AboutBenty Expertise GOT A QUESTION ABOUT:
Basic needs for specific fish, illnesses, best tankmates, breeding, water chemistry, tricks to safely cut corners, and/or “stupid” questions? Maybe I can help! :)
I like to explain why you do things in aquariums (like why to use spring instead of distilled, or what pH numbers mean, ect.) so you understand why and not just taking someone’s word for it. I also like giving answers where you have two choices so you can choose which is best for the time and money you can commit to your fish. I understand how tight money can be and how expensive fish related things get.
I will NEVER leave you with an “I don’t know.” Ever. I hate that. That would waste your time and that's just mean. :)
Puedo contestar tus preguntas en español también.
Experience I have had tropical fish since 1999. I currently have: a 55gal, ten 10gal, 3 five gallons, three 2gal, and a bunch of jars and bowls. At the time I'm typing this, I have: 14 angels, 13 goldfish, 73 bettas, 12 barbs, 5 catfish, too many guppies, 4 gouramis, 2 plecos, 10 loaches, bunch of swordtails, and probably a few others, lol.
I love to rescue fish. I've had everything from mutant danios, to one eyed goldfish, to my newest adoptee, a 2 year old betta with a MASSIVE tumor problem. He was brought to a pet shop and left there because the lady didn't know what to do with him. He's pretty scary looking. One of the guys at the store there I know let me have him. :D YAY! Elephant Man lives in a gallon bowl with pretty stones in my bathroom.
Plus!!!
I sell: veil, delta, halfmoon, plakat, and crowntail bettas as well as halfblack and blonde tuxedo fancy guppies. Ask me about it sometime.
Expert: Benty Date: 1/5/2008 Subject: New Tank Set Up
Question Hi! I'm not too sure if you can help me, for I am new to this site.
I have 3 fish, 2 fantail goldfish, and one shubunkin. The Fantails are like giant butterballs, and the Shubunkin is really.. long. I have had these fish for nearly 3 years. They started their lives in a 10 gallon tank, and I decided it was time to upgrade them to a 36 gallon tank. I set up the tank, let it cycle for 3 days, and then put the fish in. Everything was fine for the first few days, and then it went cloudy. The fish became tired, and were hanging out at the bottom. I took water samples, and it said my ammonia was really high, so I did water changes. Then I took a sample to PetSmart to get a 'professional' opinion. The girl told me to stop doing water changes, and to put a lid on the tank, so I did that. Then, within 2 days, the fish started acting weirder. I have hardly fed them. They're going to the surface, gasping. I went back today, and took another water sample. She said my nitrates and nitrites were really high, and that I should vacuum the gravel, so I did that. Then I did about a 30% water change. The fish are still really acting weird. Is this just part of the new tank cycling process? Are my fish going to survive. I'm really worried, because I'm rather attached to them since I've had them for so long. Is there anything else I can do to help them? Thank you for your help, it's much appreciated!
Answer That's a normal part of the cycling but it's the dangerous part. Don't change your water anymore. What is going on is your little fishes are releasing ammonia by breathing, pooping, and peeing. Normal stuff. Ammonia is deadly to fish though. There are "good" bacteria that eats ammonia and turns it into nitrites. Nitrites are still deadly but in higher amounts. Nitrites mix with an oxygen molecule and become nitrates. (With the A.) They are ok! In a new tank though, there are no bacteria. Cycling gives the water time to grow them. 3 days isn't enough. A week to a month is normal.
OR!
There's a product called Cycle in a white bottle and Biozyme in a yellow pill box like thing. They both contain "good" bacteria. You can dump it in with the fish and all goes great. No one sick or anything. Your fish are very sick right now. The high ammonia and nitrites burns their gills and suffocates them. Not good. I would add either Cycle, Biozyme, the old aquarium's water (if you have any left), or put the fish in a bucket with spring water and a pump. Damage to the gills is very serious. It cuts their life short and hurts the quality of life too. Most of it can't be reversed. Don't change your water because you are taking out any bacteria that is trying to grow. Cut feeing in half too and skip every other day. That will help a lot too. Once everything settles down, you can slowly increase the food if you want to.
