IDK what is up

cwgrl42

Ph: 7.4
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0.00
Nitrate: 40
Temp: 74 F
Size: 50 gallon
This tank was set up and running for 12+ years with an Oscar, Goldfish (6 inches), an algae eater (at least 8 inches), and a silver fish with a red tail fin (at least 6 inches). I emptied it except for enough water to cover the gravel, and brought it home. I just switched out one of the carbon filters that came with it. The two in the 60 gallon filter are from the previous owner. It sat for about 12 hours in my cold garage before I brought it into the house and set it up.
Filtration: Tetra Whisper 60 and Tetra Whisper 20
Fish: 4 albino barbs (new), 4 tiger barbs (new), 3 tiger barbs (had for more than 6 months), 1 Rainbow Shark (new), and a Chinese Algae Eater (if I could catch this sucker, he would sooooooo be gone!!!)

Problem: Just returned one Rainbow Shark to the pet store (I am such a d#*@a** for buying 2) because he looked stressed and he was glancing off the bottom of the tank. I suspected ich but he had no cysts showing. I just noticed the second Rainbow Shark and an albino barb doing the same thing. Not continuous, but I saw each of them doing it once. I added salt (about 1 tsp per 5 gallons when I added water and set it up a week ago). Yesterday I bought the 8 barbs and 2 rainbow sharks (1 went back today) and added them. I also added about 1 tablespoon of salt yesterday and today. Sooooo my question is......... If I nick this scratching thing in the bud (and how do I do it) will I be able to keep these parasites from infecting my other fish? Also, the Rainbow Shark is more interested in being out in the open even tho he has two caves to hang in.....is this a problem?

Romad

I'm not convinced yet that you have Ich in the tank. The first thing I'd do is get the ammonia under control. You've got a spike from adding too many fish to the tank at once.

Do a large water change and use a conditioner like Seachem Prime to neutralize the ammonia and nitrites present while your tank tries to re-establish itself.

Good luck and keep us posted.

cwgrl42

Ok, I thought that might be the case but the peeps at the LFS assured me that adding 10 fish to a 50 gallon would not be a problem (they also told me 2 Rainbow Shark could coexist). Ok so when I do the water change (about 25% you think) should I clean the gravel? Should I clean the gravel with all water changes? I have a vacuum and I just stick it in the gravel and swish it around and let all the crud come up. Will this disturb the bacteria? I also add NiteOut...... again after the water change?

Restricted Evidence

I have 7 Tiger Barbs. I have had 5 for two weeks and just added 2 more. I keep my pH at 7 and my temp at 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Ammonia level should always be at 0 and they do not like salt. Adding that many fish will cause ammonia spikes unless your tank is completely cycled (Not sure how long that would take for a 50 gallon. If you did it with just fish food it would probably take over a month. It just depends how you did it). Even with your tank completely cycled that is a lot of fish to add at once.

Do you have proper airation? Like a few air stones in there? Tiger Barbs need plenty of oxygen.

cwgrl42

I have a 14 inch air stone along the back wall. I did a 15 gallon water change and my ammonia level now reads 1.0. I am going to do another change after I do a reading and go from there. I have seen no more glancing off the tank, but I really was hoping that buying an established tank would keep it from cycling... guess I was wrong!!! Ok so I guess I am back to doing water changes and pray it doesn't spike too bad....

cwgrl42

can tap water contain ammonia? I guess I can check the tap water...

cwgrl42

Ok, so me n the hubby just did another test on our tank (I'm becoming obsessed!!!) and on our tap water (for ammonia only). The tank water and the tap water both read about the same at 0-0.25...... In the tank the Nitrites are 0 and the Nitrates are 10. Can the reading on a tank change this fast? After I had done the 15 gallon wc this am, my ammonia reading was up from 0.25 to 1.0 and now 10 hours later it is at 0-0.25?!?!?!?!?!?!? Lost an albino barb, no signs of ick. Idk if it got caught in the shark cave and died as a result or what, but thats where I found him. Ok, so with my readings being what they are right now..... how do I proceed? Rainbow Shark has been chilling in the second cave and when he emerged and glanced a couple of times off the gravel..... No cysts or anything..... Since I am going to return the deceased albino barb in the am, should I just grab the other seven and take them back?