Tropical Fish Forums

[LB2K6]

okay I have a 20L tank, whilst the bigger one isnt in cycle, and in this tank I have 4 cardinal tetras, 3 corydoras and 1 bristlenose, they have all been fine together,

water temp is at 24-25c and I feed them all about a pinch of Nutrafin Max fishflakes each morning, I fast them all once a week over the weekend, and also do a water change everyweekend as well as clean the filter.

But yesterday I had some Betta's arrive midweek for my wife so iused some of their water ad did another water change, and then I also placed a piece of driftwood I bought (small piece) in the tank, this seemed to freak them out a lot for a while (5 mins)

And this morning I find one of the tertras has a real silver on his tummy like its almost concave, and his gills compared to the others are a bright red.

I don't think I'm over feeding as they polish off what I give them and they want more, and temp seems normal, only thing that I can think of is my pH is off the scale,

My last readings were:
pH High range: 8-8.2 alkaline
Ammonia: 0-0.25
Nitrite: 0.25-0.5
Nitrate: 0-5 ppm

I mean the pH is stable and hasn't seemed to bother them for a few months now...

Ideas anyone?

Thanks
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Cory lover

[LB2K6]

In reply to my own post, pretty sure its just stress related.
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Cory lover

[diademhill]

pH High range: 8-8.2 alkaline
Ammonia: 0-0.25
Nitrite: 0.25-0.5
Nitrate: 0-5 ppm

These are the readings of an uncycled tank. The only acceptable readings for ammonia & nitrite are zero. Have you been cleaning the filter media under the tap?

I suggest you move the fish to the larger tank as they will be safer in a larger volume of water. Move all the decor & filter from the existing tank too.
Do daily water changes until ammonia & nitrites are zero. This could take several weeks.

How big is the new tank?

[LB2K6]

the new tank is 135 liter or 35 gallon roughly, buts no cycled yet or or cleaned for that matter, and I don't have an air stone yet either. so I'm too far off that,

current tank, all I have to do is a water change and it may aswell be un cycled, and ill keep doing daily changes then, and okay ill take all the decor out tomorrow monring, *sigh* this sucks

thanks for your help
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Cory lover

[diademhill]

Airstones are not needed.
Rinse out the new tank then catch & bag the fish.
Move everything from the old tank - filter, heater, water & decor. Top up with dechlorinated water.
Float the fish and start as if starting a cycle.

Daily 25% water changes and don't buy any more fish!

What dechlorinator do you have?

[LB2K6]

so I shouldnt wait for the new tank to cycle? just clean it and go? should I buy some fountain water or something?

and I have api with the aloe in it

and what do you mean by float the fish?
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Cory lover

[diademhill]

You have the fish in an uncycled tank so they will have more change in a larger uncycled tank.
Just rinse it out and use tapwater with the API water conditioner used as the bottle directs.
The decor & filter from the small tank should have some bacteria to help speed up the cycle.

Float the fish to adjust them to the new tank the same as if you just purchased them.

[LB2K6]

alright, ill get on it today, thanks man
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Cory lover