Are 3 mollies and 1 cory too many fish for cycling a 7-gallon tank?

Yes, skunk cories reach 2 inches at adulthood. The general rule for tanks is one inch of fish per gallon of water. The cories will hang around the bottom while the guppies will cruise higher. Be sure to provide plenty of cover for the cories in case the guppies get nippy.

Hi and thanks for your request. To better control Nitrite and ammonia spikes it is best to cycle it for a month at least and measure nitrites, ammonia and nitrate constantly. Please follow the recommendations here below: The nitrogen cycle is the process of various bacteria converting harmful waste. It involves 4 steps: The first step is the decay of waste products of fish, plants, and invertebrates, along with any dead organisms or uneaten food. As these materials decay, ammonia is produced, which at even low levels will burn the gills of fish and choke off their oxygen supply. Bacteria called Nitrosomonas consume this ammonia and, in the process creating another chemical byproduct called nitrite. Although nitrite is toxic (preventing blood from carrying oxygen), fish can withstand roughly twice the amount of nitrite in their water when compared to ammonia. Next, other bacteria called Nitrobacter consume the nitrite and, in turn, release a less toxic chemical called nitrate. Nitrate

A fish tank will need a filter, a light/hood and a heater. Make sure the filter is rated for at least twice the tank volume. The heater should be adjustable since water temperature will depend on the species of fish. Good "starter" fish include Tetras, Mollies, Danios or Tetras. A new tank should be set up and left running empty for several weeks before adding fish. A pinch of flake food can be sprinkled in daily. This "cycling" will allow a population of beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filter. These bacteria will break down wastes (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) which are toxic to fish.

48 hours is not long enough for a tank to properly cycle. Several weeks to a couple months are needed for beneficial bacteria to populate the substrate and filter. These bacteria break down wastes (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) that are harmful to fish and can promote bacterial blooms resulting in cloudy water. The overfeeding likely contributed to the bacterial bloom. You can cycle with or without fish, however cycling with fish will increase the risk of loss. You'll need to monitor chemistry using a liquid test kit. The kits with strips are not as accurate. Perform partial water changes, no more than 25%, every few days or if ammonia levels begin to affect fish. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Feed them every other day. Normally, you would add one fish at a time but that isn't possible for you now. Monitor chemistry and perform water changes until ammonia and nitrites are 0.25ppm or less and nitrates are 40ppm or less. This

I'm sorry for the loss of your fish. If the tank was a "new" tank, it likely was not sufficiently cycled. The fish may have died after being exposed to high levels of ammonia or nitrites. A fish tank should be cycled for 4-6 weeks before fish are added. This allows time for beneficial bacteria to populate the filter and substrate. These bacteria are responsible for breaking down wastes (fish waste, decaying plants, uneaten food) to prevent a buildup of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. A tank can be cycled with fish, however this requires close monitoring of water chemistry and frequent partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Cycling with fish increases the risk of fish loss.

It is possible the tank has not cycled properly which results in high ammonia and nitrite levels which can kill fish. Allow the tank to run, without fish, for at least 4-6 weeks. During this time, use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing every few days. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. What you are looking for is to have ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm and nitrates at 20ppm or less. pH can hover around 7 for most community fish. Avoid large, rapid swings in pH though. What is happening in the tank during this time is that beneficial bacteria are populating the gravel/substrate and the filter. These bacterial populations are responsible for the Nitrogen Cycle. This cycle breaks down wastes from fish, uneaten food and plant matter into by-products that are filtered out or dissipate. You can "cycle" a tank with fish, however this increases the risk of loss. Once your tank has cycled, you can add fish. You will still need to monitor water chemistry a

Hi Tori, I have found that fancy guppies are pretty, fun, and small fish that would do well in a small tank. Mollies would be another good choice. A 3 gallon could probably support 3 or 4 of them well. Beta fish don't seem to care much about snails in My experience. Have fun!

Thanks for your questions about your fish tank. The smell may be from the strain that the extra fish are putting on the filtration system within your tank. You can try to perform a water change, however use caution as the babies are small and may be accidentally removed with the suction while you change the water. Preventing breeding in the future may be difficult, but one area that you may be able to adjust is the feeding of your fish. It is common to overfeed fish, and this can lead to breeding, obesity, and other undesired problems. A general rule of thumb is to feed fish what they can eat in the span of 10 minutes. I hope that gives you a place to start, and congratulations on the young fish!

In general these fish can all be housed together safely. The one thing to keep in mind is the amount of space needed per fish to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Each 1in of fish needs 1 gallon of water. So in a 20 gallon tan you can have 20 inches of fish. The Pleco is the only one I have concerns with as some varieties can grow quite large. Check with your local pet shop as to what needs best suit this type of fish or what type of fish suit your tank best.

At the very least, a 10 gallon tank with a filter, heater, hood and light. Ideally, the tank should be up and running (without fish) until it cycles properly. This means there needs to be sufficient time for beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filter to be able to break down wastes, namely ammonia and nitrites and to a lesser degree, nitrates. This can take several weeks to occur. You can cycle a tank with fish in it, but it will require daily testing of water chemistry to prevent a toxic build up of ammonia and/or nitrites. Either can kill your fish if not treated. Follow this link for a FAQ regarding Glo Fish: https://www.glofish.com/about/faq/ Follow this link for more about cycling a tank: http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php