Siddy wrote:Hi! I just came here to ask some questions as its been a rough week and I'm having a hard time understanding things. I recently set up a 20 gallon hexagon tank. This is the first one I've ever had to cycle on my own, and I'm struggling to understand the bacteria thing, and I'm also struggling with ammonia levels/nitrates.
I unfortunately was too ignorant at the time to cycle the tank completely before putting fish in, and the fish are showing signs of ammonia poisoning (just slightly red gills). I use Aquavitro seed for the bacteria, and have a whisper filter for a 30 gallon set up.
What can I do to help lower the ammonia levels until I can go buy the powder? I've already done multiple water changes, and I'm not feeding them tonight either. I'm willing to do anything to keep these guys safe. My cousin passed away Friday morning and I can't handle anything else dying any time soon. These fish mean a lot to me.
I made a few mistakes and I'm looking for some advice on what to do as I've looked everywhere.
Currently I have 2 small clown loaches, 4 betta, and an algae eater in the tank. The loaches are chilling in here for now as they're too small for my moms 30 gallon. Am I overstocked?
I also heard that decomposing plant matter could cause ammonia to spike? Could there be a problem relating to the duck weed?
Can you add too much bacteria?
Any advice is appreciated! Please be kind about responses though.
I made some rookie mistakes and I want to fix them before they become a problem. I'm willing to do anything I can for these little guys.
c: Recognising and being willing to fix mistakes makes you an awesome fishkeeper. Everyone messes up sometimes, don't worry about it. You'll have a beautiful, healthy tank soon.
Do you have a test kit? Knowing your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels will help massively while doing a fish in cycle, and just in general. Until you can test your water it might be best to do daily water changes. We don't know what the instructions for your aquavitro say but if you've run out then water changes shouldn't hurt. The instructions should tell you if you can add too much.
Prime claims to detoxify ammonia for 24-48 hours so if you have some and can't do a water change right away that might be an option.
Can you borrow some filter media from your mum's tank to speed things along? Just stick it in your filter and it should cycle a lot faster.
Unfortunately you are very overstocked. Clown loaches get way too big for a 20 or even a 30 gallon. They need to live in groups of at least 5 and can get 12 inches long. They need around 100 gallons minimum and can live 20 years so unless they're only going in the 30 temporarily you might want to return them. They'll be fine temporarily as they grow quite slowly but they can't stay forever.
Are your bettas female? While sororities can work they aren't easy and can fall apart at any time. If you don't want the stress it might be a good idea to return all of them or maybe keep your favourite. If they're males they definitely shouldn't be kept together unless the tank is divided.
What sort of algae eater do you have?
Yup yup dead plants will add ammonia, but live plants are great at getting rid of it. Duckweed grows really fast and sucks up ammonia like crazy so unless it's mostly dead it'll be helping more than hurting c: