Tank help

Hi guys

I'm so stupid I realise now and would like someone to help me if possible

A friend of mines father died a couple of weeks ago and my friend asked if I would like his fish tank which was 6ft x 2ft high x 18inches deap. I've always loved tropical fish so jumped at the chance.

The tank arrived along with the fish and my friend said the filter broke so to buy a fluval fx5 which I did and some starter liquid for the filter. I set it all up and then read like an idiot to get my head round it all (hadn't realised it was so complicated as I say this was not planned)

Anyway I've have the tank for over a week now and still not fully clear, I've been changing 59% of the water daily which is a task and a half and just tested the water tonight with a new testing kit and wondered if someone could tell me what to do these are readings I got

Ph 6.4
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 2.0ppm
Nitrate 10ppm

As I say the tank came with fish plants etc I haven't lost one yet but really worried the more I am reading.

Hopefully someone can help me on this journey, I asked on another forum and was slated for my stupidity and how I was cruel to animals for taking on the tank with no knowledge and never got any help. I've been to paddock farm today and met so lovely people who suggested this forum

If anyone is willing to spare a couple of mins to help me I would be SO greatful

Right
Nobody on this forum will slate you as we here believe that is detrimental to your enjoyment of the hobby
I'm at work at the mo but if you pop down to the chat box at the bottom of the home page I am sure you will get some helpful advice
Welcome aboard by the way

Hello.
First I would like to state you are in no way stupid!!!
I got given my first tank complete with no experience or knowledge. I learnt as you will. Huge bonus points for showing such an interest to learn.
If you were slated elsewhere it's their loss. You are welcome here. Everyone is new to fish keeping at some point!
Do you know what types of fish you have yet?
I have general community which covers guppy neons clown loaches cory, plec and danios. And if course my special babies the siamese.
I will leave some of the experts to answer your questions about the readings. Just wanted to say hi & welcome. Go check out the chat room if u can. And remember to fill out your profile so we know who u are and where you r from.
Debs

welcome aboard mate sorry to hear you got slated of from another forum, its bang out of order only thing is carry on with water changes mate that should bring nitrites down

Hi Tom
Welcome to the forum you have come to the right place, your filter will be going through the cycling process which builds up the bacteria needed to break down the Ammonia and the Nitrites unfortunately this does take time unless you can seed it with active bacteria.
You are doing the right thing with the water changes, this will help to keep the levels down until it cycles.
If you know someone else near to you who keeps fish, you could get them to squeeze there filters wool into your tank which will be full of the good stuff needed.

Nice size tank by the way, not jealous.......much lol

Welcome to the forum mate and no you aren't silly I didn't know anything about tanks until I met my husband marty k 10 and I have learnt so much in the last 7 year's and a lot of it is hit and miss everyone makes mistakes we are only human after all, anyway enjoy the forum and we are all really helpful and friendly.

he is very jealous lol

Also if you can take 5 minutes in between the water changes to fill in your profile it will help us with your answers

Hi guys

Think I've filled a bit of it in now lol.

I'm so glad u seem friendly I was dreading typing my question as what's the point in a forum if no one can help and slate new people.

Its a community tank I think my friend said I may need to sort out the stocking as his dad was a bit siniale towards the end and kept buying new stuff but thought if I sort this water out then I can sort fish stocking out lol

This fluval fx5 filter works in the essence of sending the water round however there is still loads little bits of stuff floating around nd still not clear (lots like bits of white dust) also when it switches it self off it the restarts buy spitting loads of crap back into the tank?

I've got carbon, and two other stuff ( ones like a white coNe and ones like white stones?) also a guy from a Lfs give me some used wool to put inside

That's what we are here for mate everyone learn's from somewhere and practical is the best way to learn.

the filter should be on all the time mate i dont have the fx5 but a lad called blooper on here has them i will check for you but as far as im aware it should be on constanlty mate

Hi Marty k

It's on all the time but it says in the instructions when setting up it switches on for two mins then off for two mins then once it gets going will switch its self off for two mins every 24hrs?

Sort your water out first, then start stocking up slowly, this gives the filter time to increase the bacteria to cope with the increase in Ammonia.
But for the minute DONT feed your fish, they will be fine for a few days, the more you feed them the more ammonia they will create, keep doing the water changes to keep the levels down.
I dont know much about the FX5 to comment on the turning off and restarting bit so will leave that to another member

i have sent a message to blooper for you mate about the fx5 so he probs get in touch tomorrow

out of interest, who was the other forum, I only ask as I had a similar response from a forum when I started up with a tank that was given too me, just wondering if its the same one?

I was quiet interested to know also moggy they shouldn't slag people off everyone has to learn from somewhere there loss is our gain though.

Brill thanks so much that's really appreciated

Looks like you have found the right forum now, can't believe you got grief on another forum for actively trying to help the fish you were given.

All I would do is stop feeding and continue to change water to bring the ammonia and nitrite down. At the level the nitrite is now it is very toxic to your fish. Don't worry about the fish going without food as a healthy fish could go a few weeks without food. Keep testing the water to see if the levels are falling and keep us all informed so we can continue to help you. Do you have a airpump running on this tank also? Because nitrite poisoning effects the way the fish take in oxygen so to have as much dissolved oxygen in the water as possible is good for the fish in this situation.

Any tips on doing a water change? At min I'm using a b an q bucket and as u can imagine its a huge tank and taking forever its also at front of my house so I've got to take the water right through house then fetch clean water back through its tanking about 2hrs a day to do grrr obviously I couldn't put the hose in there as it would be too cold

I syphon water out of mine into 30 ltr water containers, then empty them outside. It still takes time though.
Do you condition the water going in to the tank to take out the chlorines, metals etc before putting it in the tank?

Yeah I do that it's just taking for ever to fill etc lol

hi tom there is a product called pure aquarium they are like gel balls they help by slowly releasing beneficial bacteria into your tank i have used these before when i started new tank and they worked a treat and it will help to kick start your filter and your tank
hope this helps

Oh cool thanks marty k were did you get them from can you remember?

i got them from paddock farm mate but most local fish stores should sell it mate there is one for ponds aswell but it is all the same stuff they are about a tenner mate but worth it and they last a while