I'm A Novice. I Have Two Red Glofish.

Hello,

I have two Red Glow fish. They are two yrs old. I have a 1.5 gallon starter kit aquarium. I have not been taking care of them the way I should be. I have read a lot about how to cycle the tank, feeding, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate tonight. And about how to transfer them to my new 10 gallon glow fish aquarium. I have two young kids. These are the true owners. And I won a gold fish 3 yrs ago at the local fair. the gold fish was in another 1.5 gallon tank. He (Goldie) got soo big he did not have any room. I can tell you that these two kinds of fish are very hardy. I have been just changing the water and adding dechlorination(Prime). That's it!! Sometimes a 90% water change. The gold fish just died. I used to feed him every time I came down the hallway. He would wag his tale and beg me to feed him. He definitely died happy. I am now the proud owner of two 10 gallon glow fish tanks. Not set up just put together today. I have read a lot about how and why fish care. I now know I have to rescue my two glow fish. I bought a heater, extra pump, and today will buy the API master kit for freshwater. I feel soo bad about not knowing. But I have to start somewhere. My two Glow fish are happy and play with each other well. A little teasing by the one. I now know I have to cycle my 1.5 tank and my 10 gallon. I want to get the ammonia and nitrates down. Before transferring them to their new home. I also know that now I will only introduce two glow fish at a time. I will eventually add red cherry shrimp to each tank. But need to get perfect at water care 1st. I plan on watching the ammonia and nitrates in each tank as I add more fish. I will stop at 5 or 6 glow fish in each tank. Now that I am more aware of how to care for my fish. I feel good. I want these fish to last a long time. I am going to PetSmart exclusively. I will only buy from them. I will keep you posted on how it is going a long the way. I will load pics soon. Before and after of the 1.5. And the transition to the 10 gallon. I think this will help me. And hopefully you a long the way.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Sounds great! Just one teeny problem.... I wouldnt buy from there, instead see if you can find some mom and pop stores. They can be way better than petco/petsmart

 

HI Jeff, don't feel too bad. You are definitely not the first person in your situation and you, unfortunately, won't be the last. Lack of knowledge with fishkeeping is a huge problem and most pet stores don't do anything to help the issue. I know I murdered many a fish in my youth due to ignorance and I'm willing to bet that most people here have done the same in their early days. The good news is that you've decided to educate yourself and learn to do things right. Honestly, that a lot more than most people will do. You should find all the help you need here. I haven't been on the forum long, but it's a great place to increase your knowledge.

Some PetSmart are better than others but I would tend to agree with the above poster about trying to find a mom & pop store. It may not be an option, depending on where you live, though. Petsmart is fine for supplies, but their livestock is usually not the best.

All that said, good luck on your journey and enjoy!

Also, wondering what kind of Glofish you have?

 

Thanks for your replies. I do have a mom and pop fish store within walking distance from me. I only will get supplies. But understand your concern. After I talk with mom and pop store. I will hopefully transition to them fully. I will definitely get my fish from them. I really do not know the kind of glofish I have. I know nothing. But will post some pics today. You might be able to identify for me. I did get them from neighborhood store. So I could ask them.

I believe they are Zebra Danios.

 

Zebra danios are the no1 choice fish for cycling a tank. What some people with MTS do, they buy some danios and use them to cycle a tank as they are so hardy and after the cycle, they put the poor danios into their community tank. Definitely not recommended and inhumane though. Zebra Danios like schoals, so be sure to keep them with minnimum 7 in a tank. Good luck!

 

Definitely try out your mom and pop and see how they are. Try reading some reviews on Yelp or somewhere. Not all mom & pops are great but often are better than the big box stores. You'll learn pretty quickly who can be trusted with livestock and advice. Sometimes it's just a trial and error game.

They could definitely be identified pretty easily with pics. There are only a few kinds of Glofish and Zebra Danios are one of them. If they are, those are good fish. They're very hardy and active little guys.

