Please help with new tank

[gary0815]

Just started a tank 45 days ago after one week of nothing in the tank which is a 36 gallon with no live plants and i started with an aqeon filter. So i added 2 rosy barbs and 2 tiger barbs one tiger died and the rosys killed the other tiger. So i then added 3 odessa barbs waited 3 weeks and added a clown loach that was already 3 inches long. At that time i also added a marineland 280 filter. The following day the water was very cloudy i waited a few days and had the water tested just to find the ammonia was 2ppm then 3 days later it was 4 ppm. So i put the aqeon filter back on with the marineland still in place. Also did 30% water changes every other day with adding seachem stabil and stress coat with each water change. Thankfully the fish survived this spike in ammonia its now 0.25 but i went and had the water tested and now the nitrates are 2.0. I dont want to add a bunch of chemicals but i dont want my new favorite pets to die either everyone tells me something different from dont do anything to add all this junk to the water. I just hope someone out there has experienced this and can point me in the right direction before its to late.

[rich311k]

Chagne 50% plus of the water everyday. That will keep the ammonia and nitrites within exceptable levels until the tank fully cycles. You really do not want either level to go over .5ppm.

That clown loach likes to have friends and will out grow that tank. Do not add anymore fish until the cycle is done.

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!:22:
What type of test kit are you using?
I agree with Rich!. Feeding less will keep the ammonia down.Every other day until cycled will do.The fish have small tummies.lol
Everything sounds right.Your ammonia peaked and dropped to 0.Now your nitrites will peak and drop to 0.Nitrates will soon show and ammonia and nitrites will hopefully be at 0.Your yank will have cycled.
Water changes to keep the trites and ammonia as close to 0 are the perfect thing to do.
Great job!thumbs2:
Check out this link.
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The ebook in my sig is a great read too.Highly recommended.

[Bristley]

Welcome to the AC, glad to have you aboard.

Ok, first things you should do. Buy a liquid test kit so you can do your own water tests. Also I recommend making a chart that you can record your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

Next I recommend you follow this link to the free aquarium ebook and read it, because it has lots of good information.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Also read everything you can about tank cycling with fish since that's the situation you are in now.

For your tank to be cycled you will be looking for a reading of zero for ammonia, zero for nitrites, and some amount of nitrates. At that point you are cycled. Until that time your fish are going to be experiencing some stress as they are being exposed to some amount of ammonia and nitrites, both of which are toxic to fish.

Now as far as what to do to help more with the current situation. Up your water changes, make sure you're using dechlorinator, and check water parameters often.

I hope everything goes well, keep us posted as you continue on through this so we know how your tanks doing.:22:

I gotta learn to type quicker cause by the time I get through writing a response 19 other posts have popped up. lol

[gary0815]

I do know thw clown loach will out grow this tank but there were 20 of them in a 10 gal at the pet store so hes much happier. and even though the water is not perfect all the fish are doing very well. The loach is very active and makes a wierd clicking noise while eating hikari wafers only. the odessa were very pale when i got them now there black and a beautiful red stripe thru there mid section. as far as the test kit the lfs i visit said they wanted to do it for me to monitor the tank with me but i just really felt like i needed a second opinion. I just want to make sure to do everything right and not have to worry on my hour long ride home from work that im gonna find my buddy the loach belly up. I will keep doing more water changes then and hope for the best. Thank you for taking the time to help i will keep you posted on the outcome .

[Little Embers]

Just started a tank 45 days ago after one week of nothing in the tank which is a 36 gallon with no live plants and i started with an aqeon filter. So i added 2 rosy barbs and 2 tiger barbs one tiger died and the rosys killed the other tiger. So i then added 3 odessa barbs waited 3 weeks and added a clown loach that was already 3 inches long. At that time i also added a marineland 280 filter. The following day the water was very cloudy i waited a few days and had the water tested just to find the ammonia was 2ppm then 3 days later it was 4 ppm. So i put the aqeon filter back on with the marineland still in place. Also did 30% water changes every other day with adding seachem stabil and stress coat with each water change. Thankfully the fish survived this spike in ammonia its now 0.25 but i went and had the water tested and now the nitrates are 2.0. I dont want to add a bunch of chemicals but i dont want my new favorite pets to die either everyone tells me something different from dont do anything to add all this junk to the water. I just hope someone out there has experienced this and can point me in the right direction before its to late.
I think you may mean Nitrites..don't you? If you do, then it is progressing as it should and I agree with what everyone else has said.

[gary0815]

I think you are right about it being nitrite. Cant seem to remember what the lfs reffered to it as they did say it tends to happen at the end of the cycle but they also said to stop doing water changes for at least a week to let it finish the cycle. All other info i have been given and have read is telling me to keep doing them. Its all a little frustrating but im getting the water tested tommorow and hoping its better.