Bacterial Bloom After Having To Change Tanks Due To Leak

[my-gourami-tried-to-eat-me]

Hi guys,

any information would be appreciated.

I came home from work about 4 days ago and discovered my tropical tank (25 litres) had a severe leak. It was too late in the evening to get to the pet store so I had to find a tank quickly on gumtree to save my fish. I have a shrimp, a glass catfish and a little plec.

The only tank nearby was a 90 litre. I poured the water remaining (maybe 12 litres) and all of the gravel into the new tank but this was not enough for the fish to swim, let alone cover the plants or the filter (I put the larger filter that came with the tank in, as well as the small filter for my old tank for the bacteria colonies). Therefore, I had to add more water (about 30-40 litres) which I treated with aqua safe, cycle, PH balance (as i get bad limescale problems) and a little aquarium salt.

I left the tank for 4 days (have not added anymore water - about half full), monitoring it every day (ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates between 10 - 30ppm) and adding cycle as if it were a new tank.

Today, i woke up and the tank has gone extremely cloudy, which I am assuming is a bacterial bloom. My glass catfish has just lost his life and the shrimp is gasping for air ontop of the filter. I tested the water and the levels are ammonia 0, nitrites 2ppm, nitrates 10ppm.

I have taken a small amount of water out (about 5 litres) and have added another 15 litres of tap water (with a little added cycle and aqau safe only). The tank is now about 3/4 full. I have added a couple of oxygen tablets and have moved the filter up to get as much air into the tank as possible.

The shrimp is currently out of the water, sticking to the side of the glass - do i push him back in or is he just trying to breath where the bacteria is using up all of his oxygen?

Basically, I don't know what else I can do.

Do i fill up the rest of the tank with just water and aqua safe? I don't think i should add cycle anymore as i don't want to add to the bloom, but then again, the nitrite is dangerous. Or do i just leave it as there is nothing I can do? Should I do another water change (it's just i think this may be futile as the bacteria reproduce so quickly).

Any help would be great. I know that I should not have changed their tank like this but there was nothing else I could do.

Thanks

 

[techen]

Why are you adding cycle, What is cycle, whats it for, Am confused with this information.

It sounds like you decycled your tank, Why not fill the tank up full?


*Goes into a breakdown* :B

 

[Tuxyu3]

Nitrite is too high and I would say the salt you used may be burning the pleco as well. I would advise you take some water out and put new temp matched and dechlorinated water in all the way to the top. Do not use salt with scaleless fish. Do you have a picture and what kind of shrimp is it?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Nitrite at 2ppm needs a HUGE water change not just a few liters. I'm sorry that your tank developed a leak, but you need to be much more proactive concerning this nitrite situation.

 

[my-gourami-tried-to-eat-me]

Ok, I will do a large water change now. Thanks for the advice on the salt. I did not know that!

The reason I have not filled up the tank completely is that I did not want to put too much new water into it, I was hoping that filling it up slowly would prevent the tank from recycling.

Cycle is beneficial bacteria

 

[eaglesaquarium]

New water has nothing to do with recycling a tank, the bacteria do not live in the water, just the hard surfaces of the tank and the filter. You are in a fish-in cycle. Water changes are the only way that your fish are going to survive this. Good news is that it seems much of your bacteria (AOBs) are doing fine, but your NOBs are needing a chance to catch up. Water changes will help your fish more than anything else...

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

Sorry to hear about your troubles... I'd fill the tank to capacity and perform large daily water changes.. Your nitrite levels are way too high and need reducing urgently. I'd also get an airline in.. you can't have too much oxygen..

What has failed on your old tank?

Has the silicone failed or has the glass cracked??

Either will be an easy fix, unless a curved piece has cracked. Just ask if if need any help..

I've rebuilt quite a few tanks and can offer assistance if required. I normally hang out in the "Hardware and Do-It-Yourself" section.

If you decide that you don't want to repair your tank, then could I ask you to consider passing it on/selling it to someone who will use it and not just junk it.

Good luck!

Bodge99.

 

[my-gourami-tried-to-eat-me]

Thanks, the seal underneath seems to have gone, but it is an ornamental tank so it a very strange shape and encased in other plastic also. I can't get to the area where the leak is, and I didn't have sealent anyway so I had to get a new tank. I do like it though, so now that it is empty, i will try to fix it and just keep it for a lone fighting fish or something. I'm not familiar with the acronyms AOBs and NOBs, what does that mean?