 

Welcome to FishLore!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Glofish really should be in a 20 gallon (long not high) minimum due to their high engery levels. They really like to dart around the tank. Also, they are a schooling fish and should be in groups of at least 5. Now you may be asking why they market 10 gallon tanks as Glofish tanks, and I guess the same reason they market fish bowls as Betta Bowls, when in fact no fish is suitable for a fish bowl.

So while you may be reluctant to get larger tanks (and understand why), you may want to rethink your stocking of one of the 10 gallon tanks and get fish which would be appropriate for that size tank.

Best of luck!

 

Thanks for replies. I understand your concerns. I have had two for 2yrs in 1.5 gallon tank. So almost 10 x that would be a playground. My kids enjoy them. But I don't have room for a bigger tank. I will keep up on posts. I think if I can get them transferred and healthy. Then slowly add friends. We shall see. But totally agree with you. The bigger the tank the better.

 

I know how it can be with having a too small tank, but really having no alternative. It's a long story, but my daughter won a couple goldfish at a school fair. After upgrading tanks several times I finally settled on a 25 gallon tank. Way too small for a common goldfish, but it was all I could fit. That goldfish lived for just over 5 years (but in a proper sized tank could have lived 20 or 30 years). One of the two had died in the first couple of weeks, so I replaced it with a fantail. That guy is still alive and will be 9 years old in May.

 

These are the pics of my two glow fish. They are very active. The tank had a lot of sediment in the gravel. I deep cleaned. With my siphon. Still waiting on the water to clear. I will start prepping the two 10 gallon tanks tomorrow. I tested with the strips. No problem. Except for a little hardness in water. I will post pics of set up. I am taking back the heaters. I don't think there is a problem with temp. The glow fish can live with temps between 65-78 degrees. My house stays 68 in winter. And 72 in summer. Without heaters. It will be easier to prepare water changes. I will also take back air pumps. I have never needed them yet. Just filter and lighting. What do you think? Any opinions? Thanks, Jeff

I also have moved the fish tank away from direct sun light from window.

 

Just a couple of bits of advice from me to start. First, grab you a temp guage on your next trip to the store. You should be able to get one for a couple of bucks just to ensure your temp is staying regulated. You may be surprised at how the water Temps can change but you very well my be ok without the heater. Secondly, get you an API liquid test kit for checking your parameters. Those strips are usually not very accurate and that's one thing you don't want to take chances with. They cost about $30 in the store but you can get them online for about $20. May seem kind of expensive, but it'll last forever and, as I said, you don't want to mess around with your parameters.

 

These are pics of the two ten gallon tanks set up. But no water yet. I have about 2 1/2 inches of gravel.

 

Welcome to Fishlore!
I would not return the heaters. Even if they do not click on very often, they will prevent too big of temperature swings not letting it get too low.
Since these fish really do need 20g, consider picking out something more suitable for the second 10g. A betta with some nerite snails would be appropriate. Other suggestions would be endlers and celestial pearl danios.
Stocking List for 10 Gallons

That way you only have the 5 in a tank too small until you can fit in that 20g. Sounds like you already got bit by the MTS (multiple tank syndrome) bug, so it's just a matter of time, lol.

These are pics of the two ten gallon tanks set up. But no water yet. I have about 2 1/2 inches of gravel.

Nice!! Your kids surely love both of those!!

 

Ok, thanks for comments. I put about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of gravel in bottom. Is this too much? I can scoop out some if so. I did not think so. As long as I deep clean once a week. Also, I have two air pumps. Do I need these. If so, there already bought. I can install them.

Just to be clear! Lol. The kids decorated. While I tried to educate. Lol.

And the reason I am multI tasking is. I have two kids 4 and 5. 13 months a part. I have to. Lol

The guy at PetSmart told me that the strips are just as accurate. NOT!! But I was buying so much other stuff. I tried them. I am returning extra stuff tomorrow. So I can pick up API kit. And return strips. Their loss for persuading me. I am glad I did research last night. Or else would have been steered down the wrong path. Now I can compare both kits for accuracy.

 

The amount of gravel ok. Less is better, in my opinion. Barely a layer is what I like. You'd be amazed at how much poo gets trapped under just a little bit of gravel!

 

The guy at PetSmart said that the test strips are easier. And the API kit is too bothersome. No one does it frequently.

