new to hobby please help

WPC08 · 10/26/2008, 07:52 PM

I have a 20G FW with 1 black widow tetra, 1 white skirt tetra,3 harlequin rasbora,1 red fin shark, 1 red wagtail platy,1 black phantom guppy, 1 mickey mouse, 1 orange glofish and 1 common pleco. The tank has been running for about 2 months now, I have added the fish little by little. I noticed last night my pleco, the platys and the tetras started to have the ich. Today I started the "Heat and Salt treatment". I did not vacuuming the gravel yet I do not know if it will be too much stress on them, since I just did the water change with salt. Should I vaccum too today?
Also did all my test: the nitrite is still high 2.0, nitrate is 40, Ammonia 0 and PH 7.2-7.4.
Can I do something else aside water change to bring the nitrite down? Do I have too many fish?
Any advise will be much appreciated.
Thanks

E.intheC · 10/26/2008, 08:14 PM

Most of the fish you list are there singly.. when they should each be in groups.. (ex: 6 or more Black Widow Tetras, 6 white skirt tetras, etc..) not one of each.. they are much more comfortable that way.. further.. the red fin shark shouldn't be in there at all, as it will get WAY too big and is probably bullying everyone around... and your nitrite should be zero.. what kind of filtration are you running?? .. You should pick one or two types of fish you like and try to take back the ones you like less to the LFS. My advice is to do the above, and then read as much as possible about the species of fish you like to keep. Good luck. Have patience, you'll get it.

otrlynn · 10/26/2008, 08:35 PM

If I'm not mistaken, those fish you mention are fresh water fish and you are on a saltwater forum. People will try to be helpful but you may get more responses on a freshwater forum

E.intheC · 10/26/2008, 08:51 PM

yes, you're right, those are all freshwater fish.

returnofsid · 10/26/2008, 09:01 PM

For more informative advice, you might try subscribing and posting to a freshwater forum. This forum is dedicated to the salty side of the hobby. However, most of us have probably had FW as well, so can help probably.

As mentioned above, most of the fish you listed are "schooling" fish and should be kept in schools of 6 or more. Individually, they will not do very well. In a 20 gallon tank, you'll be best of with a school of maybe 6-8 small fish and that's about it. More than that will be too much for a tank that size. I'd also recommend not putting all the fish in at once...maybe half to start with, and then the other half a few weeks later. This way, you won't overload your tank too quickly.

WPC08 · 10/26/2008, 09:08 PM

Thank you. Do you know of any good fw forum?

WaterKeeper · 10/26/2008, 09:09 PM

Well he is using saltwater on those FW fish.

Also, fortunately, the treatment method for FW ich, Ichthyophthirius multifilis,is about the same as for SW ich,Cryptocaryon irratans, namely using copper. Check with the LFS and see if they can set you up with a proper copper treatment.

and BTW

To Reef Central
When You Want To Go Reef!

otrlynn · 10/26/2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WPC08
Thank you. Do you know of any good fw forum?

You might want to try the Fish Geeks forum

http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?na...viewforum&f=71

returnofsid · 10/26/2008, 10:25 PM

A couple of good ones....

www.wetwebmedia.com

and a great one that you can find me on...lol.

http://www.fishaholics.org

mrharris3 · 10/26/2008, 10:49 PM

Actually treating ick for freshwater is alot easier than salt water, thats for sure. I have dealt with both. I would go and get a good treatment from the store. Mardel and there are a couple of good saltwater treatments for ick. The last thing you want to do if you have treated the tank is to do a water change. If you do water changes while treating you are removing all of treatment out of the tank. Furthuremore, once you have treated the fish, do not add anything else to your tank for about a month or two to let the ick in the water die off. Lastly your nitrates.. It sounds as if you have a lot of fish for a 20 gallon tank which could be causing your problem. I would look into increasing your filtration or there are several products that can help you combat this as well. Though the levels will not show as being down with a test strip..the harm to your fish will be removed temporarily. The only thing is you can not do both at the same time. I would get rid of the ick first!

WPC08 · 10/27/2008, 08:09 PM

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Nitrite started to go down today. Fish seems to be doing better

WaterKeeper · 10/27/2008, 08:13 PM

That's great. Glad us ancient mariners could help.

