ozgirl_bkk
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- Joined
- Jun 29, 2010
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Hello,
I recently returned from a three week holiday and discovered the person who was supposed to care for my fish turned the power off - all the fish died.
The filter sponges are located in the cover on top of the tank. They had dried out, but the ceramic discs were still moist and there was a flim of brown sludge (bacteria?) left at the bottom of the filter.
I decided to rebuild the tank by removing the plants that died while I was away. Then I removed the gravel, decorations etc and stored them in a bucket of water siphoned from the tank. I gave the bottom a good vaccum to clean any waste, then I put the gravel, rocks and decorations back in, plus two plants that had survived from earlier. I did not clean the filter, but I did rinse the old sponges in siphoned tank water
I put in new sponges, but placed them under my old sponges just in case some bacteria had survived in there.
I added some fish food to help speed the cycle. My ammonia (NH3/NH4) levels over the next few days were 0 (I used a kit with three different dropppers of chemicals - this is the only test kit available in Thailand, where I live, apart from the test strips.) PH, Kh etc were fine.
I then added some 'bacteria in a bottle' bought at my local fish store to try and work out if I actually had a cycle going(it was a local brand - the only type available here. I have not been able to locate bottled ammonia.)
Anyway, after adding the bacteria in a bottle I got a mild white bacterial bloom. My NH3 and NH4 levels are still 0.
Should I continue to add fish food and 'bacteria in a bottle' (although I think I will use a smaller dose)to ensure the tank cycles? Or should I wait till the bloom clears first?
Is it possible that enough good bacteria survived on my gravel, decorations, plants etc to be cycled already?
i have a 120 litre (40 gallon) tank.
Thanks!
I recently returned from a three week holiday and discovered the person who was supposed to care for my fish turned the power off - all the fish died.
The filter sponges are located in the cover on top of the tank. They had dried out, but the ceramic discs were still moist and there was a flim of brown sludge (bacteria?) left at the bottom of the filter.I decided to rebuild the tank by removing the plants that died while I was away. Then I removed the gravel, decorations etc and stored them in a bucket of water siphoned from the tank. I gave the bottom a good vaccum to clean any waste, then I put the gravel, rocks and decorations back in, plus two plants that had survived from earlier. I did not clean the filter, but I did rinse the old sponges in siphoned tank water
I put in new sponges, but placed them under my old sponges just in case some bacteria had survived in there.
I added some fish food to help speed the cycle. My ammonia (NH3/NH4) levels over the next few days were 0 (I used a kit with three different dropppers of chemicals - this is the only test kit available in Thailand, where I live, apart from the test strips.) PH, Kh etc were fine.
I then added some 'bacteria in a bottle' bought at my local fish store to try and work out if I actually had a cycle going(it was a local brand - the only type available here. I have not been able to locate bottled ammonia.)
Anyway, after adding the bacteria in a bottle I got a mild white bacterial bloom. My NH3 and NH4 levels are still 0.
Should I continue to add fish food and 'bacteria in a bottle' (although I think I will use a smaller dose)to ensure the tank cycles? Or should I wait till the bloom clears first?
Is it possible that enough good bacteria survived on my gravel, decorations, plants etc to be cycled already?
i have a 120 litre (40 gallon) tank.
Thanks!