Ok thanks! I will take some out tomorrow. Kids going to bed. Lol

 

The guy at PetSmart said that the test strips are easier. And the API kit is too bothersome. No one does it frequently.

I use both. The strips give me a clue if something is off and I can quickly use them. To get accurate results or when I am cycling a tank, I use the liquid test. It is much more accurate.
A little less gravel will help you with the substrate vacuum process.

How are you cycling the new tanks? Or do you have tetra safe start plus? Will you be moving the current filter media over to new tanks to introduce seeded material for cycle?

 

Hi, thanks for comments. I will 1st get API kit. To get fish healthy if needed. I have tetra safe dechlorination. I will scoop water from old tank also into new tank. I was thinking that old filter in new filter also. But don't know if that's ok. I will keep test strips also. Thanks

I will transfer after a week. To give tank time.

When I get heater going. At what temperature should I keep the tanks for glow fish

 

The tanks need to cycle. The beneficial bacteria is not in the water column. It resides mostly in the filter media.
Here is a good read on the nitrogen cycle.
Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

I usually do fishless cycle with ammonia. Your kids may not have the patience for that so I would recommend picking up some tetra safe start plus (make sure it is the live bacteria and not the monthly maintenance).. Use at least 24 hours after adding water and dechlorinator. Then put fish in and wait two weeks. Add the current tank filter media, splitting between the two tanks if necessary, into the new filters. After two weeks, You should see 0 ammonia and nitrites, and >0 nitrates at that time. If so, do a large water change and then keep tabs on parameters and do weekly partial water changes.
The following link has some great information that is beneficial even if you cycle your tank with fish. As your ammonia source.
Ammonia instructions for a fishless cycle

Please let us know if you have questions. We can help you through the process so you don't have fish exposed to toxic ammonia and nitrites or casualties.

 

Thank you I will cycle one of these ways.






And now it is clean!

 

You can keep that one as a QT or hospital tank. Or you could make it a shrimp tank.

 

Yes, the nice thing is I have two the same size. 1.5 gallons

I found Ammonia at my local Ace Hardware. Janitorial grade. 10% ammonia and water. I shook it like you said. It went to liquid immediately with no bubbles left.

I am going to do the add and wait cycling method. Seems to be the best way for me. I could seed but decided not to.

I will start cycling this a Friday morning. Gives me all weekend. I will only do one tank at a time I think. Too much all at once. I will record the whole process. Very excited. So thank you to everyone who has educated me.

 

cool tanks, still doing mine though......

 

Perfect. That is exactly the one I use. Very little is needed for a 10g, a few drops.
Without seeding, it can take several weeks. I would recommend either tetra safe start plus or stability to add beneficial bacteria and speed things along.

 

Ok thanks. I have some that the fish store gave me.






Here's how my sons tank looks. I moved the hide out over by the heater. To keep it away from the filter. Hopefully that is better. Oh how the older daughter is going to be jealous. she has fish though. In her 1.5 gallon. So she will have to wait. Besides, I don't want to kill her fish. Once I get his going with fish. Then her tank will get started.

 

Very cool!
Why not cycle them both at the same time?

 

Well it's the time factor. Testing the water for both. I don't want to lose control.

 

These are some very happy Zebra danios! They really like the new ten gallon tank. And especially the air stone. Thanks for all your comments. Jeff

 

Awesome!
How is the cycle coming along? Did you move some of the old tank filter media over?

 

Awesome!
How is the cycle coming along? Did you move some of the old tank filter media over?

When moving old tank filter media over make sure it has a source.

 

When moving old tank filter media over make sure it has a source.

The source is the two fish, right? They have been moved over already.

 

The source is the two fish, right? They have been moved over already.

Yes, but it's very little. Since the op did say that he got the media from the pet store you lost most of the BB because pet stores have many fish. You still have BB though, but not a lot. This is a 1.5 gallon tank right? Well you should remove the fish since they are schooling fish and get rcs plus some snails or just have it as a plant tank.

