10 Gallon Tank Black Phantom Tetra swimming on side in corner of aquarium

Hi, I recently got 4 black phantom tetras from my LFS 4 days ago. Over tha last day or so I've noticed that one of them is staying in the corner of the tank and leaning to one side staying in the same place. It looks to be sick but I'm unsure what it could be or if there's anything I can do to help it?

For more information, I setup the 45 litre/10 gallon aquarium around 4 and a half weeks ago, which is fairly heavily planted for the size. After 3 weeks I added a male flame dwarf gourami and 6 neon tetras. I then added the 4 black phantom tetras 9 days after that. I've been testing the water parameters every 1-2 days and there is no ammonia or nitrite and no nitrates that I can detect. I'm using tetra dip strips to test, which I know may not always be accurate.

Thanks

 

Could be possible swim bladder issues. Does that fish look bloated at all?

 

Could be possible swim bladder issues. Does that fish look bloated at all?

It doesn’t look to be bloated, not that I can tell anyway. Is there anything you think may help? Thanks

 

Seems like a lot of fish for a 10 gal to me. I would tey about a 50-60% water change first before anything.

 

Seems like a lot of fish for a 10 gal to me. I would tey about a 50-60% water change first before anything.

I did a 25% water change 4 days ago. Should I do another 50-60% change even if ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are showing zero? Thanks

 

Hi, I recently got 4 black phantom tetras from my LFS 4 days ago. Over tha last day or so I've noticed that one of them is staying in the corner of the tank and leaning to one side staying in the same place. It looks to be sick but I'm unsure what it could be or if there's anything I can do to help it?

For more information, I setup the 45 litre/10 gallon aquarium around 4 and a half weeks ago, which is fairly heavily planted for the size. After 3 weeks I added a male flame dwarf gourami and 6 neon tetras. I then added the 4 black phantom tetras 9 days after that. I've been testing the water parameters every 1-2 days and there is no ammonia or nitrite and no nitrates that I can detect. I'm using tetra dip strips to test, which I know may not always be accurate.

Thanks

For the first 3 weeks the tank was running without fish, were you adding a source of ammonia (such as fish food/flakes) to the tank?

What are you using to test?

 

For the first 3 weeks the tank was running without fish, were you adding a source of ammonia (such as fish food/flakes) to the tank?

What are you using to test?

No not at first, as I didn’t know I needed to an didn’t realise understand the nitrogen cycle. I did add some fish food but probably not enough to create enough ammonia. I did add live plants from an established aquarium.

I’m using API ammonia dip strips and Tetra 5 in 1 dip strips to test. Planning to get the API master test kit but thought I’d use up the test strips I’d already bought first.

I was expecting ammonia to increase after adding the dwarf gourami and tetras but there is still nothing after 2 weeks.

thanks

 

No not at first, as I didn’t know I needed to an didn’t realise understand the nitrogen cycle. I did add some fish food but probably not enough to create enough ammonia. I did add live plants from an established aquarium.

I’m using API ammonia dip strips and Tetra 5 in 1 dip strips to test. Planning to get the API master test kit but thought I’d use up the test strips I’d already bought first.

I was expecting ammonia to increase after adding the dwarf gourami and tetras but there is still nothing after 2 weeks.

thanks

Because your 10 gallon tank is pretty heavily stocked and given the short length of time the tank’s been running with a source of ammonia (fish food first, now quite a few fish), I question the results of your tests. Simply said, I’d guess your tank isn’t cycled.

I’d definitely suggest getting the API Master Test kit. Until then, I’d focus on daily water changes. What kind of filter are you running on this tank?

When you get the test kit, post your results here.

 

Because your 10 gallon tank is pretty heavily stocked and given the short length of time the tank’s been running with a source of ammonia (fish food first, now quite a few fish), I question the results of your tests. Simply said, I’d guess your tank isn’t cycled.

I’d definitely suggest getting the API Master Test kit. Until then, I’d focus on daily water changes. What kind of filter are you running on this tank?

When you get the test kit, post your results here.

The filter is a Superfish Aqua Flow 100 (Superfish Aqua-Flow 100 Internal Filter for Nano Aquariums).

I have a lot of plant growth and algae growing on the front of the glass. I've heard this can be a sign the tank is cycled?

Thanks

 

The filter is a Superfish Aqua Flow 100 (Superfish Aqua-Flow 100 Internal Filter for Nano Aquariums).

I have a lot of plant growth and algae growing on the front of the glass. I've heard this can be a sign the tank is cycled?

Thanks

The only way to be certain a tank is cycled IMO is by getting test results of 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and typically some level of nitrates using a reliable test kit.

 

Update on this thread to say the black phantom tetra is now moving around the tank a lot more now. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all still showing zero.