Cursed Tank

With all of the craziness going on and schools closing 3 weeks ago my wife was asked to take a co-workers classroom betta home for the week or so we would be out. The teacher was on PTO the day the schools closed and had no other way to arrange for the fish’s care. I love fish so I was excited about this. Well our son absolutely loves this Betta and when my wife and the co-worker were talking on the phone during the first week she heard my son talking to the Betta so the teacher decided that our son could keep him if we were ok with it and she would get another one for her room when we return to school. Haha. So, for my son’s birthday we decided to get a 10 gallon tank and some friends, that are Betta friendly. We went to PetSmart and got the tank home to set it up. Now, I grew up helping my dad manage a 55 gallon and thought “no big deal” but this has been a nightmare. All of my parameters are golden. Double and triple checked. But try as I might I’ve got Cory’s dropping like flys.

Currently we have 1 Betta, not aggressive at all, 2 golden mystery snails, an Algae eater don’t remember which one, maybe a rubber nose, and 3 green cory’s. But I keep having to fish out dead cory’s and go back to PetSmart and have them swapped. As of today 2 have survived for 2 days and I added one this afternoon that o just picked up. And now one of them is laying on its side on the bottom and idk which one it is. Can anyone think of what I’m doing wrong here?

 

What does golden parameters mean? whats the Ammonia, Nitrites,Nitrates and PH?

 

Yes, actual numbers would be helpful. Did you cycle the 10 before adding all of the other fish into the mix? What is your water change schedule like? Could you post a picture of the pleco?

 

What does golden parameters mean? what's the Ammonia, Nitrites,Nitrates and PH?

I do not have the numbers. I have been utilizing the free water testing at PetSmart to make sure my numbers looked good and was told that after 3 days I was ready to put my fish in. When I started losing fish and had to replace them I’ve taken water samples into PetSmart and they test them and say my wither is fine. I have a set of test strips coming from Amazon in the next couple of days and I’ll be able to start testing myself.
I’ll be honest, while I helped my dad maintain his large aquarium for a long time, I never helped him set it up the first time. I think I caused this by not properly cycling the tank first. I had no idea. I don’t want to hurt or stress my fish anymore. Any advice?

 

I do not have the numbers. I have been utilizing the free water testing at PetSmart to make sure my numbers looked good and was told that after 3 days I was ready to put my fish in. When I started losing fish and had to replace them I’ve taken water samples into PetSmart and they test them and say my wither is fine. I have a set of test strips coming from Amazon in the next couple of days and I’ll be able to start testing myself.
I’ll be honest, while I helped my dad maintain his large aquarium for a long time, I never helped him set it up the first time. I think I caused this by not properly cycling the tank first. I had no idea. I don’t want to hurt or stress my fish anymore. Any advice?

Instead of the test strips get an API liquid test kit cause most likely the strips won't test ammonia. Also invest in a bottle of Seachem Prime water conditioner it will detox ammonia and nitrites which are deadly to fish for up to 24-48 hours and u will need to add it with each water change which you will be doing a lot of them till your tank cycles. The cycle usually takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please read up on the Nitrogen Cycle.

 

I agree with the above statement. Get the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, one of the most recommended test kits and fairly cheap. Seachem Prime will also be of big help and shouldn't cost you more than $10. I got mine for $5.99, I believe. Try to insert pictures, if you can. Good luck!

 

Yes, actual numbers would be helpful. Did you cycle the 10 before adding all of the other fish into the mix? What is your water change schedule like? Could you post a picture of the pleco?

Thanks for the link. After reading it, it looks like I was given bad advice at PetSmart and did not cycle my tank properly. They said that if I used TopFin water conditioner and the bacteria starter I would be good to go in 3 days to move the betta over and add new fish so this is what I did. I have been using their free water testing So I do not have the number, but I now have test strips on the way, and they told me each time that the water is “good to go”. But honestly they could be full of it.
Here’s a shot of the pleco, it’s not a rubber nose like I thought



I’m also sad to report that one of the cory’s has passed and it looks like the one I added today. I say this because the other two are showing behaviors that I’ve seen them do for the past several days. Like one likes to hang with the pleco and on of them likes to sit on top of the castle decoration. So I assume these are the same two fish.

Instead of the test strips get an API liquid test kit cause most likely the strips won't test ammonia. Also invest in a bottle of Seachem Prime water conditioner it will detox ammonia and nitrites which are deadly to fish for up to 24-48 hours and u will need to add it with each water change which you will be doing a lot of them till your tank cycles. The cycle usually takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please read up on the Nitrogen Cycle.

Reading up on it now! Thanks for the help. I’ll look into the test kit right now also. Thanks for responding!

I agree with the above statement. Get the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, one of the most recommended test kits and fairly cheap. Seachem Prime will also be of big help and shouldn't cost you more than $10. I got mine for $5.99, I believe. Try to insert pictures, if you can. Good luck!

I just ordered the master test kit from API. And the Seachem Prime. Should be here this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

 

Thanks for the link. After reading it, it looks like I was given bad advice at PetSmart and did not cycle my tank properly. They said that if I used TopFin water conditioner and the bacteria starter I would be good to go in 3 days to move the betta over and add new fish so this is what I did. I have been using their free water testing So I do not have the number, but I now have test strips on the way, and they told me each time that the water is “good to go”. But honestly they could be full of it.
Here’s a shot of the pleco, it’s not a rubber nose like I thought
View attachment 681678

I’m also sad to report that one of the cory’s has passed and it looks like the one I added today. I say this because the other two are showing behaviors that I’ve seen them do for the past several days. Like one likes to hang with the pleco and on of them likes to sit on top of the castle decoration. So I assume these are the same two fish.
View attachment 681681

It looks like you have a clown pleco, which is one of the smaller species of pleco. You will likely eventually want to put that fellow into a 20gal because of its high waste output.

You will likely want to do 50% water changes daily until the tank cycles. During this time, do not add any additional fish.

 

New tanks are hard to stabilize. I lost at least 3 cory cats because my tank wasn't as cycled as I thought.

I agree about Hugoo about Prime. It will give you a 48 hour free pass until your tank is cycled.

I stabilized my tank by doing Mon, Weds, Friday water changes ( which I still do, curse you OCD! ) but my fish are happy so it's all good.

-prime
-test kit
-breathe, you got this. *Read up on 'fish in cycling'.

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

bettas are easy imo and typically hardy. Cories & other fish are a little more delicate. I would not replace any that died for next 45-60 days that way you know tank is fully cycled. JMO