Sandra the fish rookie

@Riverstream I have ParaCleanse. Is there a difference between general cure and Paracleanse?

Update: I have been carefully monitoring my chemistry, and even after administering medications, everything is stable and has not changed since pre medication. I noticed that there was another guppy displaying something funky.. not sure what it is.. but he just does not look right. I decided to follow Cory's quarantine protocol, and dose all 3 meds. I just feel that at this point, they will either live or die but not treating them and at least giving them a chance, is the very least I can do. Being a nurse, I can't just sit back and not do anything and cross my fingers. I had to do something to try to recover from my huge error in judgment. I now know why people leave the hobby.. its heartbreaking. Upon waking up this morning, everyone is still alive, including the one that seems to look strange to me. My peppered cory cat fish seems in distress, he is going up and down the side of the tank..then stops... I don't know.. I am going to pray he does not die from all this treatment. @MAC Thank you so much for your advice. I am going to put in another sponge filter today. I am also going to purchase everything I need to make a quarantine tank. I have learned a very valuable lesson unfortunately at the price of my fish.. who were doing well until I had the stupid idea to get them some more buddies. Now I just am riddled in regret, and total sadness. I am so angry with myself. I should have known better.. I watch enough video's, read enough articles.. and took a chance... @quikv6 I will be honest, I had a slight increase in Ammonia at the very beginning, with trace of Nitrite and Nitrate.. it lasted 4 days.. and boom.. gone.. and I have had no changes in any parameters since. My aquarium plants have doubled in size. So its the only thing I can go on at this point. I also used Fritz Zyme and continue to do so when I do water changes (add a little bit to the filter). Thank you both for your feedback. Its much appreciated.

@MAC should I wait till I am done with treatment, to put an additional filter in the tank? I have so many extra sponge filters.. I am going to get everything ready for the next time. With this lesson learned. How long do most of you quarantine your new fish? a week, two months??? Thank you all for your help!

I have watched all the videos. I have started treatment, and will follow the instructions. The other video he mentions he takes a 2 week break and then does another treatment. So, to make sure I understand clearly, Day 1 treat (I have a 20 gallon, so 2 packets), Day 3, treat again, Day 5 do a 25% water change. Then per Cory, wait 2 weeks, and do 1 more treatment or do I do the entire process again?

UPDATE: The Guppy just died. do I follow the instructions on the box? I have Snails and Cory Cat fish. Is the Para Cleans harmful to them?

I have the quarantine trio which includes Para cleans. However, some have told me that it can do more harm than good? and that it can kill all of my fish... I just don't know what to do... do I treat the whole tank?

Hi ~ On Saturday (Feb 6th) I added 5 new guppies to my 20 gallon high aquarium. my water parameters are very stable. I do not have a quarantine tank and don't really have the space to even have one at this point, as I am new to the hobby. I acclimated them to the tank (float 15 min, added 1/3 cup of my tank water every 15 minutes x3). netted them out, and into the tank with my 1 existing guppy, 2 cory cats, 1 mystery snail, and Ramshorn snail. Note, that I did an aquarium clean, water change, and added some Fritz Zyme to my tank and filter, due to adding more new fish. Checked my parameters PRIOR to the aquarium clean. 1) checked chemistry prior to tank clean. again prior to adding new fish to tank, again 5 hours post new arrivals. and have been checking my chemistry twice daily. I observed them carefully, and they kinda zipped around, and my existing guppy was a bit territorial, but began to calm down a bit. I kept the lights off for 2 hours while everyone was adjusting. there was a bit of bulling initially that was short lived, and was only with the guppies. Sunday afternoon, 1 guppy was not looking well. looks to be gasping, staying at the top, but occasionally going to the bottom or swim side to side. But he just does not look that great. he won't eat much either. I am not sure if he just is not transitioning well due to stress, if he was maybe picked on more than the others (which is why he stays mostly to himself) of if he is sick.. Then I saw something dangling .. but was not 100% sure if it was a parasite or not. All the others are eating, swimming etc. just fine. Here are my parameters PH 7.3, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrates 0 KH 110, GH 120, Chlorine 0 Water/Aquarium temp 78.9 Should I treat him/all of them? I won't have a choice till I get some kind of system set up. I am so frustrated, because I know I need to get a quarantine system set up. I have clear bin medications, etc., but I just don't have all the space to keep this stuff set up for like 3 weeks... ugh.. and I don't know how long in advance I have to set up a quarantine tank before knowing if I will get fish or not.. sometimes, I see nice fish,,, sometimes I don't... so do I set it up in "anticipation" of getting fish, and take it all apart when I don't? I feel frustrated, and angry with myself.. because it seems when I think everything is fine.. its just not.

