[Platypus]

Hello, I am new to tropical fishkeeping and have a new 55 litre tank that I have cycled using the fishless method. It has an internal filter and is not planted as I don't yet have a light.

I bought 6 x Platys last Wednesday and have been monitoring levels since, ammonia and nitrite are at 0.1 and 0 but Nitrates are around 50mg/litre). I did a 30% water change yesterday but noticed that I do have nitrates in my tap water (25 mg/litre) so not sure if I shoudl be using water from elsewhere? bottled water?

Over the last couple of days one of my Platys has started swimming at the top of the tank and is ignoring food. It seems to be simming normally but spends all its time at the top of the tank away from the others. I am not sure if I am overfeeding or not - I am adding 2 small pinches of flaked food a day. Any advice on my poorly platy and nitrate in tap water issue would be greatly appreciated

 

[Flint]

How exactly did you fishless cycle? Nitrates in your tap won't be a huge deal, you'll just need to do water changes more often. Platies are far too active for a 55 liter (15 gallon) tank, however. They need more space than that. I suggest you return them and we can help you out finishing up your cycle and re-stocking the tank properly.

 

[Platypus]

How exactly did you fishless cycle? Nitrates in your tap won't be a huge deal, you'll just need to do water changes more often. Platies are far too active for a 55 liter (15 gallon) tank, however. They need more space than that. I suggest you return them and we can help you out finishing up your cycle and re-stocking the tank properly.

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[Platypus]

Hi, I have now lost 3 fish but suspect this may be down to my own incompetence. I had been doing regular water changes but never thought to rinse out the spong in the filter. I have now done this (with water from tank) and filter is now working properly again and producing air bubbles at the surface. I think I may have starved the others of oxygen. ( . I did the fishless cycle using pure ammonia, monitoring levels daily and only adding fish when ammonia and nitrite at 0 after 24 hours, it took about 8 weeks. I would welcome advice as to what else to stock my tank with, it is 18 inches long and the bloke at my local fish shop assured me that platys would be ok in this tank. I now have 3 x platys left and looking to increase to a few more fish. My tank is18x18x12 inches with no live plants. Many thanks
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[Flint]

You could increase to 5 platies, a school of 7 corydora hasborus but emerald and a school of neons or ember tetra. You could also add two mystery snails should you please.

Neon terta - Paracheirodon innesi – Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon innesi, Cheirodon innesi) — Seriously Fish
Ember tetra - Hyphessobrycon amandae – Ember Tetra — Seriously Fish