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

Assuming that there are no cracks in the glass (these are normally caused by bad handling techniques when transporting the tank or by undue stresses on the tank by its supports etc.)

You say that your tank is ornamental and has a plastic frame.. Can you see a make or model written anywhere?
Can you supply dimensions and a general description? (bow front etc.) A photo would help.

At this stage I would recommend a full disassemble and rebuild. It would be possible to patch repair the seam.
For total peace of mind, I would perform a full tear down and rebuild. This way, the tank will be as good as the day it was manufactured. You only need basic tools, a bit of space to work in and some time.

The guys and gals here are very knowledgeable... just ask for help or advice and I'm sure that it will be forthcoming.

AOB - Ammonia oxidizing bacteria.
NOB - Nitrite oxidizing bacteria.

Bodge99

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm not familiar with the acronyms AOBs and NOBs, what does that mean?

Sorry. I should have explained that. I see bodge took care of explaining the names. As far as the roles:


AOB are the bacteria responsible for converting the ammonia (NH3/NH4) to nitrite (NO2). NOB are the bacteria responsible for converting the nitrite (NO2) to nitrate (NO3).

 

[my-gourami-tried-to-eat-me]

View attachment 68578

This is an online photo of my old aquarium.

If the attachement does not work, follow this link and look for the aquarium that is the lamp. http/www.incredibl...-the-world.html

The leak is coming from the bottom of the tank, but the black plastic underneath completely covers it so it's difficult to get to the acrylic.

It's bow shaped, front and back

Back to the new tank. I kept doing water changes all last night until the nitrite was down to 0.25. I tested when I got up this morning and the nitrite is 0 (and also the ammonia). I will keep testing at least twice per day to monitor this. The water is still milky as anything. The shrimp sadly died also, but the pleco is still going strong.

I am expecting another surge in ammonia when the bloom dies down, but how long do you think it will be before the tank now cycles - considering there is now only one fish in there?

 

[bodge99]

Ahhh!

Acrylic!

I'd assumed it was glass! my bad!

I haven't done anything (repair wise) with acrylic tanks, so I cannot recommend any specific sealant/adhesive.

I would guess here that an "in place" repair will be perfectly OK.

Cycling times:

How long?

However long it takes.... The only way to be sure is by keeping an eye on your water stats..

Every tank is different. I assume a much longer time than most people... therefore I won't put a figure for my estimation..

I would just keep up with the partial water changes for "a while yet" until your water tests indicate that the system is starting to stabilise.

Bodge99.

 

[my-gourami-tried-to-eat-me]

Thanks for all your help guys.

The bloom has gone and has not come back. The water has 0.25 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 10 nitrate now. I'm a little concerned that the ammonia has been like that for 2 days, but i am doing a 50% water change as soon as I come home from work each day and my one fish is still alive. Just going to keep checking the levels and keep changing the water as soon as I notice ammonia or nitrite.

Thanks again

 

[eaglesaquarium]

What's your pH?

 

[my-gourami-tried-to-eat-me]

PH is 8.

The ammonia was about 0.5 today. The nitrite was 0 and the nitrates were about the same as in my tap (10).

I am doing 50% water changes.

I can keep up with the water changes, I know what I've got to do. I would like to understand it a little better though.

I understand that nitrogen cycle: waste makes ammonia, AOB turn the ammonia to nitrite, NOB turn the nitrite to nitrate and then I do water changes to keep the nitrate low.

I just don't really understand how I went from having a 0 ammonia reading and 2ppm nitrite reading during the bacterial bloom (which obviously meant plenty of AOB), and now the bacterial bloom has gone (where my nitrate increase and the nitrite decreased; showing signs of NOB occuring), to my tank is not showing any further signs of having any AOB at all let alone NOB?

It seems the tank has just started to cycle all over again! Also, to answer any questions that may come up, I have not changed the filter or taken anything out of the tank. I have dechlorinated all water before putting it in the tank, the temp has stayed at 23 degrees celcius and I have not fed the fish in days.

Can anyone explain this? Thank you

edit: also, the fish that died during the unexpected nitrite spike were removed instantly.