Please help! I've learned more on your site in the past 3 days than in my 2 months of research - please help, I want my fishies to Live

Here's info :
amm: .50 ( down from 8.0! over the past 4 days)
NITRITE: 5.0
nitrate: 20/30 (sort of inbewtween - using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals testing)
Ph: 7.0
Ph out of tap (use filterers water) 7.6
Tank Size: 10 gallon - cycling for 33 days with 3 fish
Filter: Primo Multi-Filter from Marineland, cascade, 85gph for up to 15 gallon tank
Water changes: 20% every 3 days . Yesterday 50%, today 70% - just enough water for fishies to be comfy in
FISH: Calico ryokin named Odie, Calico Shubunkin named Errol Fynn, Organe Fancy named Mo - they are each 3" from nose to tail
Additives:
Stress Coat - 5ml
StressZyme - 5 ml with water changes
SuperChlor Plus for water changes
Yesterday - added Amquel+, did not today after the 70% water change
AquaPure Zeolite for Ammonia, added to charcoal - worked for Ammonia levels

ALSO: read on this site:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/treatment_tips.php

that non-iodized sea salt can help with nitrite stress during cylcling, added 1 TBSP waited an hour, nitrite levels still high, added another TBSP and nitrite still 5.0.

Oh Please help, this is my second go and I was super careful in setting up this tank, I let it run for 2 weeks - testing and using Stresszyme, etc., before adding fish.

They haven't been fed for 3 days, fed today a teeny bit of flakes.
They usually get bloodworm, shrimp, pellets, 2 of some combination 2x a day - I will now only feed them once a day.

Noone freaking out (except me!!) , Errol wants to fall over sideways a little bit - just barely, and occasionally Odie and Errol will take deep breaths/gulps but not often.
I think salt treatment is helping them - they are active and pecking around at the moment.

THank you thank you thank you!!!

Saivite

Hi saivite - nitrites are scary no?

Just on the salt - it will do absolutely nothing to the level of nitrites but it will give some relief to your fish and will act as a buffer against nitrite poisoning. If you can, increase aeration - salt tends to deplete oxygen levels.

I'd stop using so many dechlorinators - that's too much chemical that they don't need. Amquel+ will do the job nicely and it's a good product, so i'd just stick to that. The good news is, you're in the final legs of cycling and to keep the nitrites under control, do some massive waterchanges. Do these daily until you see a reduction in your levels.... You want to bring them under 1.0.

Keep that salt at 0.1% (1 teaspoon per gallon) until you show a 0 for nitrites and keep up the waterchanges. How long has your tank been set up?

Post back soon

Jen is right on the salt being only for stress.

However you have too much in there now. YOu need to do water changes before adding anymore. Unless you have done water changes and not added salt back you are at 0.6% way to high.

AS Jen also said you are on the last legs of the cycle, however with 3 fish in only a 10 gal tank, I doubt if it will cycle completly and be stable.
You are severly overstocked and that is not good. Water quality will alway be "unstable" with that many fish. Are you planning on upgrading soon?
If not there may not be much you can do for them.

In the mean time, once again like Jen said, water changes are needed until you get the nitrites down to under 1. You should do them every couple hours checking the levels in between.

Wow! Thanks guys!

I will do water changes until nitrites level out and just use Amquel+.
So, 3 fish is overstock in my 10 gallon tank? They are just 3 inches from nose to end of tail not very wide and Odie the ryokin is 2 3/4" nose to tip of tail, too much?

Good news is that I am getting a 20 gallon (may be a bit bigger) tank in the next week from a client complete with filters/pumps.

I started the 10 gallon tank September 26th and according to my journal, put fishies in September 30th. Looking over my entries, nitrite at .5 on Nov 1st and Amm at 8.0. That's when Idid the zeolite granules. I know I tested nitrite after that but did not write it down. The next entry says Saturday, yesterday, nitrite at 5.0.

Thanks so much for your advice - very much appreciated, I want to ask about proper stocking for the larger tank - I'll do that on another board and when I get the other tank's specifics.

Thanks again - I can't wait till I can do maintance and really enjoy the aquarium and fish without freaking out!





Much Gratitude,

Saivite

Hello again, not - just changing water . Waiting till 10:45pm (EST) to test for nitrite again. Question: Other than Amquel+, should I add any StressZyme or Cycle? To help with bio filter? Even though I maybe changing it out in an hour?

Thanks~

Saivite

Nitrite is at .5 and Amm is at 0/.25! I did a 90% change and now will follow up with a 50% change and see if that knocks it down a bit more before I go to bed in an hour or two.

Big thanks to all - looking forward to that 20+ gallon tank.

Saivite

To be honest, all you need is that A+ - it detoxifies any harmful chemicals and with your waterchanges, you should see continued improvement

When you get your 20 set up - perhaps you could run both tanks and keep 1 in the 10 and put 2 in the 20. The reason that 10gal per fish is rule of thumb is mainly due to water quality but also health and growth play a big part. With good filters, you can get away with a little overstocking when fish are small but as they fish grow, it becomes more about their continued health and the quality of your water.

Your parameters are looking much better though - that's great news although as you probably know, they will start to climb again until the next waterchange...

It's good to hear that you're seeing results,but as mentioned as long as you have that many fish,water changes will probably become an everyday routine for you.Goldies are some of the most beautiful,but Messiest fish that you could have chosen! The 20 gal. will definately help though.As Jen said one in the 10,and two in the twenty will get you at a decent place. I have a feeling that with you starting a Goldie Journel right off the bat,and getting a second tank allready-that you'll be one of us in no time! Continued success,and keep researching.You'll find your brain turning into a sponge when it comes to Goldies!

Thanks Dev and yes, I started the journal first go around. Unfortunatly, my first 2 orandos didn't make ;( I held a eulogy for them at the Park (Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Ga - nice size lake). I had the tank and was determined to try again - they may be messy, but what personalities!!!

I do find it immenselfy FUN and enjoy taking care of the finned ones.
And yup - my nitrite back up to .5 this morning. So another change tonight.
My downstairs neighbor and I just started "fish -ing" about the same time.
He is cycling a 35 gallon tank. He has 3 ryokins and 1 orando, 2 chinese algae eaters and a cory cat - the golds are very big, maybe 5" long and 4 " wide - so, I'm sure he needs another tank as well!

We've been fish buddies, shopping, sharing info, etc., and that's been great.

Thanks Jen, sounds like a plan - 1-10 gallon and the 20 and split the fish, but I hate to split them up - they are all such buddies - ideas for other species that can share a 10 gallon with one of the golds without much fuss?

Thanks to all - and will post when I get the 20+ gallon tank. I hope soon!!!!!


S~