Arrghh

[Vanessa]

Over the past ten years I've had an 8 gallon, 20 gallon and a 55 gallon before the one I have now. I have never had a clue about any of it and never had one problem. NOW.... I try to read everything I can and do everything "right" and I have nothing but problems. Hmm..... I'm starting to think ignorance IS bliss...

Although I thought I was okay, I actually initially overstocked my tank before it was completely done cycling; although I didn't have any fish loss, it slowed things down. At last, it cycled and all was good and ich came along. I medicated for that, but it's unclear (if you've read any of my other posts you know) if it's still present in the tank. When I medicated, my tank did a mini-cycle from taking out the cartridges.

Yesterday things were looking okay, although the nitrItes were a little high, but nothing to freak out over. I did a water change and cleaned up a little (vacuumed gravel) thinking that would be the end of that and all would be good. I left the cartridges in and didn't clean the filter, but I did clean the glass.

This morning my water is cloudy, ammonia levels are the highest I have ever had (2.0!!) them and my nitrites are way high again (like 1.0), and I didn't even bother testing for nitrates this morning after seeing those results!

So... what the heck is going on? Did I remove too much bacteria and it's recycling AGAIN!? How many times is that going to happen?

OOOOORRRR.... I may have made a huge mistake.... I have one live plant. I decided to try a new plant food, so I bought the jungle tabs plant food. It said it's safe with all jungle products. I don't use any other jungle products, but didn't even consider it wouldn't be safe with other products. The only thing in my water though is water conditioner. (perhaps some traces of that ich med). Do you think that would cause a reaction?

I have no idea. I guess I'm off to do daily water changes until it's all good again (hopefully). Unless anyone else has any ideas?

My poor fishies! I swear they are the toughest fish ever with all they've gone through in the last few months.

Info: 55 gallon, 1 live plant, 17 fish (Angel, mollies, rainbows, swords, pleco, guppies, danios), running 3 1/2 mos.

Thanks!

 

[bigfish]

Could be because the filter bacteria was destroyed with the meds you were using for ICH.

Have you checked to see if the water flow at the filter inlet is flowing at it's normal rate and not blocked?

What ever you do don't rinse your sponges under tap water coz you kill all the benefical bacteria off, making your tank re-cycle again

 

[gadazobe]

A mini cycle can sometimes happen when you thoroughly clean the gravel and the filter at the same time. Good bacteria live in the gravel, filter, water and ornaments, if fact everywhere in the tank. If you cleaned the gravel and filter, changed the water and have a large load of fish, then it could cause a mini cycle. When you clean the gravel next time, only thoroughly clean 1/4 of it at a time. Lightly "hoover" the rest and next time you do a water change, thoroughly clean a different 1/4. If you do this each time you do a water change, then you will be leaving enough good bacteria to carry on and by the time you do the next clean, the first part of gravel that you cleaned will have it's own bacteria back again. I hope I've made myself clear.

 

[Vanessa]

Thanks for the replies.

Everything is still out of whack, but...

As far as I can tell my filter is working properly. It's an aquatech powerfilter. In the past I've only had UGF, so this aquarium that I bought came with the power. It's kinda "weird" to me, since I've only been familar with the ugf.

Gadazobe: yes, you made yourself perfectly clear with your explanation. Thank you.

I didn't clean the filter or remove the cartridges as I just replaced them a week ago. They look pretty gross, so I thought there should be plent of bacteria in them as well as on the ornaments and attached to the filter itself, but I guess not..... I will try that from now on. I didn't think vaccuming the gravel removed any bacteria, only the waste; however, I guess if distrubed, that makes sense. Plus I cleaned the glass. Sigh....

I so look forward to when I can just sit back and enjoy my tank.

Thanks for the help. I appreciate those who have taken the time to reply.

 

[dolphin]

Hi Vanessa

I think I know what is going on.

When you clean you gravel, you do remove a small amount of the Nitrosomonas bacteria, (ammonia – nitrite converters) and Nitrobacter bacteria (nitrite – nitrate converters), but not enough to cause to filter to cycle again, (we call it the tank cycling, but in fact, it is the filter cycling). It is important to keep the gravel clean to prevent the growth of the faster growing heterotrophic bacteria, which compete for oxygen with the nitrifying bacteria, and slow down the nitrogen cycle in the tank. Thus leading to higher levels of ammonia and nitrite in the tank.

You said that you the filter media looked pretty gross, and thought it means that it is full of bacteria. It probably is, but not just the nitrifying bacteria that you need for the ammonia/nitrite conversion, (as above)

Under low oxygen levels at night, (in heavily polluted tanks and filters) the heterotrophic bacteria can switch to nitrate reduction, (convert nitrate to nitrite) and thus you see the levels of nitrite climb, if you test for it in the morning.

In short keep your tank free form solids waste, and do not leave it too long in between cleaning the media in your filter.

IMPORTANT. When cleaning you filter media, use a bucket of tank water, NEVER rinse it in tap water, as this will kill the Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria, and then you have to cycle the filter again.

Hope this helps.

Dolphin