red tailed shark is dieing + lots of orange stuff

[SP74]

Sometimes a little bit of orange stuff that looks like roots starts growing in my tank, about the size of a dime, but it disappears in about 12 hours. This morning the small dime sized patch has grown to about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide in one night. I tried to siphon it out but it feels like the gravel has turned into a rug and everything is sticking to stuff. I have 14 fish in the tank ( 33 gallon flat back hex). They have all been in there for over a year with zero problems. There are CHUNKS of this orange stuff that my siphon can't even pick up. The red tailed shark has been sitting on my plants at the top of the tank, which is not like him at all. His fins are split up and looks very unhealthy. I have an undergravel filter, which i really dont like, it's holding a lot of poo under it. What is this orange stuff? I'll be right around the computer for a while, so if there is anything i forgot just say so and i should answer pretty quick.

 

[SP74]

also the tank just looks horrible in general and i've been thinking about taking all the gravel out carefully and keeping the tank siphoned until i can get this thing straightened out. would this be alright?

 

[HeatherSweetness]

Omgosh,I really don't have a clue what that could be.

I would guess it would be allright to take out the gravel and get it cleaned up,so long as you have good filter bacteria established and cut back on the feedings for abit until everything is back in order. Good luck with it,wish I could help you more.

 

[Feline]

Sound new to me too! I suspect there's something to do with the UGF.

If you really don't like the UGF, setting up an external or internal filter might be an option.

I don't have experience in UGF sorry! Hope others have better answers!

 

[SP74]

well i tried to take out the gravel + under gravel filter but the water turned black so i stopped to let it settle. One of my bala sharks has always been the weak one in the tank and i never found out what he eats, since he wont eat flake food . When he started to swim upside down i knew what was coming. I put him in a QT, but it was too late. The rest of the fish ( besides a fat barb) acted like nothing was there. The water is clear now so ill try taking out more later.

 

[Feline]

I'm sorry to hear about that. Have you tested the water?

Can you put them all in a QT while cleaning the main tank?