I have a 20 Gallon High tank and only 1 male guppy. I had 2 other males, that died not long after they arrived. I believe that is my fault because it was a new tank, and I did not have the right testing kits, knew nothing about the hobby etc... so its was a quick learning curve. See below a picture of my planted tank.

What if I already have hard water (GH 120, and KH around 110ish), are these shells still good to use for my snails?

Hi ~ I have been in the cycling process for what seems a life time (47 days/6.7 weeks/1.5 months). Anyways.. 🙂 I currently have 1 guppy, 1 cory cat fish (1 albino, 1 peppered), 1 yellow mystery snail, and now one randomly appearing Ramshorn snail from my live plants. my plants are really doing well and have new growth. at one point I did have a bit of ammonia (0.20-0.25 ppm) that lasted 4 days, with no Nitrite or Nitrates... and now NOTHING.. I wanted to add at least 2 more cory's (1 albino, 1 peppered) to the tank, but not sure if that would cause more problems. I know about the 1 inch per gallon theory, but am under the impression that is to determine the full stocking potential. But what is considered low or light stocking? I want to get my tank cycling moving again, and just don't know what more to do. I am feeding lightly (which includes an algae wafer a week), and fertilizing 1 cap full weekly as well (with the stuff the place I purchased my plants provided me). I don't mean to sound whiney.. but just want to give my cory's some more buddies to hang with. But don't want to cause any additional risk or cause fish death. Any experience or advice is welcomed. If I can't add more fish till my tank is cycled.. then I will accept that. Thanks everyone.

Hi Everyone! Hmmm what's new with my crew. Lets see. Well I am STILL CYCLING LOL.. we are on day 23, checking chemistry, etc... all is good and stable, and my 3 fish and 1 mystery snail are all doing well. One day I randomly found a new baby snail in the tank.. I mean itty bitty.. gah.. too cute. its a Ramshorn. Plants have new growth, and are doing well. Trying not to clean the aquarium too much during the cycling process. I made a new tank stand, that is much more stable than the previous one. painted the cinderblocks, and stained the wood to match my desk in my home office. I am trying hard to be patient, and not add anymore fish.. ugh.. the struggle is real. But I am still really enjoying the hobby, and learning something new everyday. I am also thankful for all the forum topics and the experience of others.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I have fed them and will do a water change this evening.

I have had my Guppy and snail since Dec 22nd, and my 2 cory cat fish since Dec 28th. I was feeding them VERY little every second day till my tank started to cycle on Jan 11th

Hi Everyone~ Okay on todays episode of Sandra the fish rookies fish in cycling, we are on Day 3, Here are my parameters and 2 questions below I am hoping to get some advice on. PH 7.2; Ammonia 0.20 ppm; Nitrite 0 ppm; Nitrate 0ppm; KH 65 ppm; GH 120 ppm and water Temp 78.2. Because I am below 0.20 ppm should I hold off on a water change this morning, and wait to see what my chemistry looks like this evening? Last evening, the parameters were the same as above, and I added some Fritz Zyme in the evening (Day 2 I did a 10ish % water change, and added 1/2 cup of Fritz Zyme and prime in the AM and after repeat chemistry, added the second 1/2 cup of Fritz Zyme). I have NOT fed my 3 fish and 1 snail since 09 Jan 2021. 1) Should I feed them a small amount today? Yay or Nay? Will this cause a crazy ammonia spike? 2) Is there such thing as adding too much Fritz Zyme? I searched all over the intranet last night and the actual Fritz site, and could not get anything "concrete". I have given 2 cups to date. Should I relax on that? Use it again when I do a water change? Thanks everyone for your advice and support, its appreciated. Sandra 🙂

Thanks @James Black, I have seen the peppered Cory do it.. but never the Albino.. he is such a spaz in that tank. Now that the ammonia is going up, its making me really hyper vigilant. I really don't want to lose anymore fish. I am really hoping that I will be able to get some more Cory's to keep my current ones company. Once they get established, get more fish bit by bit.. gradually. I feel like it has taken FOREVER to get to this point. I do believe the changing of my filters from the single use disposable with the carbon, to now the coarse re usable ones, might have made a bit of a difference in regards to catching more bacteria, and helping with growth. I also added a intake filter as well.

