What is going on in my tank?

[krissa]

Our tank is a simple 5 gallon tank. We currently have 2 neon tetras, 4 cardinal tetras, 2 diamond tetra, one gourami and two new tiny algae eaters. Last week, we had two different algae eaters and another gourami and a live plant. Two weeks ago, one of our algae eaters died, then two days later, the other one. We bought a new one and it died two days later. Then, to top it off, one of our gouramis died two days after that. It was real lethargic and kept sticking its mouth out of the water like it was looking for air or something. In the meantime, our tank got a white fuzzy film over the sides and the stuff inside. I scraped the sides, but it came back.

This Friday, it looked like one of our cardinal tetras was dying. It was lethargic and it had its mouth pointed up towards the top of the water. Reminded me of the gouramis last hours. So, we cleaned out the tank, scrubbing it out, putting in new gravel, scrubbing the rock thingys and changed up the water and broke our filter! We bought a new one and the fish seemed so happy! The failing tetra seems to be better, too. I bought two new little algae eaters and they seem happy, too. I tried to get a new plant, but they didn't have any.

Now, today, it seems that the white filmy stuff is coming back. It isn't slimy or long and stringy. It looks like cotton.

We have had this tank since July of last year and I admit that we never switched up the water or cleaned the tank. Things were going well, so I was afraid to mess with it by changing anything. In hindsight, I see how dirty my tank was and will continue to switch up the water monthly, but what can I do about this white stuff?

TIA!
Krissa

 

[rdd1952]

Your biggest problem is overcrowding. I'm really surprised you haven't lost fish before. The general rule of thumb is 1" of fish per 1 gallon of water. You have/had at least 11 fish for probably 20 plus inches meaning you had at least 4 times as many fish in your tank as you should have and apparently weren't doing water changes either. A 5 gallon tank really isn't suited for much of anything except a betta or maybe 2 if you can put a divider in to keep the seperated. Is the white stuff just on the tank and decorations or also on the fish?

 

[krissa]

Yeah, I know...hindsight is always 20/20. I read a couple of weeks ago that we have too many, but I can't get rid of them now...my 3 y/o would be devastated.

We also are going to do the water changes...I think our grace period of being lucky is wearing thin, and we don't want to wear it out and risk the fish.

The film is just on the tank sides right now. It never got on the fish even when it was worse last week.

Thanks!
Krissa

 

[chishnfips]

5 gallons are so small that you may have to do more than one water change a month.

I have a 14 gallon and usually do a 15% every 10 - 14 days.

The smaller the tank the quicker it gets dirty.

 

[pseud]

we cleaned out the tank, scrubbing it out, putting in new gravel, scrubbing the rock thingys and changed up the water and broke our filter! We bought a new one and the fish seemed so happy! The failing tetra seems to be better, too. I bought two new little algae eaters and they seem happy, too.

...but now you've cleaned all the algae off the tank, bought two algae eaters, and they have nothing to eat! (unless you're feeding them algae wafers?)

In any case, aside from over-crowding, you need to cycle your tank again since you cleaned it.

 

[jflowers]

Keep up the water changes, every other day for a week or four, 25%.

5 gallons is not enough for most fish, a betta (siamese fighting fish) is the only exception. Get a bigger tank, you know you want to. keep the betta in the small tank and the others in your new tank.

I have 2 5 gallons and change 50% a week and they are fine.

Jon

 

[krissa]

5 gallons are so small that you may have to do more than one water change a month.

I have a 14 gallon and usually do a 15% every 10 - 14 days.

The smaller the tank the quicker it gets dirty.

Thanks for the info. We will do our changes weekly.

Krissa

 

[krissa]

we cleaned out the tank, scrubbing it out, putting in new gravel, scrubbing the rock thingys and changed up the water and broke our filter! We bought a new one and the fish seemed so happy! The failing tetra seems to be better, too. I bought two new little algae eaters and they seem happy, too.

...but now you've cleaned all the algae off the tank, bought two algae eaters, and they have nothing to eat! (unless you're feeding them algae wafers?)

In any case, aside from over-crowding, you need to cycle your tank again since you cleaned it.

I gave them an algae wafer because I was worried they wouldn't have anything to eat. Now the white stuff seems to be gone, so either they are eating it or my tank balanced out.

Kristen

 

[dwarfgourami]

What type are your algae eaters, did you say? The reason that question was asked is that some of the fish sold as algae eaters get a) extremely big B) extremely vicious.

Overcrowding is still going to be a problem, and it's doubtful whether a weekly water change will solve it. a 5 gallon tank is really very small for the population you have in it; even if your problems seem to clear up for now, the system could still crash any time. If your 3yo gets upset at the thought of fish being taken back to the shop, won't he get even more upset if they all die? As the mother of a 4yo who adores his catfish, I appreciate your problem, but it is up to us parents to teach children good animal husbandry and they will enjoy their animals more if they are happy. The ideal solution of course (keeping both of you happy) is a bigger tank (keeping the same population, or perhaps with a few more neons if you really have the space).

You need to read up on the nitrogen cycle (plenty of info on stickies above) so as to understand what is happening to your tank and you need a test kit (with tests for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) to keep track of your water quality; they are quite cheap and easy to use. And keep asking the members on the forum; they are brilliant and I know they did wonders for me.

Good luck!