New 75 Gal - Tank All Was Fine Until I Cleaned It!

[osikorn]

So here is my update. ...

I had done a bunch of water changes. got the amonia down. ph was a little low. I put in a fish. as soon as it was in, it got attached by a white film that killed it within an hour.

I have decided to start from scratch. I have emptied the tank removed the gravel, tossed out the plants that had white fuzz on their roots, and there leaves were getting thinner for some reason. I took out everything. wiped down the tank like new. Removed all the tubing from the filter, and replaced them with new tubing. got a new blue sleeve on the canister filter (i kept the amonia rocks but rinsed the canister of amonia rocks with cool ater) I scrubed (without chemicals) all the parts of everything.

I bought new gravel for the bottom of the tank, rinced everything thouroughly. and started from scratch.

I am on day two of a brand new tank.... its beautiful.

Ph 8.0, Ammonia 0, Nitrate between 0-5.0, Nitrite 0

I am happy, exhausted but happy. soon I will be reinvesting in some fish. I have my heart set on a thriving cichlid tank.

I will likely buy plants in he next few days. any suggestions on the type of plants to buy? It is refreshing seeing the tank look more normal and healthy. I am hoping the nightmare of the last month is over.

thank you for your help through this catastrophe.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Since you are starting over, I suggest that you invest in a bottle of ammonia and complete a proper fishless cycle. (See link in sig.) There is no reason to add fish until you are sure that you have a properly working biofilter. It will also give you some time to research plants based on your lighting and the fish you plan to have.

 

[osikorn]

"bottle of ammonia"?

 

[osikorn]

"bottle of ammonia"?

 

[coldcazzie]

You can buy ammonia in bottles from chemists or household stores. If you're in the UK you can get it from homebase or boots. If you're in the US then someone else can tell you where to get it.

You put the ammonia in your water, with your filter running, and the bacteria in the filter turn it into nitrite. Then another kind of bacteria turns the nitrite into nitrate. That's what your filter does. By putting in ammonia from a bottle you grow the bacteria without having all the problems you have had with fish dying of ammonia poisoning.

Also, you need to buy your own test kit. Relying on the shop is no good really. It's not practical when you want to test water on a Sunday, or last thing at night. And often, you can't afford to wait to know the results. Plus it's a pain having to trail all the way down there when you could just do it in your kitchen or living room.

I know it sounds like a huge phaff. However, consider all the stress you have just had with toxicity levels, testing, large water changes and dying fish. If you fishless cycle you will ensure your filter is able to process the fish waste before you put the fish in, therefore meaning all you have to do afterwards is enjoy your fish and maintain your tank.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

In the US, Ace Hardware has ammonia with no additives - just ammonium hydroxide and water.


Please read the link in my sig about fishless cycling.

 

[Miles_hot]

when you washed the filter media did you use de-clorinated water? If not you probably killed any bacteria on there with the chlorine in the water

 

[osikorn]

Hmmm....

 

[Miles_hot]

osikom, if it helps there could be a terrible dose of irony here as I fear that I just washed my nor quite cycled filter in chlorinated water for a four hours last night! DUH!!

Miles