Gretal Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 Couldn't hold out any longer. I bought 2 neons (wanted 6 but they only had 2), 4 black neons, 2 guppies and a golden algae eater so far. All are only tiny, and zipping about the tank. Fingers crossed they are all nice and healthy! May have a look in a week or two at adding something else for abit more colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 What size is the tank Gretal? Unless you are using an already established filter, hold off getting more fish for at least a month to give the tank a chance to cycle properly. Testing the ammonia and nitrate levels will tell you how the cycle is progressing. If the tank is newly set up you must make sure the algae eater is well fed as there will be nothing for it to graze on in a new tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 See if you can return the gold algae eater too. Get an ancistrus species, they don't get aggresive like the CAE get. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretal Posted July 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 The tank is an octagonal, approx 60 L? It has been set up for quite awhile. (a month or so?) I had my goldfish in it for about 2 weeks, and then had it empty (of fish) for about another two. So is that long enough for it to cycle properly? Also, about the golden algae eater, it doesn't appear to be aggressive toward the others at the moment. Mind you, they are off doing their own thing so perhaps it can't get close enough lol The two guppies tend to hang out together (any way of telling what sex they are as they are so small and look identical!) The neons all tend to shoot round the tank in a bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Male guppies have a modified anal fin known as a 'gonopodium'. It's shaped like a tube to deliver sperm. Here're some pics of sword tails (another type of live bearer) with the differences pointed out. Female: Male: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Having goldfish in it would have helped but then as it sat empty for 2 weeks, what were the bacteria in the filter living on during this time? Many would have died off again. A tank will not cycle, or keep cycled, sitting empty with no fish in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Was the filter running during the two weeks? If it was, you might be lucky and some bacteria might have survived, enough to start a new population (that's binary fission for ya). Odds are higher if you've got live plants in there, because decomposing leaves are a source of ammonia. Do you have any other tanks? If you do, try putting some used filter media from it's filter into this tank's filter to seed it with bacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretal Posted July 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Yes, the filter has been running the whole time. I only have fake plants in it though. As far as the GAE goes, I think it might be dead It's on the bottom and hasn't really moved for quite awhile. The rest of the fish seem fine. I feel like the complete novice I am now :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 That's prolly about the best thing for them. But sorry you couldn't try and get your money back or exchange it. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretal Posted July 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 The death toll is now 2, and 1 MIA. One guppy was dead this morning, and I can't find the other guppy anywhere. I'm crossing my fingers that my neons are okay. Maybe I should just go back to goldfish :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Hi Gretal, have you checked the water parameters e.g ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? When was the last time you did a water change? It wouldn't hurt to do a 20% water change which will dilute any harmfull chemical build ups, even say 10 ltrs and again in two days. Dont worry to much as i doubt there is anyone who hasn't lost a fish, i know when i first started i thought it would be easy but it is far more complicated than many think, don't give up and i'm sure you will find it very rewarding as most of us have. Good luck and perservere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vapo Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 We are fairly new at this also, but what helped us was to do a lot of water changes in the early stages - 20% every couple of days. What is your temp at? Is this the recommended temp for the fish you have? How long has it been at that temp? Was it warm/cold when you had your goldfish in there? Did you keep the heater on while it was empty of fish? All of these things - along with what the others have said - will help/hinder the growth and survival of any bacteria in the filter. This is because the good bacteria you want, need to be set up in the environment they will be permanently living in. It's a fairly steep learning curve at the beginning, I knew nothing 7 weeks ago! Persevere and you'll get there! Good Luck, Vapo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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