I'm a beginner!! New tank trouble!

ruby716

Hi all,

I've always wanted a fish tank so my boyfriend got me a 2.5 gallon for the both of us. We don't have a lot of room to fit a bigger tank until we move in about 2 months. When we get a new place, we're going to get a bigger tank. So in the meantime, we have a 2.5 gallon with a filter & light. We have an orange balloon molly, even though he doesn't look like a balloon, he looks sort of smaller. We have a male fancy tail Guppy, and a whitecloud minnow who is soooo small. Also, 2 ghost shrimp for the bottom of the tank. I have the tank nicely decorated. The fish swim around actively, and look like they love the tank. The molly chases the Guppy around sometimes.. I think he feels like he wants to own the tank lol. Anyways, I ran the filter for 4 days and then added the molly and Guppy in. Then I waited a few more days and added the whitecloud. I used tap water but used water conditioner before I put the water in there. I went to get my ammonia checked and it was a little high, so I did a 50% water change, a 40% water change, and about a 20% water change. I changed the filter out also which I found out was wrong because that grows good bacteria. The filter that I have in now has been in there for 2 weeks though. I waited a few days and checked it again and it was still a little high but lower than it was. I did another water change, and I put in Stability by Saechem.. it's supposed to break down ammonia. I waited 4 days and didn't do any water changes because I wanted to see if the Stability would drop the ammonia level. Well, I checked it today and it was extremely high. I did a 50% water change and did not add any Stability. What is going on?!?!? I feed them once a day, either blood worms or tropical flakes. Sometimes when I move the gravel around stuff comes up, but when I feed them, I make sure they eat it all and no food ever falls to the bottom. Is my filter not working correctly? Isn't it supposed to suck up all the waste and extra food? It probably is working right though because there's only 1 way to hook it up, and I have a stream of water coming down, so. Maybe the molly is just too big of a fish for that tank... maybe he pees and poops a lot, I don't know. Maybe if I take the molly out the ammonia will go down? Please let me know if I'm doing everything I can. Here is a couple of pictures of my tank and my cute little fishies!

Guppie luver

just give it sometime

Romad

Don't worry, you'll get there. I have 6 of those tanks all cycled.

With the Stability I'm pretty sure you add it every day for 7 days. Keep up with the water changes in the meantime.

VTonic

Just give it some time. Your tank is cycling. Its just growing the necessary bacteria. Just keep up on your water changes and everything will stabalize soon.

Inga

Yup, all you need is more time and regular water changes. Your tank simply is not cycled yet. With fish in is harder to cycle because you really have to worry about the Ammonia so you don't permanently damage or kill the fish. Keep up the water changes.

Another option would be to take out a bunch of the decor in there and add a bunch of live plants. The live plants will use up that ammonia and make it safer for the fish. Also, are you testing your water with the liquid test kit? If you don't have one, I recommend you get one of those. It is so convenient and they are quite accurate.

Keep up the good work. The beginning "waiting for cycle" process can be frustrating but... You will make it. :)

ruby716

Thanks for your reply and good advice! When I do the water changes I haven't been stirring up the gravel at all really.. is that alright? I will try and look about a live plant.. that sounds like a good idea. I just don't want the water to get cloudy from it though, since the tank I have isn't all that huge lol. Well I get my water tested for free at an aquarium right by my house. They put it in a vile and then use liquid drops to put in the water and then they shake it. They test my PH like that too. My PH was 7.4, and I had no nitrites or nitrates in my water either. They also told me to feed every other day but my fish get so hungry. I feed them blood worms and don't give them a lot.. None of them ever hit the gravel, they eat them before they do so that's good.

ruby716

Yes I'm adding it every day for 7 days. I started it Tuesday, so my last day of doing it will be tomorrow :)

Calmwaters

Has no one noticed she has way to many fish for a 2.5 gallon tank? Also the minnow would prefer cooler temps while the others need to be warmer. Not to rain on your parade or anything but just trying to help.

Romad

Yep that was the first thing I thought of. They are setting up a bigger tank in a few months so hopefully she can keep these fish healthy in the meantime.

@ruby - willl you be putting these fish into the larger tank when you set it up? That's your best bet and you could keep one betta in the 2.5 gal. once it's cycled.

ruby716

I actually brought back the balloon molly to the pet store where I bought him at, because he constantly was picking at my fancy tail Guppy. He would chase him around the tank, & be aggressive, especially during feeding time. He kept trying to bite his tail and wouldn't let him get any food! So I got another white cloud minnow and fancy tail Guppy. I have 4 fish in there but they are all very small fish, and do not produce a lot of waste. The molly doesn't even equal to the Guppy and white cloud minnow. But yes I am transferring these fish into the larger tank in about 2 months, along with a few other fish! These fish are extremely healthy right now, they are active and eat well :)