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Hi i am new here and I have 70L tank with a under gravel filter currently with air bubbles pumping in the tank. I have a heater that keeps the water at a constant temperature of about 27 Celsius. I had 2 dwarf gouramies, 3 angles, 6 neon tetras, 5 fire neon things, 2 multi colored sharks. Both gouramies died, 2 angles also and 2 neon tetra and one fire neon. I recently got 2 plecostimus and they are fine. I feed my fish every 2-4 days. Please help i need help 10313103141031510316 so thats my tank please help i have now as we speak 4 fire neons,1 angel,4 neon tetras,2 plecos please help and give me advice thank you.
sorry about quality of thread this is my first post :D
azurekoi
10-09-2011, 09:14
Hi Trik...
Coupla things... How often do you do waterchanges? How much? How long has this aquarium been running?
Could be that those Plecs brought in a bacterial or parasitical infection... Also,feeding your fish only every 2 - 4 days is not enough,not by far... Keeping to this paractise leaves your fish with a compromised immune system,and prone to infection...
Also,for undergravel filters to function effieciently,they need a MUCH deeper gravel layer... Gravel doesnt have a large surface area for bacteria to colonise,so by making your gravel deeper to say 5cm + will give you much better filtration...
As for restocking your tank - avoid the Angels rather mate...a 70L is way to small for them...the Rainbow sharks too - they get big and turn territorial - only 1 per tank or more if you have a VERY large tank...
I do water changes every 2 weeks and around 10 liters. I have had the aquarium for 2 and a halve years. And what do you mean by avoid the angels rather mate?
azurekoi
10-09-2011, 09:46
O.k - then its most probably a bug that came in on the plecos(Wich will also grow way to big for this tank btw - same as the Angels) - Without me observing your fish,can recomend you go get some Tetra General Tonic... Works quite well for most parasites and more common bacterial infections...
Up your Waterchanges as well - can bet that if you test your nitrates,they will be rather high... 15liters every week or if you cant do it weekly,big ones every two weeks.
What do you suggest for my tank?
azurekoi
10-09-2011, 10:10
Um... as i said.. Go get some Tetra General Tonic,treat with that... (Nice big waterchange 1st...)
In general, up your waterchanges,feed them a bit more and deepen your gravel layer...
How much should i feed them about 4-5 flakes?
azurekoi
10-09-2011, 13:23
I feed my fish twice a day.... Enough food for them to finish off in a minute or two... Buy a quality food - either Tetra or Ocean Nutrition... Giving them cheapie flakes is never a good idea...
Giving frozen foods like Brine Shrimp once or twice a week,goes far in keeping your fish in peak condition...
I feed them tetramin flakes
Imagine yourself getting only 1 slice of bread every 2-4 days - you may survive for a while, but you are not going to stay healthy for very long? The same goes for your fish. And then if I understand correctly you fed them 4-5 flakes between 20 fish? You are effectively starving your fish to death. Flakes are also not nutritious enough to be fed as the only food. You need to feed a variety diet twice a day.
Do you know what any of your water parameters are? If not, invest in some test kits. Go read up on the nitrogen cycle, this will help you a lot. I would also recommend you upgrade your filter system as well as up your water changes. Before you buy any new fish make sure to first do some research on them, like their full grown size, diet requirements, water requirements, temperament etc.
Imagine yourself getting only 1 slice of bread every 2-4 days - you may survive for a while, but you are not going to stay healthy for very long? The same goes for your fish. And then if I understand correctly you fed them 4-5 flakes between 20 fish? You are effectively starving your fish to death. Flakes are also not nutritious enough to be fed as the only food. You need to feed a variety diet twice a day.
Do you know what any of your water parameters are? If not, invest in some test kits. Go read up on the nitrogen cycle, this will help you a lot. I would also recommend you upgrade your filter system as well as up your water changes. Before you buy any new fish make sure to first do some research on them, like their full grown size, diet requirements, water requirements, temperament etc.
Hey so I have been feeding them 2 times daily but the tetras tummies are getting HUGE is that bad? And what else can i feed them beside flakes. Also I am thinking of putting another feature in do you advise it? And one more thing should I upgrade both my gravel and filter, and if i must upgrade my filter what type should i get? Thanks for your time.
Reedfish
12-09-2011, 09:08
I think your tank is overstocked. Your filter could not be coping.
Have you done a test lately for Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate?
Over stocked with 10 fish really?
And when my 2 angels died they got stuck some where :( is that natural?
I have had this tank for 2 and a half years please any thing you think isn't important IS post it please!So post please!
hey so i have been feeding them 2 times daily but the tetras tummies are getting huge is that bad? And what else can i feed them beside flakes. Also i am thinking of putting another feature in do you advise it? And one more thing should i upgrade both my gravel and filter, and if i must upgrade my filter what type should i get? Thanks for your time. please answer this very important!
azurekoi
12-09-2011, 19:27
Think your poor Tetras are just gorging themselves now that there is food... No worries there,they will pick up some weight and then cut down on their gluttony...
Tank decorations and features are a personal thing... Do what looks good to you and provides a good habitat for your fish... As for filters,maybe look at a internal power filter or a hang on back (HOB) filter - there is a huge selection out there that will be perfect for your tank - remember to run both your new and old U/G filter concurrently for a month or so before switching off the U/G...
azurekoi
12-09-2011, 19:28
Oh...and READ,READ,READ - there is a wealth of info on this forum... use the search function - you will be amazed that almost anything you look for has already been discussed...
U/G.. What is a U/G is it under gravel?
azurekoi
12-09-2011, 19:39
remember to run both your new fiter and old U/G filter concurrently for a month or so before switching off the U/G...
Yup,thats it - under ground filter is a U/G filter in TASA speak...lol
matteffect
13-09-2011, 07:05
Did i not say? Everything these people are telling you?
Reedfish
13-09-2011, 09:02
Over stocked with 10 fish really?
Yup,
The Angels and sharks get big, as do Plecs. Are 250L + tank would be more suitable.
Did i not say? Everything these people are telling you? Nope you said none of the above.
matteffect
13-09-2011, 14:57
Really, water changes, feeding, stock?? i said these things
Nope not of what I can remember all I remember is you boasting about how wonderful your tank is............ Not true?
zaqwsx15
13-09-2011, 20:32
something personal going on here...keep it out of the forums please or dont ask for advise?
Not personal just wondering my matt thinks he told me this:confused:
Hi Trik,
Sorry for not answering earlier. Unfortunately I do not always get the time to spend on the forum. I think Azurekoi answered most of your questions.
Regarding the food, have a look at tablet food for your bottom feeders. Something like Tetra Tabimin or Plecomin will work fine - depending on exactly what kind of Plecos you have, since this name are often loosly used for various species. For the rest of your fish you can feed some granules, like Tetra Prima. Your bottom feeders will obviously also eat this. Then you can also feed frozen foods every now and then. The one most often available is frozen bloodworm. When you feed flakes I would recommend you rather use the Tetra Pro than the Tetramin. The Tetra Pro has more nutrients, because of the way it is manufactured. If you can feed any live food like daphnia and mosquito larvae it is definately a bonus.
So the big secret is to alternate between all the different foods. Not any one food contains all the nutrients a fish needs.
Good luck!
Wow!
I only read of the things you guys are buying! Here in Bloemfontein you only find the basics, the only food they are selling, blood worms and flakes.
psychosid
21-12-2011, 10:01
Wow!
I only read of the things you guys are buying! Here in Bloemfontein you only find the basics, the only food they are selling, blood worms and flakes.
I too thought this to be true a few years back when i was starting out. I could only fine basic things but after a while and after you get to know the hardcore enthusiast in your area you will be directed in the right path to anything and everything you want and need.
Best advice is to get to know who in the neighborhood is really into the hobby and learn from them as they are always willing to help
darknihilyst
30-01-2012, 12:16
Digging up an old thread yes (and a slight hijack), but Vissie is correct. Bfn really lacks DECENT quality fishkeeping equipment. I also have the suspicion all the LPS here (coz there is no dedicated LFS that i know of) get their plants at the same place because I can only see 4 different types in all the shops.. hmm..
That said, if anybody in Bloem knows of a good shop or the like, let us know plz.
Online is our only true option for anything more than a fishbowl..
mydummyname
30-01-2012, 13:07
well, seeing as we are digging up this old thread, right away, the problems spring up at you, and i know coz as a new aquarist a few years ago, i made all the same mistakes.
firstly, this tank was overstocked, even with only 10 fish, it can be over stocked due to the size of those fish, the 2 pleco's alone at approx 2 years old would have been producing huge amounts of waste and should be close to 20cm each in size.. fish quantity and size both contribute to overstocking.
secondly, fish incompatibility, angels should be kept either singly or in groups of 6 or more, again, a 2 year old angel produces a lot of waste and the 70L tank would be too small for him,
angels and gouramis also being "cousins" would be aggressive toward another and cause stress to themselves and other fish,
sharks, if these are rainbow, black, or red tail sharks they would be aggressive toward each other and stress each other and the rest of the fish out, etc these should only be kept singly.
if the 2 sharks are bala sharks, they would be too nervous in a group of only 2 and would outgrow the tank in only a very few months. they would get skittish, twitch all the time and try to jump out of the tank, knocking themselves against the glass and the hood of the tank constantly.
thirdly, water changes are too far apart and the amount of water changed is not enough. i would recommend 10% or 20% once a week.
i think after 2 and a half years, with those fish growing rapidly, they simpy produced too much waste and this would be driving the nitrate, ammonia and nitrite levels too high, and that combined with stress caused by aggression between the various incompatible fish, would have led to the fish having weakened immune systems and dying off one by one..
so even tho the thread seems to be resolved, perhaps this can be a bit of a reminder to the new aquarist regarding stocking and fish compatibility.
cheers ;)
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