major amonia spike...please help

[LUVaLOACH]

OK guys, here is my issue. I have a big 55 gallon tank with 2 blue gouramis and 3 silver dollars, and I have a 20 gallon tank that is overcrowded and the amonia tested off the charts after 50% water change yesterday morning...however, the fish are acting/breathing fine.

I want to move some of the fish from the 20 gallon to the 55 gallon. Mainly the 2 (getting really large) angels and the 2 small rainbows as they are really the only ones that I think are compatable with the SD's and gouramis and even this I am not sure about...but I have to do something...soon! The main reason I have not already moved the fish is that the 55 gallon has had major fish losses due to water quatlily and diseases because of a horrible buildup in the underwater gravel system and my inexperience. I have removed the UGF system and the water is testing fine but I am treating a silver dollar with melafix for a severe puncture-like wound on his side. So basically I don't feel comfortable moving anyone into this tank right now, and I don't know the proper procedure for doing so when I do decided to move them.

I don't want the fish in the 20 gal to die. It is over crowded but I also think I took too much water out and perhaps am going to have to "cycle" again. I am not sure, I am so confused as to what to do.

I just added some Aqua-life plus which, unlike Amolock, does not give you the false readings and is much more heatly for the fish. I get it at a specialty shop here in town called Aquarium.

I am ready to go out and buy a larger tank if I have to rather than move the ones in the 20 gallon to a tank where they will get sick, however, part of me says that perhaps this is just the necessary amonia spike the tank has to go through to cycle again and if so what do I do?

Please someone help. I don't want to loose any more fish due to my inexperience or for lack of a better word ignorance.

Thanks,
Kris

[newshound]

forgive me if I didn't follow your post properly but
add more filters
if your worried about a lack of bacteria in your tank you can "seed" the new filter for a day in a established tank and then move it to a new tank. Don't do this with a tank that is suspect.
DOOM "instant" cycled tank.
don't feed your fish at all for a week.

[mistergreen]

you can also do 10%-20% partial water change daily too.. that's keep the ammonia stable.

[Icewall42]

I'm not sure for the long term, but for the short term at least, you will definitely want to do regular water changes. I'm not sure about stopping feeding for a week, but you will definitely want to reduce the current feedings, as less waste equals less ammonia.

Is it possible to get another 20 gallon or maybe a 30 and separating the fish between those two? That might be more cost-effective.

[LUVaLOACH]

I'm not sure for the long term, but for the short term at least, you will definitely want to do regular water changes. I'm not sure about stopping feeding for a week, but you will definitely want to reduce the current feedings, as less waste equals less ammonia.

Is it possible to get another 20 gallon or maybe a 30 and separating the fish between those two? That might be more cost-effective.

Well, I broke down and went and got another 20 and divided the gravel and water between the two tanks...hopefully this will give me some bacteria in the new tank. I got some cycle and I realize I am going to have to cycle both the tanks but I think I can do it, with water changes and really staying on top of the water conditions. Wish me luck.

Thanks so much,
Kris

[brett_fishman]

good luck kris..

now how many tanks do you have?!?! insanely fast growing MTS!!
i've been keeping fish for 6 years, and all i get is this lousy 10 gallon!!!

-brett.

[LUVaLOACH]

good luck kris..

now how many tanks do you have?!?! insanely fast growing MTS!!
i've been keeping fish for 6 years, and all i get is this lousy 10 gallon!!!

-brett.

Thanks Brett, I am up to 4 tanks now, I need to be locked up, lol!

Kris

[brett_fishman]

four!!
what sizes? two 20s and what else..

-brett.

[LUVaLOACH]

four!!
what sizes? two 20s and what else..

-brett.

Brett, I have a 55 gallon, 2 twenty gallons and one ten with african leaf fish, I just love these guys. Also, not sure if it counts but 2 betta bowls and goldfish bowl, lol!

Kris

[brett_fishman]

someone has MTS...haha

but hey, im gonna get a 55 setup one of these days..

-brett.

[LUVaLOACH]

someone has MTS...haha

but hey, im gonna get a 55 setup one of these days..

-brett.

Brett,

Sounds like you have earned that 55 gal! Hey, this all started with my daughter wanting a tank...and boom....I'm addicted. I also love a challenge and this has proven to be a HUGE one, lol! What cha got in the 10 gal?

Oh, BTW...I have been put on tank restriction!!! LOL!

Kris

[Icewall42]

Haha sounds like what I did to my mom. I had just one 20 gallon for a few years, and before that we had a 10 gallon and a 55 gallon, but when I naively wanted to breed pencil fish (I thought putting male and female together would make that happen), the hobby exploded into a small tropical fish shop of our own. So at one time we had some twenty 15 gallons, a 30-40 hex tank, another 20 long, and a couple 30 gallons in the house! My room had a 55 AND a 90-100 gallon in it. We were NUTS for fish, and made an okay business I think. Later we moved the store into our video rental store.

But anyways, good luck with the tanks.

[LUVaLOACH]

Haha sounds like what I did to my mom. I had just one 20 gallon for a few years, and before that we had a 10 gallon and a 55 gallon, but when I naively wanted to breed pencil fish (I thought putting male and female together would make that happen), the hobby exploded into a small tropical fish shop of our own. So at one time we had some twenty 15 gallons, a 30-40 hex tank, another 20 long, and a couple 30 gallons in the house! My room had a 55 AND a 90-100 gallon in it. We were NUTS for fish, and made an okay business I think. Later we moved the store into our video rental store.

But anyways, good luck with the tanks.

Yeah, it can be addicting. I have been having lots of trouble but I think I have it all worked out now...but no more tanks for me, lol...good luck to you as well and thanks.

Kris

[brett_fishman]

kris, i have these fish in the 10:
1 yoyo loach (the other one died last week!!! )
2 pearl gouramis (one has a bit of ick )
1 platy (umm....he has a crooked jaw..? haha)

the gouramis are going into the 55, along with the yoyo...

i am hoping to build the 'colony' to this:
6-8 yoyo loaches
4 pearl gouramis
6 marbled hatchetfish
8 harlequin rasboras
2-3 bristlenose plecos

if this all goes to plan, it shall be sweet...and yes, i do deserve it!!

-brett.

[Icewall42]

That'll look nice, Brett, especially with all the Yoyos. I love Yoyos! They are so active, and their antics are to die for. I've been hoping to het a little school (5 or so) of Striatas, and maybe 4 Yoyos, once a fish store here sells them. I found one the other day that had *sigh* painted skunks, the poor little things. But they also had some gorgeous, though expensive, Botia Angelicus. They had a couply Yoyos, but they were itty bitty little babies and I was afraid they'd disappear in my tank... permanently So I bought a Tiger loach (Botia Helodes). He's got a funny eye, but it doesn't seem to bother him. Also, he's rather skinny, but the head area is full and rounded so I think the fish has just been stressed and/or a light eater. I hope he fills out.