Getting Nervous... New Tank

[dccstl]

I recently just set up a brand new tank for a school I work at. Cleaned it, put all new stuff in (left a little old water), and a new filter (Fluval 406) etc. I went to the fish store and told them all of this and they recommended I start with 3 goldfish for the 75 gallon tank because it had to cycle. They told me a little about this cycling process but now I am second guessing putting any fish in like they said.

I check the levels when I get to work and when I leave. After the first day the water looked cloudy. The PH appears to be around 7.0-7.2. The ammonia is right around .25 maybe a little under and it is the third day. The sold me ammolock but I have read not to use it.

Nitrate/Nitrite are at 0.

I now understand that I should have waited for the fish tank to cycle before adding fish but it is too late.

So here is my question. Should I act now with an ammonia level just under .25? When should I use ammolock? If I do water changes how should I prepare the water (besides temp and water conditioner).

I will not feed them but every three to four days. Thank you for the help in advance.

[ameliaaahx]

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=36492

[Honey Badger 1]

In addition to reading the link Ameliaaahx gave you, you also need to know what kind of goldfish you have, many are not suitable for a 75 gallon tank as they mature. Here is a link to a thread I stole from Lady Hobbs signature about how big each type of goldfish is expected to get. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=47133

You could return the fish and do a cycle without fish. Here is a link about cycling the tank without fish in case you choose to take them back.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=5640

I think ammolock is a water conditioner and not an ammonia remover, if true, then it is good to use. You need to condition the water with something that detoxifies chlorine and/or chloramine with every water change.

[smaug]

Ammolock is used to detox ammonia in water. I have used it in the past for temp holding of my koi when I was redoing there pond. I didn't have the luxory of a big enough tank or filter so amo climbed as high as 3.0 even with 80% daily wc. Ammolock kept them all healthy and it does work. I would not use it unless it was an emergancy as it shouldn't be needed if all is well.

[Lady Hobbs]

I'd take these fish back and cycle the tank properly. There's no point in having goldfish if you do not want to keep goldfish. They are coldwater fish so do not need a heater. Other fish need a heater and are warm water.

Old water did nothing toward cycling this tank.

[faolteam]

do they take back fish

[jeffs99dime]

do they take back fish

You have to ask them that.

[dccstl]

Thank you for the info.

From everything I have read and have been told 3 goldfish for a 75 gallon tank is large enough. They are oranda goldfish which should grow around 6-8".

I want to keep the goldfish. We wouldn't have bought them if we didn't want them. There is no heater and no other fish in the tank.

I will see if they can take them back so the tank can cycle properly. In the meantime I will continue to do water changes...

Thanks again!

[Tomas4444]

Thank you for the info.

From everything I have read and have been told 3 goldfish for a 75 gallon tank is large enough. They are oranda goldfish which should grow around 6-8".

I want to keep the goldfish. We wouldn't have bought them if we didn't want them. There is no heater and no other fish in the tank.

I will see if they can take them back so the tank can cycle properly. In the meantime I will continue to do water changes...

Thanks again!

If the store won't take the fish back you can still cycle the tank with fish in, it's just not ideal for your fish. Just try to keep the ammonia level around 0.25 ppm (if it gets to 0.50 ppm do a 50% water change). In such a large tank with just a few fish, the ammonia level will probably rise relatively slowly due to dilution. Check it twice a day if you can. It may take several weeks to cycle (I just cycled my newest aquarium = 14 days but I did the fishless cycle and used bacterial additives). I have cycled many tanks with fish in years ago. They will be fine as long as you're diligent with testing and water changes.

[bethyMT]

I just want to tell you that things are going to be all right. You didn't know what you were doing straightaway...many many of us are guilty of that. The store sold you some stuff you don't need. They do that all the time.

What I would do is what pp (thomas) said. You can do a fish-in cycle. It's not ideal, but it can work. Just keep the ammonia down to .25 or below. Make sure you condition your water...people here really like Prime (by Seachem). It will also help by converting toxic NO3 to less toxic NO4.

If you want to keep the goldfish, that's great. Perhaps you can return the heater to the store, and get some Prime.

AND...there is a strong argument for fishless cycling. More humane for sure. However, sometimes when you have lemons you have to make lemonade! Just be vigilant in testing and observing the fish. This means you may have to stop in to the school on weekends....