Hi everyone, So my fish in tank finally has started to cycle yesterday morning (Day 1). my ammonia is at around 0.2 ppm, 0 ppm Nitrite, 0 ppm Nitrate PH 7.3 Temp 78.2. Fish were all acting fine. I added 1/2 cap of prime and did not feed them. That evening, I tested the water again, and ammonia was at 0.25 ppm, Nitrite, 0 pm Nitrate 0 ppm, Temp 78.4. Fish are all fine acting normally. I finally received my Fritz zyme 7, and added 1 Cup per the instructions. I also did not feed them. This morning (Day 2) PH 7.3, Ammonia, 0.3 ppm, Nitrite 0 ppm, Nitrate 0 ppm, Temp 78.2. I did a 10% (maybe a touch more) water change, 1/2 cap of Prime (in my new water) and 1/2 cup of Fritz Zyme. My albino cory cat was kinda resting on the bottom.. I FREAKED.. so made sure he was still alive, and he responded to me touching him and zipped away. Checked my ammonia again, it was 0.25 ppm Nitrite 0 ppm Temp 78.4. I plan on doing a FULL panel tonight again, and depending on results, add prime but will also add the rest of the Fritz bacteria (1/2 cup). I have a 20 gallon high, per the instructions, its half cup per 10 gallon. Am I doing everything right? Any suggestions or recommendations are VERY welcomed and appreciated 🙂 Sandra (the fish rookie)

I ordered a glass hinged top and am waiting for it to arrive. This black top, makes a MESS when I have to remove it. I am hoping I will have less evaporation once the new top comes in. I also ordered new lights as well.

Hi Everyone~ Another question. The top that came with my aquarium, I absolutely despise. I have ordered a new glass one that has a seam half way to make it easier to do stuff without taking the entire hood off. When your water levels drop below the black line, do you top off your tanks once in a while? Using the SeaChem with the tap water, and just top to the black line (the line below the black top frame)? Thank you !

@James Black When my fish dies.. I FREAKED.. I was like.. OH NO.. decomp! LOL (Nurses.. LOL). I was so afraid that it would make disease in the tank.. so I did a water change, and vacuumed.. And because I am so paranoid that my water (and ME) are killing them.. I was changing water every 2 days.. but now that I am thinking about it (in less panic mode) I am not helping the process. My husband is also a nurse, and he is giggling to himself while I am blogging, reading and panicking over my little fishes.. I volunteer with a pit bull rescue, and have a pit bull and a lab mix.. and was an ER nurse, and an Operating room nurse.. and look at me.. LOL.. frantic over my little fish.. but they are so fragile, and delicate..

Hi @JettsPapa That is GREAT! I did order the AquaClear foam AND the Fluval Bio Foam (to see which one will work best for my filter) that I believe Cory demonstrated how to put both of these in my Aqueon Quiet Flow pro filter. I am waiting for them to arrive from Amazon because the LFS has no stock at this time. My Aqueon filter has a secondary filter section for specialty filters, which I have incase I need them, a carbon, a ammonia and a phosphate remover (all are separate filters). I have a drawer (that is becoming FULL) of stuff. But I am a planner, and just in case "er" . better to have what I need than have an issue and be running around trying to find stuff.

I just ordered the Fritz Zyme 7 live bacteria and while I was at it.. got the quarantine med trio. Because lets face it.. I will be getting more fish, and will end up with another tank so on and so fourth.. so I better get all my stuff.. including the Just in case stuff. a friend of mine had a sick fish, and was running around to find meds.. because after Christmas the stock was low. Thanks everyone for your help and support! This is making this process less stressful (although still a bit stressful) the support is great!

This is all GREAT advise. Keep it coming.. I am taking it all in.. seriously! I was thinking when my light starts to blink (telling me to change it), I was thinking instead of throwing it out (I know.. rookie mistake # 50), I am going to just put it behind one of my plants to help build my bacteria in the tank? like some of you do with your extra sponge filters for QT tanks.. Thoughts? I mean.. It has all the stuff filtered from the tank.. can't it just be used to help get me through cycling?

I saw a video on that idea as well. and I think its an even better idea.. because I ALREADY want another LARGER tank.. and I just know it will become a betta tank.. I just KNOW it.. LOL.. it will be an accidental REAL tank.. with me anyway.. haha

I have the API 5 in one, and because I am so inexperienced, I use those at the same time.. Here are todays results. I am not sure if my every second day water changing might be what is slowing down the cycling process?

I shake it like a mad woman.. LOL.. I give them all a bit of a shake/role (I am a nurse), so I am used to being carful with "shaking" but did read on the instructions that the Nitrate bottle #2 needed to be aggressively mixed (Shaking it aggressively haha). initially, my cheap filters were getting full in 1 day. now it seems like I don't need to change them as often. they are the pre made ones that came with my kit. I am going to finish them and use the course ones that Cory recommended, and hope it will catch more good stuff and help with the cycling.. fingers crossed. I was wondering why I was doing a water change when my results are all 0? that is what has me so confused????