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Question
Hi, Trish I have alot of questions but i dont know the ph or parameters I don't even know what that is sorry but I am being truthful my husband and I just got into fish as a hobby we have A 29 gallon tank and A 55 gallon tank we have had the 29 gallon tank longer but it stays cloudy i cahnge the water 2-3 times a week I thought that was excessive but it helps keep the water clear we were wondering if buying a different filter would help out we have the topfin 3.0 that came with the tank and wanted to kno if we bought a better 1 would that help and also the 55 gallon tank is clear and its newre but has a bigger filter is that the reason why that tank is clear? we have bala sharks silvertip sharks koi albino, tiger, and redblood oscars yellow chiclid zebra chiclid and some rosies I bought as feeder fish that were 2 big for the oscars to eat my temp is @ 80 and the fish seem like they are always at the top of the water suckin air I don't know why they are doin this i know im not providing alot of information I am sorry my husband is suppose to be taking a water sample to petsmart later to have it tested and i will hopefully have more information to give you then but any help would be greatly appreciated I also wanted to know what else could I feed them besides flakes that might help in the water not staying cloudy because the oscars have big appetites and i need something to give them as a snack

Answer
Hi, Trish

<Hi Yvette>

I have alot of questions but i dont know the ph or parameters I don't even know what that is sorry but I am being truthful my husband and I just got into fish as a hobby

<That's ok, I'll try to work with it, but let me STRONGLY URGE you to go get a master water test kit.  It's worth it in the long run and will help save your fish.  It's important to the fish that their water stays within "certain parameters" or you can run in to many problems including disease and even death.  The tests "tell you" the ideal ranges that the water should be in, so even a novice can understand.  Here is also a link that can help explain "cycling" of tanks and tank care:  Basic Water Principles: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Aquarium_Principles.html and "Cycling tanks: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html (for info on the water)

we have A 29 gallon tank and A 55 gallon tank we have had the 29 gallon tank longer but it stays cloudy i cahnge the water 2-3 times a week I thought that was excessive but it helps keep the water clear we were wondering if buying a different filter would help out we have the topfin 3.0 that came with the tank and wanted to kno if we bought a better 1 would that help

<If you tank is not properly cycled and if you are not caring for it correctly, you will run in to problems like this.  It would be extremely lengthy for me to tell you how to care for a tank, so I'm going to give you a website on maintenance of a tank which will also help you with the "cloudy water" problems:  http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Aquarium_Principles.html and how to clean your tank properly:  http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_cleaning.html  Given the amount of fish you have AND the amount of waste they produce, you ideally need 2 filters in the tank. I'll explain why below.  There is a lot of information in those links about choosing the correct filter for your tank also.>

and also the 55 gallon tank is clear and its newre but has a bigger filter is that the reason why that tank is clear?

<It could be, but since it's newer I'm willing to bet it is not cycled yet and there are toxins in it making your fish gasp for air.  I will address that further down also.  However, you do not tell me which fish are in which tanks, so I cannot say for sure.  These fish should not be in a tank together and i'll explain below also>

we have bala sharks silvertip sharks koi albino, tiger, and redblood oscars yellow chiclid zebra chiclid and some rosies I bought as feeder fish that were 2 big for the oscars to eat my temp is @ 80 and the fish seem like they are always at the top of the water suckin air

<Oh my dear good gracious.  Whoever sold you this combination of fish should be fired.  Yvette, the answer below in no way means any disrespect to you or your husband, but you asked me questions and I am going to answer them without sugar coating the truth.  You undoubtedly are going to be upset, but I am giving you the honest truth.  Now, again, no offense here, but I have to ask if you and your husband researched any of these fish prior to purchasing them?  Unfortunately, if you cannot return these fish, you are either going to have to buy many many more tanks or you are going to wind up with a LOT of dead fish.  Meaning MOST of them.  I can almost guarantee this.  What a shame.  This could have been avoided if you did a little research in to the fish you bought.  The fish store should have educated you or informed you as well.  The problem with your fish at the top of the tank is probably because they are suffocating due to lack of oxygen, or being poisoned and slowly killed by ammonia, nitrite or nitrate poisoning.    These fish are not even compatible to all be in the same tanks together, and the tanks are far too small for the amount of fish you have.  Let me give you some insight:

1.  A Koi does NOT belong in 80 degree water, they are cold water fish, not warm water fish and they are meant for ponds, not tanks.  The pet store should have told you this.  These fish can get to 2+ FEET.  Not inches.  

2.  Bala Sharks get to be 1+ FEET if kept in an appropriate sized tank.

3.  Silver tip sharks (actually catfish) are BRACKISH water fish, meaning they prefer a lot of salt in their water (a strong mix of salt and regular water 1-1.25 teaspoons per gallon of non-iodized salt is usually recommended) They get to be 2+ FEET.  This fish has a venom on the spines that causes wounds to heal slowly so be careful when handling them! They WILL eat fish smaller then them as they get bigger.

4.  Tiger, Albino and Redblood Oscars - All can/will get to be OVER 1 FOOT and CANNOT be kept with the other fish OR each other as they get bigger, they will fight each other to the death. They will also eat anything that will fit in their mouths.  They are very tempermental fish and get sick very easily if not taken care of properly.  They belong in a tank of at least 55 gallons ALONE....with no other fish but maybe a plescostomus which also will get over 1 foot.  As juveniles they are not so bad, but as they mature, they WILL kill.

