Need freshwater fish help--ASAP!!!!

[DemmBalls]

It seems to me that you have too much gravel. A tank only needs about 1" of gravel...which really isn't even needed if the tank is setup properly (I have several tanks with no gravel at all).

Either way...continue doing 50% water changes each week or even bi-weekly. It will eventually sort itself out.

[anatess]

Ok, I have the lazy-fish-keeper's method for my tanks. I have a 29 gallon tank. I have 4 5-gallon buckets from Lowe's (I think it was like 2 bucks apiece). I have an Emperor filter rated for 50 gallons with a bio-wheel.

I have gravel that is graduated from 2 inches on one side to 3inches on the other side. I keep mostly gouramis in it now but I used to keep discus too successfully.

I don't do water changes except for 2 times a year. The water naturally evaporates and I just tap it off.

I clean the gravel every water change. I drain the water into the 4 lowe's buckets including the fish. I try not to disturb the gravel when I do this. Then I wash out the entire tank, gravel and all. Then I put the water and fish back - should fill the tank up to 2/3 of the tank. Then I put "prepped" water into the tank. Prepping - I use the buckets To hold the new water and I match the pH and temps of the tank water before I add the new water in.

Other than that, I make sure not to overfeed, I clean the filter pads monthly, I got a pleco and a catfish for my "clean-up" crew, and it's all good.

The bio-wheel in my filter takes care of good bacteria stuff.

[scorchx1245]

for a 20 gallon aquarium you need a filter in the range of ohhhh 100-120 gph (gallons/hr) and one with some type of biological filtration, either sponges after the charcoal filters or a biowheel, also small gravel smaller then a pea is bad, since you have such small gravel; gunk, poop, or debris will be harder to get out, i recommend using sand as a substrate..stuff doesnt get caught in it, and if you use a siphon hose you can just suck up the debris off the top, also, larger gravel, roulghy larger then a pea but smaller then a small grape work decently too, oh yes if you use sand you have to have an outside biological filter, such as a biowheel, or canister filter. but your best bet is just to keep vacumning weekly about 20% of the water no more. make sure you de chlorinate the water and get rid of all the hard metals, my thing is i treat the water the day before, let it sit for the day then temp match it and add it the day you clean, also pour the water through a strainer or something...

sorry for rambling fish keeping is my thing.