tommy b

heres my tank ive just got im quite new to all this but will soon learn with abit of help tell me what you think cheers tom.

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Darlene

Beautiful tank! Did you cycle the tank before adding your fish?

tommy b

i let the tank cycle for about 2 days with no fish in.

Darlene

Unless you seeded it with some gravel or filiter mud or media from another tank you probably have Ammonia and Nitrites that are toxic for your fish. I did the same thing and we had about 13 of our fish die in the process, we didn't know better until we found this website, quite a few people have done the same thing in the past. It is best for your fish if you cycle it until your readings with a test kit ( a lot on here use the API master test kit) are Ammonia and Nitrites are 0ppm and your Nitrate is 20 and under ppm, it may be ok up to 40 ppm for Nitrates. Until you have those readings it is best for your fish to do a big water change daily, about 50% is what we did, and add Prime for your water conditioner. Prime will lock down the Ammonia and Nitrites for 24 hours. I hope this isn't too confusing. Good luck.

Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.

Allie

If it is a brand new set up, it should cycle for a month before adding fish, unless you plan on doing daily water changes. If you are using gravel, filter media and decor from another tank it will cycle faster.
Looks nice tho.

tommy b

this tank wasnt brand new i bought it off a friend but i bought the fish from the shop

Allie

WELL 5 days is still too soon to add fish.

tommy b

my fish seem to be happy and heathly and i have treated the water the only thing worrying me is there is some snails in there.

Allie

If snails are in there than it's a good sign. Remember it's only been 5 days...and it take at least month for fish to show any signs of being ill. QT tank is a must for community tanks.

tommy b

What do the snails do and what causes them also what is a QT tank, is that another name for a seperate tank for sick fish?

Allie

Quarantine tank is a tank to put fish in when you buy them from lfs store to make sure they are healthy enough to be in with the other fish.
I am no beginner and I made a huge mistake not quarantining some keyhole cichlids I got in February, put them in with my other fish...use plants from the tank they were in and spread a rare but nasty parasite called camallanus worms. We've lost alot of fish here. It can spread thru a drop of water and it's bad.
Here's my dilemma
My experience with Camallanus worms

tommy b

wow, that does sound bad, your poor fish, by your pictures though you do keep some beautiful fish, so good to find this website, so much to learn from it, would have been nice to find before i got my fish going to do my best to keep a healty tank and learn as much as i can about keeping fish by reading on this site there is alot more to it than friends and other sites make out.

Allie

Thanks. This site is full of info on all fish, the members seem to have the most knowledge. Someone here can always answer your questions and not make you feel dumb for making mistakes.

tommy b

Thanx, does any one have any suggestions as to how i can make the most of my tank for example the decoration and the best things for kepping my fish happy and amused lol.
i have
guppys
mollies
platys
neons
silver sharks
loaches
and clown loaches
aslo spotted a few babies, very suprised at those and hoping they last, they are quite big lol

Allie

Why don't you make another post so people with see your question. New questions seem to get answered fast around here...so try that.

Shawnie

great looking tank! I love the deco...it looks fun and mysterious.....but I think before changing things or adding things, the cycle is the most important..have you tested for ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates yet?? because I agree with others, that tank isnt cycled in 5 days without some help ...it almost looks like it has the new bacteria bloom look....so getting through the cycle with daily water changes will be your first goal...

tommy b

what is the new bacteria bloom?

rifter098

the water gets cloudy...almost looks like someone poured milk into the water...but it doesnt bother the fish