5.  Yellow Cichlid and Zebra Cichlid.  These fish get 8+ inches and need a TOTALLY DIFFERENT environment then all the rest of the fish.  These guys need rocks and caves and hiding spots and sand substrate.  Although the Yellow Cichlid is fairly peaceful, the Zebra Cichlid will become more territorial and will kill other fish. They are best off kept with their own (Yellow with Yellow, Zebra with Zebra) or alone.

6.  The Rosies are not feeder fish.  They get to be about 4" each.  They prefer to be in groups of 5 or more and like their water from 75-78 degrees.

They sell fish specifically for feeding the Oscars, not these guys, and also not until the Oscar matures and gets bigger.  Feeding live feeder fish is not good for them as they carry a LOT of disease, PLUS they are not nutritious.>  

I don't know why they are doin this

<They are doing this because they are not compatible and they are dying due to bad water conditions and lack of oxygen.  The warmer water is, the less oxygen it carries.  Also, there is a basic rule of thumb 1" of fish per gallon of water.  This changes, however, when you get in to fish of the size fish you have.  If you had all fish like the Rosie barbs, in theory this would mean you could have 55 INCHES of fish for your 55 gallon tank (calculated at their adult size of 4", this would mean you could potentially have 14 Rosie barbs or fish of their size in the 55 gallon tank).  BUT, you have WELL OVER 18 FEET, NOT INCHES, FEET of fish packed in to 2 small tanks.  The Oscars themselves should have a 55 gallon tanks TO THEIRSELF....meaning 1 Oscar per 55 gallon tank.  Because they ARE territorial and they will kill.  PLUS, all these fish are EXTREMELY messy fish and produce a lot of waste.  You need superior filtration and weekly tank maintenance, cleaning and water changes for just 1 of these fish, let alone all them in such a small space.>

i know im not providing alot of information I am sorry my husband is suppose to be taking a water sample to petsmart later to have it tested and i will hopefully have more information to give you then but any help would be greatly appreciated

<I would tell your husband to ask the petstore about taking these fish back and starting over again.  Explain to them that you have that many of those fish in a 29 gallon and 55 gallon tank.  If they don't/you don't take them back, I'm telling you you are in for a lot of heartbreak and a big loss of money for what you paid for these fish.>

I also wanted to know what else could I feed them besides flakes that might help in the water not staying cloudy because the oscars have big appetites and i need something to give them as a snack.

<Oscars are PIGS and produce a LOT of waste, no matter what you feed them.  They will also beg incessently even when they are not hungry.  You can get cichlid pellets for them, feed what they will eat in 1 minute, then scoop out the rest. They are hard fish to take care of for many reasons.  The bigger they get, the harder they are to care for also, and their water needs to be cleaned more frequently.

Considering you and your husband are new at this, you should have started at the beginning rung of fish keeping. You have all fish that are not meant for beginners, because they require a lot of specific care and attention to water quality.  Better fish for you guys to have started with would be Barbs, Angelfish, Mollies, Platys, Guppies, White Clouds, Danios, Gouramis.  These are all smaller fish that you would have been able to keep a good amount of considering they all stay on the smaller side (except Angelfish).  It is so unfortunate what has happened, now the big issue is figuring out how to deal with it and fix it so that you do not lose all these fish.

You did not tell me which fish you had in which tank.  Regardless though, I would in the 29 gallon tank immediately do a 50% water change and add dechlorinated water back to the tank at about the same temp. as what you took out.  This should refresh and replenish some oxygen in the tank.  Decrease the temp. to about 76-78 degrees.  I really feel badly for the koi, it shouldn't be in temps that high and I'm sure he's suffering.  They all are.  Anytime a fish is gasping for air at the top there is a HUGE problem somewhere, be it with ammonia, or whatever.  They are actually suffocating Yvette.  The only thing you can do is keep changing the water like you have been and feed them only once per day so that the water doesn't get polluted so quickly.  That's another problem you have. They all have different needs in their diets.  But you can only do what you can do.  I really beg you and urge you to do your best to return these fish and start over.  And I'm just being honest with you.  And please believe me that they ARE suffering.  They are showing you they are by gasping for air.  They could even start getting ammonia burns on them, which shows up as black on them.  If you keep the water clean, hopefully they won't get that.  But it's a good possibility they will, so keep your eye out.

Please let me know what you and your husband decide.  And to be honest Yvette, there is no "taking your chances" in this, because there is no way on earth they are going to survive.  The koi should be in water 70 degrees or under. They are messy fish that produce a LOT of waste also.  I have them in my ponds out in my back yard.  They are meant to be in ponds.

I hope you can figure out what to do at this point.  I would argue with the store that you told them what you had to put these fish in and they sold them to you anyway (if they give you problems about returning the fish).  Maybe that will work.

I wish you both and the fish the best of luck.  I hope it all works out for the best, without losing any fish.  Please keep me posted on how it's going and what you decide to do.  Again, I'm not judging you, and mean no disrespect, but I'm trying to be honest and trying to save those fish and you and your husband heartache.  My intentions are all good.  I assure you of that.  Please keep in touch.>