Keeping Fish

[loggy01]

What a minefield! We have just bought some fishtanks for our girls bedrooms. We have just had the water tested and the ammonia levels are too high. Have just changed the water and will reduce feeding and will add another filter. How often should fish be fed. Which is the best tank and filter to buy - dont want to spend a fortune. This fish keeping is quite addictive!

[hammerman]

As you've noticed, it can be a minefield. Your tanks and filter should be adequate for what you want to keep tell us a bit about the existing set up (tank size (L x W x H) type and make of filter, lighting, type of fish you're keeping, any plants, rocks etc) and then people will be better equipped to help.
You could join a fish forum such as http://www.theaquaticroom.com/forum/index.php people will bend over backwards to help you.
As for, feeding...just once a day, again, depending on the type and amount of fish you keep.

Good luck and keep asking the questions

[hammerman]

It's also a sign that there is insufficient or an immature filteration system in the tank.

As for the "strings"....that's the first ive heard of it in 35 years of keeping fish !!!

[Avatar]

You are aware that a new tank shouldnt be stocked for 2 or 3 weeks are you?
You ideally want the filters starting to develop the inner bacteria they need to filter the water effectively. If the fish go in straight away the filters are not effective and as you note, you are seeing lots of ammonia.
Also neat tap water is no good, you know this?
If you can add some "filter start" type of treatment to the water to help the filter along. depending on the size of the tank, some very hardy fish could be added early on. you dont say if its a tropical or coldwater tank so I cant advise on which ones.

[B00]

I'm with Avatar, it really, really annoys me that fishshops will happily sell you fish when it's pretty obvious you've only just set up a new tank.

I'm not getting at you loggy, but to stock a fishtank without getting the PH levels correct is asking for almost certain death for many of the inhabitants you introduce.

[loggy01]

We have a BiOrb 60L tank in my daughters bedroom which is going to be used for tropical. The shop advised us to leave it for two weeks and then have the water retested before purchasing any fish. This is not the one causing the problems.

My other daughter has a tank with an Elite filter, we took a sample of water along and this is the one showing high ammonia levels. We have three fish in here who get a tiny amount of food once a day, we also have done a 50% water change and adding tapwater with the special water conditioner added.

I have just ordered a test kit for ammonia and will re-test in a couple of days. We also have one living plant in the tank which the shop said would help matters a little.

I thought keeping fish would have been so simple!

Still trying to get to grips with what happens when a tank is cycled.

Previous to this we lost two fish with the Elite filter and water conditioner in operation. They seemed to lay on the bottom of the tank. Tank had been stood for two weeks before adding any fish.

[loggy01]

Sorry, also wanted to say something about changing filters. New filters are sold to be changed in the shops. Some people advised that the filters are washed out only in the old tank water to keep the bacteria? Should the filter be changed once a month or not in an Elite Mini filter?

[Avatar]

Always wash the filter in old tap water yes.
If bi orb are advising once a month replacement I suspect its a con to get you to buy their expensive bits.
I change mine once every 4 or 5 months(not BiOrb) and even then not all of the filter media at once.
Just keep changing the water, adding the tap water conditioaner and no more fish for now. It'll eventually settle down. Do not touch the filter for the first few months. Definitely dont clean it every time you change water.
Good luck.

[Avatar]

old *TANK* water I meant. DOH!