10/26/2008, 07:52 PM	#1
WPC08 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3	new to hobby please help I have a 20G FW with 1 black widow tetra, 1 white skirt tetra,3 harlequin rasbora,1 red fin shark, 1 red wagtail platy,1 black phantom guppy, 1 mickey mouse, 1 orange glofish and 1 common pleco. The tank has been running for about 2 months now, I have added the fish little by little. I noticed last night my pleco, the platys and the tetras started to have the ich. Today I started the "Heat and Salt treatment". I did not vacuuming the gravel yet I do not know if it will be too much stress on them, since I just did the water change with salt. Should I vaccum too today? Also did all my test: the nitrite is still high 2.0, nitrate is 40, Ammonia 0 and PH 7.2-7.4. Can I do something else aside water change to bring the nitrite down? Do I have too many fish? Any advise will be much appreciated. Thanks

10/26/2008, 08:14 PM	#2
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	Most of the fish you list are there singly.. when they should each be in groups.. (ex: 6 or more Black Widow Tetras, 6 white skirt tetras, etc..) not one of each.. they are much more comfortable that way.. further.. the red fin shark shouldn't be in there at all, as it will get WAY too big and is probably bullying everyone around... and your nitrite should be zero.. what kind of filtration are you running?? .. You should pick one or two types of fish you like and try to take back the ones you like less to the LFS. My advice is to do the above, and then read as much as possible about the species of fish you like to keep. Good luck. Have patience, you'll get it. __________________ -Eric

10/26/2008, 08:35 PM	#3
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	If I'm not mistaken, those fish you mention are fresh water fish and you are on a saltwater forum. People will try to be helpful but you may get more responses on a freshwater forum __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

10/26/2008, 08:51 PM	#4
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	yes, you're right, those are all freshwater fish. __________________ -Eric

10/26/2008, 09:09 PM	#7
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Well he is using saltwater on those FW fish. Also, fortunately, the treatment method for FW ich, Ichthyophthirius multifilis,is about the same as for SW ich,Cryptocaryon irratans, namely using copper. Check with the LFS and see if they can set you up with a proper copper treatment. and BTW *To Reef Central* When You Want To Go Reef! __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/26/2008, 09:01 PM	#5
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	For more informative advice, you might try subscribing and posting to a freshwater forum. This forum is dedicated to the salty side of the hobby. However, most of us have probably had FW as well, so can help probably. As mentioned above, most of the fish you listed are "schooling" fish and should be kept in schools of 6 or more. Individually, they will not do very well. In a 20 gallon tank, you'll be best of with a school of maybe 6-8 small fish and that's about it. More than that will be too much for a tank that size. I'd also recommend not putting all the fish in at once...maybe half to start with, and then the other half a few weeks later. This way, you won't overload your tank too quickly.

10/26/2008, 09:08 PM	#6
WPC08 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3	Thank you. Do you know of any good fw forum?

10/26/2008, 10:25 PM	#9
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	A couple of good ones.... www.wetwebmedia.com and a great one that you can find me on...lol. http://www.fishaholics.org

10/26/2008, 10:49 PM	#10
mrharris3 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Memphis Posts: 111	Actually treating ick for freshwater is alot easier than salt water, thats for sure. I have dealt with both. I would go and get a good treatment from the store. Mardel and there are a couple of good saltwater treatments for ick. The last thing you want to do if you have treated the tank is to do a water change. If you do water changes while treating you are removing all of treatment out of the tank. Furthuremore, once you have treated the fish, do not add anything else to your tank for about a month or two to let the ick in the water die off. Lastly your nitrates.. It sounds as if you have a lot of fish for a 20 gallon tank which could be causing your problem. I would look into increasing your filtration or there are several products that can help you combat this as well. Though the levels will not show as being down with a test strip..the harm to your fish will be removed temporarily. The only thing is you can not do both at the same time. I would get rid of the ick first!

10/27/2008, 08:09 PM	#11
WPC08 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3	Thanks everyone for all the advice. Nitrite started to go down today. Fish seems to be doing better

10/27/2008, 08:13 PM	#12
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	That's great. Glad us ancient mariners could help. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29