-pinky-

Today i bought three neons and three glowlights for my 30litre biOrb. I know that when you first put them in, they are shy and hide behind plants, but mine don't do that, they're doing something else. Both the neaons and the glowlights stay right at the bottom of the tank, and occasionally, sort of nudge the glass with their noses. They also, never go into the rock cave or hide in the plants. The neons are always in groups, but the glowlights like to wander...

Is all of this normal, or what?

__________________________________

When life gives you lemons, go buy some apples

x bettaluver x

-pinky-

sorry, i meant neons, not neaons in that third sentence!

Lucy

It could be they just need to get used to their new tank.

Is the tank cycled? If so, what are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?
How did you acclimate them to your tank?

If they seem to be breathing ok, I'd just watch them for now.

Just checked your aquarium info....there's a betta in there too?

-pinky-

There isn't a betta in yet, but i put that on my tank info cos i'm getting a betta next week, and i knew i'd forget to add it!....i think their breathing is normal, but its hard to tell because they keep swimming to right at the bottom of the tank...

I cycled the tank for a week, and added some flake food after about 3 days so the filter got some practice. I havn't measured the ammonia, nitrite or nitrates yet, but next week i'm taking a sample to the fish store to get it tested. When i first put them in, i let the bag float in the water for a few minutes and gradually let the tank water and bag water mix, then finally, i let the fish swim out....

I've noticed something else too, one of the glowlights is always away from the rest of the group.

x bettaluver x

Lucy

The tank is a week old? I'm afraid it's not cycled and the food that was added only contributed to creating ammonia at this point.
It would be a good idea to have your water tested soon, better yet, get your own test kit. The API master kit is a very reliable one

You should do a water change now and continue that daily until your tank cycles. It can take up to a month to fully cycle. Readings should be 0 for ammonia 0 nitrites with some nitrates showing. Using Prime as your water conditioner will detoxify the ammonia for 24hrs between changes.

Your tank is fully stocked, over stocked, really, please don't add any more fish to the tank.
Adding a betta to the mix of fish you have in such small quarters shouldn't be attempted. Bettas normally don't play well with other fish.
Neons can be terrible fin nippers and bettas are territorial, someone will probably be seriously hurt or killed.

Fish need time to adapt to your water condition, floating the bag for a good hour and slowly adding tank water to the bag gives them a chance to get used to the differences in water.

-pinky-

Really? I went to this really professional aquarium place to get my fish, and they said that having neons, glowlights, and a betta would be ok! Plus the BiOrb instruction guide says i can put fish in after 24 hours so i thought a week would be really safe!...

I realise it takes a looooong time for a tank to fully mature, but i didn't think a month!...the tank seems really empty with only 6 small fish, and the BiOrb manual says that 12 small tropical fish are OK. I've been told that this is way too much so i thought 6 small ones and a siamese fighter would be Ok...

WILL ALL MY FISH DIE?!?! Oh my gosh, i'm really dissapointed with my tank, should i just flush my fish, and sell my tank?

x bettaluver x

Alessa

Please, whatever you do, dont flush the fish... it is not their fault they did not ask you to take them in the first place.

I would say return the glowlights and bring in two more neons as soon as the tank is cycled. Meanwhile daily water changes with Prime water conditioner will help and probably save the life of your fish.

Really, tetras and bettas are among the worst fish combinations ever... not to mention your tank is overstocked.

Please read this link, it will help you and good luck!

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Lucy

You can mange your 6 fish in the size tank you have,
Unfortunately many of us have been given bad advice by fish stores. Gotta love the instructions that come with tanks.....they never mention a tank needs to cycle.

Read the link Alessa gave you. Do your water changes using Prime.
It will be some work in the beginning keeping your ammonia levels down, but when the cycle is done, you can relax and enjoy your fish with weekly maintenance.

Good luck, we're here to support you.

Edit: Alessa's suggestion to return some fish is also a good option.

Iron waffle

when they're wandering around, maybe they need a bigger group. your tank is not overstocked per se, but it's not cycled, tetras really need a mature aquarium. In that aquarium, i would keep one of the three, betta, 6 neons or 6 glowlights.

-pinky-

I feel so bad...the poor fish would have been better without me. And this fish tank cost a fortune...how can it be overstocked? My little sister has a coldwater tank thats much smaller than mine and it has two fish in, about the same size as a betta?...

Please help, this is the worst situation i've ever been stuck in! I'm seriously crying my eyes out write now

Lucy

Don't worry, you'll do fine, just keep up with the water changes.

-pinky-

OK, but does this mean i can't get anymore fish, not even one medium sized one?

And also, when i do the water changes, do i use tap water or what?

I'm sorry, i probably sound really stupid, but i've never had a tropical tank before, just a load of coldwater ones...i wanted to try something new, but i suppose curiosity killed the cat

bettaluver

-pinky-

Also, the store i got the fish from only takes fish back after 24 hours and i can't do that. If i wanted to get rid of the glowlights, how else could i do that, without killing them?

I really need help on this, and the questions above...i need a hug!

Lucy

You don't sound stupid at all. Alot of us starting out making the same mistakes.

One of the best things to do is research....here are some things to read:

http://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm

Edit: I'm sorry, I missed the questions.
When you change the water, try to get it as close to the same temp that's in the tank and add a water conditioner/dechlorinator to it before adding it to the tank.

