Hi. I am an experienced fishkeeper but have had a complete disaster and am at a bit of a loss.
Have had a Roma 200 (4ft) running for about 2 yrs. Was set up after a fishless cycle, a few teething problems but all ok really.
Anyway yesterday (my worst in fishkeeping) everything went a bit wrong. I was getting a new cabinet so stripped tank down, had fish in tub, filter material in bucket of water. Well anyway it all went wrong for various reasons and the fish and filter material ended up being out for about 9 hrs and then ended up going back into a 120l bow tank that luckily I managed to get off a mate.
So cleaned the tank, set up the filter, heater etc and got the fish in there. They seemed ok. Shy but ok. went to bed and expected a few losses. In the morning 2 losses - didn't think much of it tbh as expected to lose a few after the shock. Anyway did a 30 water change anyway. went to work. Came back and a further 9 fish dead
Immediately did a 50% change and got my friend round with her API test kit. Ammonia 0, Nitrite either 1 or 5, can't quite tell, Nitrate 20 whih is normal for my water and PH 7.4 also normal for here.
Now here is the thing - if I'm going through a cycle because my filter was out for too long why is the ammonia at zero and the nitrite so high so quickly. I'd expect it after a couple of days, not hours. Also after testing did another water change and got it down to 0.25 (which i know is not great) but within 30 mins it was back to skyhigh again. I don't understand how its shooting up so quickly.
Is it possible that my filter material has turned toxic from being out too long so i am actually continously poisoning the water. I deliberately didn't clean it as I wanted to save any good bacteria but am worried it has had the opposite effect???
I keep thinking I should maybe give the filter a good clean but can't help thinking it will make it worse as it appears to be processing the ammonia.
don't know what to do except water changing but in reality will only be able to manage 3 or 4 tomorrow as have work and child commitments. Fish all sitting at the top so will be dead by morning. even my Raphael catfish is out and flicking and I never see him so must be bad
Please give me advice and please no you should have dones because I do know but just did my best I could when it all went wrong.
Have had a Roma 200 (4ft) running for about 2 yrs. Was set up after a fishless cycle, a few teething problems but all ok really.
Anyway yesterday (my worst in fishkeeping) everything went a bit wrong. I was getting a new cabinet so stripped tank down, had fish in tub, filter material in bucket of water. Well anyway it all went wrong for various reasons and the fish and filter material ended up being out for about 9 hrs and then ended up going back into a 120l bow tank that luckily I managed to get off a mate.
So cleaned the tank, set up the filter, heater etc and got the fish in there. They seemed ok. Shy but ok. went to bed and expected a few losses. In the morning 2 losses - didn't think much of it tbh as expected to lose a few after the shock. Anyway did a 30 water change anyway. went to work. Came back and a further 9 fish dead
Immediately did a 50% change and got my friend round with her API test kit. Ammonia 0, Nitrite either 1 or 5, can't quite tell, Nitrate 20 whih is normal for my water and PH 7.4 also normal for here.
Now here is the thing - if I'm going through a cycle because my filter was out for too long why is the ammonia at zero and the nitrite so high so quickly. I'd expect it after a couple of days, not hours. Also after testing did another water change and got it down to 0.25 (which i know is not great) but within 30 mins it was back to skyhigh again. I don't understand how its shooting up so quickly.
Is it possible that my filter material has turned toxic from being out too long so i am actually continously poisoning the water. I deliberately didn't clean it as I wanted to save any good bacteria but am worried it has had the opposite effect???
I keep thinking I should maybe give the filter a good clean but can't help thinking it will make it worse as it appears to be processing the ammonia.
don't know what to do except water changing but in reality will only be able to manage 3 or 4 tomorrow as have work and child commitments. Fish all sitting at the top so will be dead by morning. even my Raphael catfish is out and flicking and I never see him so must be bad
Please give me advice and please no you should have dones because I do know but just did my best I could when it all went wrong.