 

Hi, and thanks for the comments. All I did was add the tetra safe start plus. And added Prime when first adding water. The Zebra danios I added their water from their tank in the bag. I used a tupaware 5 inch round and 4 inch deep cup to catch them in. That way their fins and scale were not harmed. I then added a cup of the cycled tank water to the bag. Waited ten minutes. And released the fish into the tank with whole bag.

With my other 10 gallon tank. I added Prime and waited 24 hours for temp to reach 75 degrees like the other tank. I bought two glow fish tetras from mom and pop store. $21.00 for two. At least he used cup instead of net. Never use net. Always cup of some kind please. I added the tetra safe plus. And added fish from store. The store owner has always said to drain water from store tank into bucket. Not over tank. Not letting fish to be released from bag. After all water is out of bag. The fish will be jumpy. But then just put them into tank.

I will test water today.

Jeff

 

First, adding cycled water to a new tank doesn't do anything. There is very little BB in the water. You acclimated way to quickly. You should let them float for 15-20 minutes, add half a cup of water, then wait another 15-20 minutes, then add another cup of water. Do this one more time. This is how you acclimate. Second, adding prime to a tank doesn't cycle a tank. It just detoxify's ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, chorine, etc.

 

Thank u for the comments. The fish seem to be doing ok. Sorry if I acclimated to soon. I just took water samples of tap water, and both tanks. Here you go......

Tap water

Ph 7.6
High Ph 8.8
Ammonia .5-1.0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20-40 ppm

Ten gallon tank with two glow tetras

Ph 7.6
High ph 7.4
Ammonia .5-1.0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10-20ppm

Ten gallon tank with 2yr old glow Zebra nanios.

Ph 7.6
High Ph 7.8
Ammonia 0-0.25
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5-10 ppm



Here are the two glow Tetras in my sons ten gallon tank.

Hi, I read that when you add fish from one tank to a new tank. You can put the old water in the bag. When you scoop them with s cup. Then add s cup of the new tank water. They get acclimated.

HI Sara, I added Prime to get the chlorine under control. I added Tetra safe start plus. To cycle tank. As far as I can tell. Safe start plus just adds nitrates. Without ammonia and nitrite. So it skips all the waiting. Not sure if this is better or not. But a lot of people have used it. And your tank is not s mess. Just add and add fish.

I tested the water after adding safe start. It just read nitrates. That's it.

 

Good that you are doing research and doing what is best for your fish. Sorry but both the tetras and danios need at least a 20 gallon tank and need to be kept in groups of 6 or more as they are a schooling fish and they will be stressed in just a pair. I have 8 danios in a 48 inch 63 gallon tank and they are extremely active.

 

Thank you, I will do my best

 

OP had 2 glofish danios in a 1.5 gallon tank. Although upgrading to a 10 gallon is not big enough, he is providing the best he can to get them in a better situation. Understanding that an upgrade to a 20L would be better for the fish and under consideration for the future.
Personally, I would have gotten more danios instead of the tetras so you could combine and beef up that school once your cycle is complete and get fish actually compatible for a 10 gallon to put in the 2nd tank.
It is true that bb is not in the tank water, but in the filter media. Since you used tetra safe start plus, you should wait the two weeks and check your levels. If you have 0 ammonia and nitrite and >0 nitrates then you are cycled. Do water change enough to get nitrates down to <10ppm. Then you can add a couple more fish. Watch parameters to do water changes and use prime if ammonia spike. Do not ever throw out all filter media at the same time, rinse it in tank and never tap water when you do filter maintenance once a month.

 

Thank you, I plan on putting 6 tetras in the same tank. And 6 Zebras in the other tank. The tetras get 2 inches. This still meets the criteria of 1 inch per gallon. I plan on taking water sample again Friday morning. If levels are ok. I plan on getting two more for each tank. If not, I will wait until levels are right.

 

The 1 inch per gallon is not a good rule. You don't want to put a 10" fish in a 10 gallon or even two five inch fish. Also, some fish are very active like danios, neons, etc, while others have very high bioload like pleco, molly, goldfish, etc.
Just keep in mind the environment that is best for that particular fish. If not provided, the fish will be stunted, have a shorter life, or have bad health overall.