-pinky-

Lucy, I'll do all the stuff you've told me, and try and keep my fish from dying. But one more thing...just one more...

If i had a bigger fish tank, and i got a shoal of neon tetras, what other breed of medium sized fish could i keep with them? You know, as an alternative to a Beta, bearing in mind that the tank would be round (BiOrb)

x bettaluver x

PS: Is it possible to change your user name on this, cos after today, i don't really like bettas anymore!

Lucy

Your welcome.

Bettas are wonderful fish, just not good community fish.

It would depend on what size tank you had.
The best thing to do, is research different kinds of fish and see what their requirements and compatablity are.

If you go to the fish store and see something you like, instead of just buying some, write down their names and google them, or ask about them here.

You would have to request a new user name...give me a sec to find the link for you.

Edit: Ok, here's the link to change user names:
How Do I: Request NEW UserName

Here's a link to some different fish profiles:
http://www.fishlore.com/

-pinky-

In my 30 litre tank i've been talking about, i can't add any more small fish can i? You know, like Platy, i've been thinking they look nice....or is 6 tetra the most i'm aloud to have?...

Also, some of my tetra (especially one of the neons) are very small, not even an inch long...will they grow? One of the neon tetras is only like 0.5 inches long! Theres no sign of anything wrong with it, its just small...

Also (again), in the shop i got the fish from, there was like 30 glowlights in a tank smaller than mine, and the same for neons, are shops aloud to do that? Or does it not matter about that when they're in the shop?

x bettaluver x

Beeker

I'm sorry that you are of to a difficult start. You are not alone. Many people, including me, started before we knew about the cycle, or knew to not trust the people at the fish stores.
The fish stores sell fish and animals to people who are uninformed and they let people think that to start in on fishkeeping, one must get a tank and put water and fish in it, and that is all there is to it. Then, when the person has trouble, they go back to the chain store to ask for help because they are so big, they must know what they are doing. The chain stores only sell. They know you will be back with problems and then they will have the opportunity to sell more. They rely on that. They will sound sincere, they will sound like they know what they are talking about, and they will try to "help". Right, so do car salesmen. That is all the chain-store people are; salesmen. It is their jobs to be convincing and to sell.
Your best bet is to listen, and NOT do anything. Come back to the forums and ask your questions here. If you have any ideas, questions, or need any help, ask the forums. Don't trust the salesmen no matter how sincere they sound. Come here first. Then go back and make your purchase. Go in knowing what you want and why you want it, buy it, and leave. Maybe browse for some other ideas, but don't let the salesmen try to sucker you in to making impulse buys without researching first. And, of course, if you buy fish from any store, especially a chain, quarantine it for about 2 weeks to make sure that they are healthy. If they aren't, at least they are only in your QT tank and not in your main tank with your other fish, where they could get the rest of your fish sick.
And now, if you want to get a bigger tank, you can use your current tank as a quarantine tank. See? It will all work out. Just use the links that we have given you, and research the different fish to decide what size tank you want and what you can put in it.

-pinky-

I tried to research fish before i bought, but so many people say different things its all confusing, and i'm afraid that, since this tank cost so much, theres no way of me getting a bigger one ANY time soon...perhaps not ever.

Lucy

No, unfortunately, no more fish should be put into your tank.

When choosing fish for your tank, you have to look at the adult size because the fish will grow.
Even though it looks like you have more room for fish you have to remember that those fish create waste (poo).
When we say you're over stocked, we take into consideration the amount of waste produced by those fish in the amount of gallons you have.

This isn't a rule, but a guideline to go by.... for small fish is 1" of adult fish per gallon of water.
3 neons=4.5"
3 glowlights=4.5"

9 inches of fish in a 7.93 gallon tank.

The shops have very different filtration system than we do at home. It can filter hundreds of gallons of water, you usually can't see it because it's 'behind the scenes'.

-pinky-

Okeydokey, thanks a bunch! So just as a closing message, Are my tetras safe, is it possible for me to manage with a supposedly "overstocked" tank...and will my fish grow?...

And finally, how many gallons of water is in my tank, if it has 30 litres of water?

I promise, those are the final things i will ask!

Lucy

Your fish should be ok with daily water changes and Prime until the cycle is complete.
Don't forget to read the links everyone provided and get yourself a good liquid test kit. Test your water before every water change and keep a record of it to track your progress.

It's manageable as long as you keep your eye on the water parameters.

Your tank is 7.93 gallon tank.

Ask any questions you might have, we're happy to help.
Good luck.

-pinky-

Oh man, i've got another question (i should never make promises!), what is Prime? And whats a good brand of test kit?

Alessa

Prime is a water conditioner that detoxifies ammonia and nitrite for 24 hours. You do daily 50% water changes with it until the tank is cycled.

A good test kit is the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master Liquid Test Kit.

good luck

-pinky-

everybody...hope my tetras make it!

Beeker

It is good to ask a lot of questions. Don't be afraid of asking. The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked.

And don't forget: Doing research means coming online and looking things up and asking the forums. Doing research is NOT asking people at the stores!

Matt

As many of you have said daily water changes with prime water conditioner will help your fish alot

Do You Have A Video Or Picture (prefferably a video so we can c for ourselves)

From Matt