.

I'd LOVE to add a bunch more plants to use up those nitrates, but I don't want to put anymore in until I have the light for them.


I think I'm just going to stick with the temp spike for 14 days, I haven't had just great luck with medicating tanks.

catersun

ok... the light bulb still hasn't arrived... GRR USPS....

Anyhew... I have Blue, Long fin, Zebra , Danios



they have the longest common name on EARTH lol j/k.

Anyhew... it's good to know what they are.... they grow to be 1.5 inches... anyone care to wager how many could safely be sustained in a 12gal tank? currently there are two, but the info I read suggests a minimium of 5. There is also a pleco being temp housed in there and a regular resident bumblebee cat. The pleco may go to zig's second tank... or not... haven't decided yet. He may just grow out and try those rotten cichlids again, or the new 40gal that is coming in feb.

0morrokh

Good to hear the tank and fish are doing better.

I'd keep 6 zebra danios in a 12 gal, which doesn't leave room for any other fish in there.

COBettaCouple

yea, 6 or 7 would be cool.