[lovingmyfish]

I have a 1.5 gallon tank with 2 adult mollies n 7 fry n my water is always cloudy what should I do

 

[Nilet699]

Buy a bigger tank!

 

[Nilet699]

Ok, less sleepy response.

Mollies really shouldnt be kept in a tank less than around 10 gallons. No fish should really :roll:

Could you post other details on what your set up is? Filter? heater? etc etc etc.

Also, are you testing your levels; ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? if so, what are the numbers?

You say you cant get a bigger tank (pm), why not? If you want my honest opinion, if 1.5 G is the biggest tank you can have......bag up your fish, take them to the local lfs, and give them them....call first. Keeping any fish in a tank that small is inhumane. People used, and no doubt still do, keep bettas in tank of that size, and mollies likely too, and whilst they can live, and breed as you can see, you are causing them a life of misery.

Sorry to be a downer, but if i were you, and want a tank of that size, shrimp/a snail are about your options.

 

[JDM]

.... shrimp/a snail are about your options.

Yes. I kept a betta in a pitcher of about that size, not great but what can you do when you don't know and the store says it's fine? We changed the water at least once per week, 100%, and scrubbed EVERYTHING in it so there was no cycle but a few plants helped with the initial ammonia load... plants grew like crazy. Fish is still alive and in a 37 gallon tank.

Anyway, the issue is partly that it is just physically too small for the fish but also that in that small volume of water the ammonia that the fish produce gets too concentrated too fast and harms/kills the fish. I don't know your tank details but with no plants, the problem is compounded, with no water changes or few... well, it gets pretty toxic in there. Larger tanks (even a 5 gallon is better but 10 and up) are more stable and can be setup (cycled and/or plants) to handle the toxins put into the water as long as water changes are routine and often, weekly at least.

Jeff.

 

[ao]

I keep my betta in a 1 gallon. Honestly, he doesn't care. I've had him sice a fry and he's gone through mush larger tanks. Being much more active as a juvenile, he began to slow down substantially as his aged and his tail grew longer and much heavier. Can he do well in a 10 gallon tank? Sure, but to this one it's not different that being in his 1 gallon right now.

Bettas aside. Other fishes, unlike bettas are without the burden of excess finnage and should be given an appropriate amount of room to play, swim, and school in. it is inhumane to keep them in such confined environments as they will be bouncing off the walls. and honestly for live bearers, these guys needs room to run and hide...how would you like to be harassed continuously by the opposite gender? lol.

So the cloudy water is likely a bacterial bloom. There is too much toxic nutriets in the water produced by the fish and as a result bacteria has taken over to try and consume the nutrients.
It is extremely unlikely your tank can sustain such a large bioload...

Realistically speaking you can usually get a ten gallon or larger for what you paid for the 1.5 gallon...

 

[lovingmyfish]

i went to petsmart n got my mollies n the dude there picked my tank out n said that was a good size for them n it came with the filter n heater n they check my water n all they say it is good n the reason why i cant get a bigger tank if really none of ur business jus want to know what i can do with it till i can get a bigger tank

 

[lovingmyfish]

I keep my betta in a 1 gallon. Honestly, he doesn't care. I've had him sice a fry and he's gone through mush larger tanks. Being much more active as a juvenile, he began to slow down substantially as his aged and his tail grew longer and much heavier. Can he do well in a 10 gallon tank? Sure, but to this one it's not different that being in his 1 gallon right now.

Bettas aside. Other fishes, unlike bettas are without the burden of excess finnage and should be given an appropriate amount of room to play, swim, and school in. it is inhumane to keep them in such confined environments as they will be bouncing off the walls. and honestly for live bearers, these guys needs room to run and hide...how would you like to be harassed continuously by the opposite gender? lol.

So the cloudy water is likely a bacterial bloom. There is too much toxic nutriets in the water produced by the fish and as a result bacteria has taken over to try and consume the nutrients.
It is extremely unlikely your tank can sustain such a large bioload...

Realistically speaking you can usually get a ten gallon or larger for what you paid for the 1.5 gallon...

around here the 10 gallon tanks or 30 plus n i have 2 female didn't plan on having babies the dude said she wasnt preg well he was wrong but i have to wait till they are a month old for them to take the babies

 

[jentralala]

People at the pet shop do not have your or the fishes best interests in mind. All they care about is making a sale and getting you to buy something.

 

[ao]

i went to petsmart n got my mollies n the dude there picked my tank out n said that was a good size for them n it came with the filter n heater n they check my water n all they say it is good n the reason why i cant get a bigger tank if really none of ur business jus want to know what i can do with it till i can get a bigger tank

Well this is what you can do to give the fish a fighting chance at life, if you don't want to take them back that is....

Do atleast a 50% water change every day. I would say 100, but that might kill your fish....
never turn the filter off, or change the filter media... until you get a bigger tank.
go grab a bunch of anacharis/ elodea and put that in the tank. you're gonna kill a lot of swimming space but the plants will help in absorbing the toxins until your tank cycles and hopefully prevent the fish from being poisoned.

Read up on cycling a tank...

I'm going to say that despite all this, you might be too late, and there is a high percentage that everything is a downward spiral from here....don't be too surprised if the fish die, they're practically living in a pool of their own waste right now...

 

[Byron]

i went to petsmart n got my mollies n the dude there picked my tank out n said that was a good size for them n it came with the filter n heater n they check my water n all they say it is good n the reason why i cant get a bigger tank if really none of ur business jus want to know what i can do with it till i can get a bigger tank

Welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum.:-D

I'm sorry your first experiences are so negative, but everyone here cares passionately for the well-being of fish. So we want all fish, including yours, to be at their best. They are after all living creatures and they need certain things to live a normal healthy life.

Sadly many pet stores have staff with little or no experience. There are exceptions, even among the "chain" stores, but not everywhere. There was a time when beginning hobbyists had no one but the store to ask for advice, and many of us lost fish after fish. Now days we have the internet with forums like TFK. Always, always find out from those who know first, before buying fish , tanks, etc. Not only will the fish be better for it, but you will save money too.

As others have said, a 1.6 gallon tank is no where near sufficient space for any fish [except a Betta]. I would return the fish. Or buy a new larger tank. And if you are going to do the latter, you want a 20 gallon tank, preferably what is called a 20g long, which is 30 inches in length and holds 20 gallons. You can have slightly more fish in a longer tank. The Common Molly needs this space, it will grow (if it is healthy and survives). Read more in our profile, click on the shaded name.

Good luck.

Byron.