My poor fish are dying...

[punkrokchk2000]

Hello all ~

I'm brand new to the forum, but plan to become a *regular* here.

Ok, I have an emergency on my hand. I've been told I've overstocked my 20 gallon (long) tank, and haven't given it the proper time for *cycling*. I know...I feel absolutely horrible and should have done the research BEFORE buying this setup. I have:

4 small blue gouramis
6 tetras that have the vertical stripes on them (I forgot the name) (they're smallish compared to the gouramis)
3 ghost shrimp
5 neon tetras
2 platties (originally 5 - I got them on Valentines day, but all died 6 days later)
1 pleco
1 betta



I know, I know. I'm thinking my 20 gallon filter isn't doing the job for it...does anybody suggest I install my 10 gallon filter as well? Or is all lost and I have to give the fish back to the petstore...

On to even more pressing matters: My betta...great fish, love him to death...I *think* he's got fin rot. Or ammonia burn. The guy at the petstore told me my platties died because my nitrate/nitrite levels were toxic... ugh, so I immediately did a 40% water change...my betta was doing great in the 10 gallon tank I had set up with 5 mini-neon tetras. But then I just had to get a 20 gal. tank and move everybody in right away.

Should I isolate him, set up my 10 gallon tank and put him in that and monitor him? Should I run to the store and buy medicine? I'm so stuck at this point, I feel like a murderer for not having been more responsible with my aquarium.

I need advice....and fast. My betta's still doing great - eating, swimming normal...but his tail/fins seem to be fraying - they even have a *slight* reddish hue to them..

I feel so bad. Any advice??

 

[Lotus]

Welcome to the tank

I'm kind of lost about what you have where. Did you break down the 10g completely? Your 20g is going through a new cycle, by the sounds of it, so you're back to square one with fish probably already weakened.

I would put the betta and some of the tetras into the 10g tank, and start doing water changes every two or three days to try to save the fish. If they have it at the fish store, get some Bio-Spira or Seachem Stability.

The filter won't really help too much one way or the other. A larger filter won't help with cycling your tank and establishing the bacteria needed to keep your water conditions healthy.

This article will help explain the cycle: http://www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/cms_view_article.php?aid=14

 

[punkrokchk2000]

Oh thank you so much....I'm starting to set up my old 10 gallon tank again.....

I'll wait a couple of days before transfering some of the tetras and the betta in there...

I bought the 20 gallon tank 4 weeks ago...and transfered the betta, pleco and the 5 of the neon tetras over to the new tank....and of course went on a shopping spree and added 10 fish. God, I feel like an idiot.

I'm going to seperate the fish, to make it easier on them all...

Ok, going to read the article you sent me. Thank you so very very much!

 

[punkrokchk2000]

broken link

the link didn't work.

 

[Lotus]

I think the link should work now.