A Lot Of Foam ( Froth ?) In New Tank Setup

Frostcrow

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Hello

After discovering our tank (10gal) was leaking (slowly) 1 purchased a new one. I got new gravel for the new tank while I was it. Washed the tank with just water and rinsed the gravel in a strainer. I put a small air wand in the new tank and some water conditioner that is supposed to remove chlorine. The idea was to let the tank set a couple of days and then I would move the fish, fake plants, filter and stuff to the new tank (everything but the fish themselves would be thoroughly rinsed in tap water first)

Before we ever moved the fish to the new tank I noticed (but didn't think about it) that there was persistent air bubbles on the surface around were the air wand bubbles bubbled up. Seemed unusual but I assumed it was the water conditioner.

Immediately after moving the fish and everything from the old tank (except the gravel) the little area of bubbles became a foam or froth ( I'm not sure what the correct description would be). It is actually pushing up through the openings in the hood. The foam / froth is white, the bubbles do not have the rainbow color like soap bubbles, they seem to be just air bubbles. If I stick my finger in the water the foam instantly vanishes ( I can't even feel it ) and the water is clear of foam for several inches around my finger. I can clear almost all the foam by simply sticking my finger in the water and moving it from one end of the tank to the other. New foam instantly builds back up however.

The water looks clear , the fish ( 2 small bala? sharks , two small tiger barbs and a plecostimos (sp?)) all look to be happy and healthy (they have been in the tank for about 14 hours now) and their colors are good.

I have no idea what caused the foam (it was the first time I ever used the dechlorination stuff). I have never had this foam before and the tap water is the same tap water I have had for 5 years. I hate doing water changes or anything that might stress the fish so soon after a major move but I'm concerned about the foam.

Any suggestions are welcome. It's a 10gal tank, an air wand, a couple of plastic plants and one of those whisper filters that hang on the tank and take the filter cartridges with the charcoal in them.
 
The foam could be from the airstone, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it. However, there are a few things that you should be concerned about...

(everything but the fish themselves would be thoroughly rinsed in tap water first)

Did you rinse the filter media in tap water too? Assuming you did, you killed off most, if not all of the bacteria that were living in it. So the tank will have to recycle, if you don't already have a test kit, buy one (for ammonia and nitrite at lest) so you can change the water before it gets too toxic, which will, unfortunately, be fairly quickly.

The fish are also very concerning.

the fish ( 2 small bala? sharks , two small tiger barbs and a plecostimos (sp?))

All the fish require a tank much bigger than a 10g. The bala sharks are schooling, active and get large (~14"), and should be in a tank of at least 6'x2'x2'. The tiger barbs are very active, and again, schooling, so a minimum of a 30g is generally reccomended. The pleco, assuming its either common or sailfin, will grow to between 12 and 20", and is very messy and high waste producing.
 
Hmm, I don't know what the air bubbles can be, looking forward to seeing what other people say.

Did you rinse out your filter media with tap water? Generally, when moving all your stuff to a new tank, you should not rinse the filter media - so that the good bacteria in it can go to the new tank. This would prevent a "cycle", where the amonia level goes up.

If you did rinse the filter media in tap water (the chlorine kills the bacteria), or if you put in new filter media, I would do a water change, like maybe 20-30%. This will reduce the amonia that is starting to build up, and also may help a little with the bubbles, if they are caused by anything in the water that should not be there.

If you're tank is cycling, then I would do water changes every day or two, at least until you get a test kit for amonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Then, you can do daily tests, and partial water changes to keep the levels down, and know when the tank is done cycling.

Also, I'm sure someone else will point it out if I dont - tiger barbs are probably just a little too big as adults to be in a 10 gallon. The shark and pleco are way way way too big for a 10 gallon, and will surely have stunted growth / reduced lifespans in that environment. Also, tiger barbs prefer to be in bigger groups than 2, but don't get any more until you can find a bigger tank. I know you can get a 55 gallon kit for around $200 at many places - comes with everything but the fish, gravel, and decorations. Even that size will eventually be too small for the pleco and the bala sharks though. Too bad prices skyrocket after 55 gallons :(
 
The foam could be from the airstone, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it. However, there are a few things that you should be concerned about

It is the air stone providing the energy but something else is causing it to create two inches of foam covering the entire water surface of the tank. I'm guessing it is protein but I don't know what that means for the fish. While the foam screws up the oxygen -> water surface that isn't an immediate threat. As long as there are no obvious time critical issues I'll assume for now that a couple of water changes will clear it up.

Did you rinse the filter media in tap water too? Assuming you did, you killed off most, if not all of the bacteria that were living in it. So the tank will have to recycle, if you don't already have a test kit, buy one (for ammonia and nitrite at lest) so you can change the water before it gets too toxic, which will, unfortunately, be fairly quickly

Actually I changed the filter. For various reasons I did not want any bio from the old tank in the new one other than what was required (the fish).. I did not go as far as rinsing the fish in tap water but I considered it for a second or two. The ammonia / nitrate ph and the rest I can take care of.

The fish are also very concerning.
the fish ( 2 small bala? sharks , two small tiger barbs and a plecostimos (sp?))

All the fish require a tank much bigger than a 10g. The bala sharks are schooling, active and get large (~14"), and should be in a tank of at least 6'x2'x2'. The tiger barbs are very active, and again, schooling, so a minimum of a 30g is generally reccomended. The pleco, assuming its either common or sailfin, will grow to between 12 and 20", and is very messy and high waste producing

Thank you very much. Between the posts here and the fish still behaving and looking healthy I'm not going to jump into battling the foam and risk stressing the fish. A much bigger tank is on the 'to-do' list but it is not an option right now due to space.
 
Foam is caused by high levels of organic matter in water. Ever seen a hot tub with a lot of foam? That's because it's FILTHY with dirt and dead skin and "stuff" from people's bodies. A sign that that hot tub is not well maintained.

But I digress.....foam bubbles like that are held together by something other than water molecules.....dissolved organic matter. I suspect that the "conditioner" that you added contained some sort of organic matter, like those ones that claim to give fish a protective coating, and the like. Personally, I stick to straight sodium thiosulphate type dechorinators, because I think there are too many products that are marketted as "necessary", but are not.

And, the bubble wand just encourages the formation of foam bubbles on the surface. I'd get rid of it. It's not necessary to the health of the tank, as long as your filter is moving water, and some say that unnecessary bubbles upset the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, that your fish and plants need.
 
Adding too much dechlorinator can produce this effect. Whenever I bleach a tank I always use a double dose of dechlor after a thorough rinse when I fill it up and prepare to add fish again, then at the next water change I always notice an ungodly amount of bubbles every time the surface is disturbed :p

Might not be the case with you of course, just a suggestion.
 

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