Help me fix my mistakes!!!

[DaisyMermaid77]

Here's the truth...

I recently lost my 3 rats because my apartment doesn't allow out-of-water animals. (I can't even have frogs!

Anyways, to relieve my sadness I decided to get fish! I love them now!

BUT...and this is a large but, I didn't know anything about aquariums. I did a small amount of research and drove 60 miles to the city and bought a 20 g tank. I cycled (bad definition of cycle) I let the dechlorinated water with the filter running for 22 hours.

About two weeks ago, I went to Petsmart and bought 5 long-finned Zebra Danios. (So cute and active). Since then I acquired 2 blue mystery snails, 2 albino plecos, 2 upside down catfish, and 2 glass catfish.

My ph levels are stabalized but my ammonia levels keep rising, not at a drastic rate. I did a 40% water change and the fish seem more active, especially both species of catfish.

I fear that something might go wrong since I am new and added the fish at such a fast frequency. Also, most of the on-line info. I've gained for the glass catfish is that they like groups more than 5. Am I too crowded already and would it be way too crowded if I added 3 more glass catfish to make them feel safe? They've been sitting under my bridge at the bottom of the tank so I think they are unhappy. There's more about the tank like pump and lighting and the fact that I'm going to add a live plant to the tank I ordered online, but otherwise that sums up my question/comments.

Go ahead and criticize and give advice. I want my fish to be happy.

Thanks for the views and posts in advance!! I look forward to the responses!
~Daisy

[COM]

Daisy - everything can be fixed.

Running the filter in dechlorinated water for 22 hours is absolutely not "cycling" the tank. "Cycling" means getting your nitrogen cycle running correctly. Basically, fish waste contains toxic ammonia. Bacteria break down ammonia into nitrite, also toxic. Another bacteria will break down the nitrite into nitrate which is not toxic at low levels. Eventually these bacteria will develop in your tank naturally over time. This will take about 6 weeks.

I always recommend cheating and using a bacteria source instead of going through the cycle. You can do this by getting bacteria from someone else's well established filter or you can buy the bacteria. There are several packaged products. The most common one is BioSpira which is available at some good fish stores and at some online retailers like aquariumplants.com. A product like this will resolve your nitrogen cycle issues in a few hours.

In terms of the fish that you have in the tank, it isn't what I would consider the best mix for the tank. I'm not a pleco expert (there are many here) but most of them get very very big. As for the catfish, you generally want to have a school of 5 or more. Glass catfish can get up to about 6 inches. I would recommend that you consider a much larger tank down the line. The upside downs will get to be about 4 inches. Zebra Danios usually get to 2 1/2", the long fins are similar from what I know of them.

Be prepared for a barrage of demands for you to "return that fish." I'm not suggesting that you necessarily do that, but it might not be a bad idea in the case of some of those species.

[DaisyMermaid77]

COM,

Thanks for the advice! I realize now that getting the glass catfish was an ill-advised purchase, and I am considering getting another 20 g and separating the danios and 1 pleco. As far as the information I've gotten, Albino plecos only get 4 to 5 inches long. I've found multiple sources for this info.

I'm pretty sure I've seen Biospera at Earl May here in town so I'm going to take a trip there today, thanks for the bacteria advise.

When I did a water change today I rearranged the plants and stuck some upside down in the tank. The upside down catfish are really happy and active now and the placos, danios, are also acting normal, but the glass catfish are still concerning me.

Welp, thank you! I appreciate the support!

~Daisy

[pokefan]

Originally Posted by DaisyMermaid77

I rearranged the plants and stuck some upside down in the tank.

lol, May I ask why?

[Good Wolf]

Slight correction on Com's post. Glass cat's max out at 3 inches, and 2 inches is more common. They are very fragile so don't be suprised if you lose some or all of them from the amonia/nitrite cycle.

[COM]

500 Freshwater Aquarium Fish, page 181 - Glass Catfish. "Size: Up to 6in (15cm) but usually smaller."

I thought they were about 3 inches but double checked the book. I was actually looking for a writeup on the albino pleco.

The glass cats will probably be okay size-wise but yeah, the ammonia thing could be a problem.

[trashion]

The albino plecos are probably albino common plecs. Honestly, I'd return them before they stunt. It's very irresponsible that these are still sold in the aquarium hobby they get MASSIVE.

[Good Wolf]

You got to love aquaria. Ten answers for each and every question.

Description:
These odd silurid catfish can attain a size of about 3". They are translucent (hence the name ghost cat or glass cat, as sometimes called) to the point where their skeletal structures are readily visible.

http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/prof...sscatfish.html

Max Size:
4"

http://www.aquariacentral.com/specie...view_records=1

[COM]

Another book I have says 3.75 inches.

[Good Wolf]

I'll ask them how big they get when I get home.

[chattafish]

while your pleco is great on algae now... when it's a more mature common albino pleco it will stop eating algae and be a poop factory. Think of getting a brushy (bristle)nose pleco. They stay 4-5 inches long,always eat algae and are gentle cleaners of plastic deco or live plants. Also, you may wish to consider a fishless cycle using supermarket shrimp. I put in one shrimp sans the shell, when the yecky looking thing is gone,(about week5) I check the ammo, nitrites, nitrates if the reading are right, do a 50% water change with a good gravel vacumn. Or-
You can add used filter medium &/or gravel to speed up to 2-3 week an otherwise 4 to 6 week cycle.

[JustOneMore20]

There are 2 species of Glass Catfish. Kryptopterus minor get up to 3" while Parailia pellucida can get around 6".

The first has a clear spinal column and the 2nd has an opaque spinal column. According to planetcatfish.com even if it is the 2nd species, the ones in the aquarium trade generally stay smaller than 6". I don't think that a school of 4" fish would work in a 20g though. If you have K. minor, then you would be ok with a school of 6 of those......once the tank cycles.

Every book is going to have a different answer........just wanted to throw out the 2 species.

Can you take a pic of your Albino pleco(s)? An albino common pleco will get over 2ft long, but if you have an albino Bristlenose pleco, that is the one that will stay 4-5".

If you have Commons, I suggest getting rid of both of them. If you have Bristlenose plecos, I suggest getting rid of 1 of them. A 20g isn't really big enough for both. Also, once your tank cycles (no ammonia, no nitrItes, and some nitrAtes), then you should add more Glass catfish and more Upside Down Catfish. But, until then, do daily water changes and don't add anymore fish.

[emc7]

He might have an albino bristlenose. Where I am, the albino bristlenose are more common than albino commons.

[trashion]

Really? Geez, I've only seen normal bristlenoses, and that was in one store :\

[COM]

The local stores near me (other than the chains) tend to carry more bristlenose and dwarf species than the commons. I suspect there is a breeder or wholesaler nearby who is supplying all of them. Nice fish.

[TheOldSalt]

Bristlsenoses tend to be the most common albino plecos I see around here in shops.

As for Limpoks, that is, Glass Catfishes, I have personally seen some monster 6 inchers, so I know they can certainly reach that. Out of hundreds if not thousands of specimens I've encountered, though, I've only seen those half-dozen or so in that size.

[COM]

The book that I am referencing has "Krytopterus bicirrhis" as the species. So I guess there are at least 4 species being sold as "Glass Catfish" in the 500 most common freshwater tropical fish sold in the US.

[dolifisis]

I'll leave the answers up to everyone else. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the hobby. It's very addictive!