fish selections.... 10 gal, going to 55 gal soon.

[Caleb]

did you let this aquarium cycle? Your denitrifying bacteria should be taking care of that ammonia with only 1 fish? Did you just do a water change? You need to check your tap water for ammonia, it may have to be treated before going in the tank.

Hadn't changed water recently

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Nitrites and Nitrates are 0 ppm, ammonia is 0.5 ppm

Immediate de-ammoniator needed.

 

[Caleb]

Immediate de-ammoniator needed.

agreed...I really expected this to clear up as the tank had already been established.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

agreed...I really expected this to clear up as the tank had already been established.

Excess nutrients will always cause a spike.

 

[Caleb]

Excess nutrients will always cause a spike.

Yea, one reason why I'm wanting a way to vacuum them out without having to do a water change

 

[Caleb]

Ammonia is 0.50 ppm, Nitrite is 0.25 ppm, and Nitrate is 5.0 ppm


Biological system is back up and working...however, the rainbow fish doesn't really eat any food but maybe some finely crushed betta food.

 

[Frosty]

But you need to change the water to get rid of the excess nutrients in the water and to help dilute the ammonia and nitrite spike.

 

[bobbittle]

You're cruising right along through the cycle....changing the water now will help increase the likelihood the rainbow shark lives through it but will prolong the process.

 

[Caleb]

But you need to change the water to get rid of the excess nutrients in the water and to help dilute the ammonia and nitrite spike.

You're cruising right along through the cycle....changing the water now will help increase the likelihood the rainbow shark lives through it but will prolong the process.

Yea...I gotta vacuum all the food the silly fish didn't eat. I also picked up some Seachem Prime, so that suppose to remove some of the bad stuff in the water and still allow my tank to cycle. I need some new idea what to feed the rainbow shark...

 

[Frosty]

Try bloodworms, my fish devour them. I wouldn't worry to much about phosphates in your tank, your getting plenty of them from your tap water.

 

[Caleb]

Try bloodworms, my fish devour them. I wouldn't worry to much about phosphates in your tank, your getting plenty of them from your tap water.

frozen? you break the worms into smaller pieces?

 

[Frosty]

frozen? you break the worms into smaller pieces?

They are freeze dried, but they are tiny, maybe a 1/4" long. They have them at Walmart, just don't get the brine shrimp, I haven't had anything that would eat those.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Yea...I gotta vacuum all the food the silly fish didn't eat. I also picked up some Seachem Prime, so that suppose to remove some of the bad stuff in the water and still allow my tank to cycle. I need some new idea what to feed the rainbow shark...

Prime FTW.

I tend to skim food out manually if there's ever overfeeding with those ridiculously small nets. Do a few dozen swipes/sweeps through the tank gently and see how much you can collect. It'll probably be more than you'd think. At least, I was always surprised at how much was actually floating in there.

I had great success with goldfish flakes for the red-tail/red-fin. If they get hungry enough you get can them to transition. If they're finicky, they die. Nature is a cruel mistress.

 

[Caleb]

They are freeze dried, but they are tiny, maybe a 1/4" long. They have them at Walmart, just don't get the brine shrimp, I haven't had anything that would eat those.

I have some omega one dried bloodworms...my old betta ate them good

 

[Caleb]

Ok...picked up about a hundred pounds of pool filter sand. I think I'm gonna like the looks of sand in the fish tank...

 

[Frosty]

Ok...picked up about a hundred pounds of pool filter sand. I think I'm gonna like the looks of sand in the fish tank...

100 lbs??? Not for the 10? That's gonna be one deep sandbed!

 

[Caleb]

100 lbs??? Not for the 10? That's gonna be one deep sandbed!

lol...no, 100 pounds for the 55 gal tank I'm getting on sunday. I'm thinking about putting 20 pounds or so in the 10 gal tank and see how the fish takes to it...

 

[Frosty]

Ok, glad your not going to bury your aquarium under sand! You got everything ready for it?

 

[Caleb]

Ok, glad your not going to bury your aquarium under sand! You got everything ready for it?

the 55 gal? not yet...need to figure out if I can use real rocks to create hiding spots, I've been told you cannot use real rocks...or that what I thought I read. I removed all the gravel from the 10 gal....holy crap, it was filthy. Back to cloudy water again... :P

 

[Frosty]

the 55 gal? not yet...need to figure out if I can use real rocks to create hiding spots, I've been told you cannot use real rocks...or that what I thought I read. I removed all the gravel from the 10 gal....holy crap, it was filthy. Back to cloudy water again... :P

You can, just make sure it's clean... You can buy rock (probably safer) or use ones you find, but who knows what else your putting in the tank.

its amazing how much poop there is in all that gravel, I've had my 30 going for over 5 years, I'd hate to see the poo collection I've got down there!