heyandrea_ Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Have had 2 attempts at cycling my tank with goldfish. Have a 25 litre tank, 2 filters currently running, one is an established filter from another tank. Any other fish that I could use that may be easier than goldfish? And how many should I have in my tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 In what way do you mean "easier"? If you have an established filter on another tank to use in the new one, and the fish load in the new one is similar, you can just add the fish as it will already be cycled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 The filter is from a larger tank. It has been kindly lent to me to help establish my existing filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Goldfish... 25l tank... Ummm about 1 fish, and that will probably outgrow the tank eventually. Is the tank heated? If it is there are heaps of small tropicals that will be fine in that size tank. If it's coldwater you could go with White Cloud Minnows, pretty little fish that will live and breed quite happily in that size tank with no heater. I'm not sure why you are having problems getting the tank cycled. Although I understand the theory of cycling the tank/filter I generally just go by the seat of my pants. Set up tank.. add a couple of fish.. wait a few weeks.. add some more fish... I just refilled my little 18l tank as a spare holding tank, simple undergravel filter. Fill tank, turn on heater and air, next day put in some stray male guppies. Wait 2 weeks, guppies still look happy, add a couple more. Now has 6 guppies and 3 baby plecos, all happy. I actually have no idea what the exact water parameters are, I dont bother testing it. I just feed lightly and do a part water change each week. Going slow and keeping up the regular water changes seems to work for me anyway 8) Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Im not sure why Im having so much trouble trying to cycle this tank either. I thought that maybe another species of fish other than goldfish might work better. I dont really know! Should I pick up where I left off, do another water change and get another fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimebag Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 i would try 2 or 3 mountain minows, or maybe invest in a heater and then u have heaps more options- neons etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 White Cloud 8) Nice fish for small coldwater tank, put in plenty of weeds and they will breed happily in a tank that size. Not so good with goldfish, goldfish get too big and start looking at them as a snack. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Yea i third the white clouds. very nice fish once they fully colour up. Easy to care for, easy to breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 I have 2 plants in my tank at the moment. Should I get more? The second filter Im using to help establish my other filter is quite large so it takes up a bit of room. How many white cloud should I start off with? I still have high ammonia readings in my tank, so Im going to do another water change today before I add any fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 I must be doing something wrong. I did a 50% water change yesterday afternoon as ammonia was up to 8.0 (hadnt changed water for few days after fish died). Checked ammonia level just now, and in less than 24 hours its back up to 8.0! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Umm.. no fish, a cycled filter, and the ammonia is going up? What else is in the tank? The ammonia has to be coming from somewhere. Whats the gravel / substrate like? Is there something in it thats breaking down and releasing ammonia. I think it might be time to strip the tank and wash everything, apart from the good filter. Start again with everything fresh and clean. If you aren't sure about your gravel, just get a bag of new stuff, you wont need much for a small tank. Plants are good, but optional in a tank. While they look good and do help with the water quality, it's completely OK to keep a tank without them, or use plastic ones if you like the look. You should be able to set up the tank, fill with clean tap water, turn on the filter, add 3 or 4 WCMM and just give them a pinch of food every day. Partial water change each week. It SHOULD be that simple. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 She is using fish - goldfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Yeah I was using goldfish, I had 2 small ones in the tank. They died about 3 or 4 days ago. I just might have to start again because something went wrong along the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Should I buy a different filter? Im currently using an undergravel filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 Undergravel filter should work fine in that size tank. I'm wondering if there is old food and crud trapped in the gravel, hence my suggestion of stripping and cleaning everything. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Yeah that could be the case. I'll clean the gravel. Should I leave the undergravel filter alone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Because we dont know exactly what the problem is I would wash everything out. Put the gravel in a bucket and swirl it around under the tap untill it run clear. The gravel is basically the media of the filter. The plastic pieces are just the pipes to collect the water and return it to the tank after it's passed through the gravel. Hose out the tank and filter etc. As the problem seems to be ammonia buildup, not some disease, I dont think it needs to be sterilised or anything, just clean. Fill up with water and leave a couple of days. There should still be no ammonia (no fish). If thats all clear then add a few fish and just keep an eye on them. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 I agree with Ian and wonder if there is something decomposing under the filter plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Thanks so much for advice! Would hate to see what's under the filter plate! lol but here goes...!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 I gave the gravel a bit of a stir and the water turned cloudy, with floaty bits in it.. eww! I lifted up the filter plate and there was slime and decomposing bits of food and crud everywhere. So that was probably my problem. Even the filter thing was clogged with crap! Should I give the established filter a quick rinse just to get rid of any loose stuff that might be floating in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Should I give the established filter a quick rinse just to get rid of any loose stuff that might be floating in it? Yes, it wont hurt the filter, and better not to have old rotten food in there. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Okay everything cleaned. Just put my undergravel filter back together and put back in tank with clean gravel. Also put the establised filter back in tank after rinsing it, turned it on and it's made my water all cloudy! Is that a problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 and it's made my water all cloudy! Is that a problem? Nope.. let it run overnight and things will settle out. It looks like a lot of 'gunk', but it's probably about 2 drops floating in the water. It will get sucked back into the filter or the gravel where it belongs. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Thanks! Have tested for ammonia and it is at 0, so onto a good start!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted August 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 It's been almost a week since I thoroughly cleaned out my fish tank. The ammonia on Monday was at 0. I have tested today and it is at 0.25. Could this be due to the established filter in my tank? Alright to add fish now? Do I water change again before I add fish? I am going to add about 3 white cloud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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