New 10 Galllon Tank

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I live in Kuala Lumpur malaysia and I bought a 10 gallon tank on last friday and got almost 30 small tropical fishes. They are all small and less than an inch right now except,two rainbow fishes and two clown loaches. This is my first time keeping fish tank and so i was not knowing anything about New Tank Syndrome and local pet shop never told me anything about cycling a tank before adding any fish. I got panicked on 3rd day when some of my neon tetra died along with one blue rainbow fish and one of clown loach looked very sick and then I started searching about cycling. Then I went to another shop and he gave me old filter media to put in tank filter and small capsuse of instant bacteria so then it can be cycled fast and other fishes can be saved. He also gave me two small plants from already settled tank what he has. I added filter and now today is 3rd day but clown loach has already died. Now situation is that my rainbow fish and clown loach are both single. I read that they are supposed in groups. My tank is small to add many fishes at this time however i have plan to upgrade to bigger tank in next 3 months plus. Should I wait for another week to add one more rainbow fish and two more small clown loaches or should I add in next 1 or 2 days.

Thanks so Much,

ANSWER: Vijay,
Putting 30 fish, regardless of their size, in a 10 gallon tank is not good. That tank is made for 5 fish tops, for small fish. Do not add any more fish to that tank or you will lose them all. As for faster cycling, there is nothing on the market that will cycle a tank quickly. All the things that you added to quickly cycle your tank are doing nothing but adding things to the water that will not help your fish. In order to do it right, the cycle process takes 6 weeks, sometimes longer. It is my advice to not add any fish and when you get the larger tank, cycle it completely, and correctly, before you add any fish to it. It is always best to research not only what you want in the tank, but the fish health as well.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jamie, I have 21 fishes now after what happened intially.I should have mentioned about this. Current situation is this all seems to be playing well and eating properly and I am keeping single feeding everyday and to sure I am not overfeeding them as they are able to finish food with in a minute.

I bought API Freshwater master test kit and did tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates and here are results

1. Ammonia - 0.25ppm
2. Nitrite - 0 ppm
3. Nitrate - 20 ppm

I have ordered another big tank(50 gallon) already and will be able to get in a day or two. However i need your expert opinion on above readings to say if old media worked and fast cycled the tank? If this works then I can use same method to get new tank ready fast and move the fishes to bigger tank.

Please advise. Appreciate your help very much.

Answer
Cycling the tank is for the good bacteria that both the tank and fish need to be healthy. Ammonia and nitrites have to be zero at all times. With the reading you have now, do a 30% water change. This will lower the ammonia. You will need to check your water daily. If you get any reading, other than zero, for ammonia and/or nitrites, you will do a water change. The amount will depend on the reading. Since it is a new tank, I will say no, the tank has not cycled yet. You are only on the beginning stages of the cycling process and the first bacteria bloom, which is the bad stuff, has not happened yet. I would suggest, when you get the new tank, go through the 6 week cycle process before you add any fish.