Soap Suds

[Durbkat]

Yesterday I filled up the 2g bucket that I always use when adding water to the tanks when the water evaporates and I treated the bucket water (as always) then this morning I looked at the bucket because I was going to add the water to the tanks but it had alot of bubbles on the surface of the water (kinda looked like a big bubble nest made by a betta but the bubbles were alittle bit bigger. Then the bubbles started to pop and go away. So what were these bubbles and could it have done something to the water to where I can't add it to the tanks? Also in my 10g it has these bubbles that looks exactly like the bubbles that were in the bucket by the outlet part of the filter and around some of the plants where they touch the surface. So like I said what are these bubbles?

 

[Durbkat]

Sorry double post

 

[Durbkat]

 

[tttnjfttt]

If your fish are acting fine, i doubt it is soap. You can do a few water changes to remove any soap if it will make you feel more comfortable. Before using the bucket again, rinse it out really well with a hose or in the bath tub.

Also, it is generally not a good idea to top off the tank after water has evaporated. What happens is when the water evaporates, it leaves behind any minerals that were in the water. When you top off the tank, the minerals will become more concentrated over a period of time, eventually leading to old tank syndrome

 

[Durbkat]

These bubbles are in the bucket water to so could I use the water or not? I've never had a problem with adding water to the tank once it evaporated before. I thoughts thats what your suppost to do. If I did a vacum cleaning every time the water level went down then I'd be doing it every 4-5 days.

 

[tttnjfttt]

How fast did the bubbles pop? Sometimes pure water can do that, so try getting a bucket (or other container) and fill it with water and see if a similar thing happens. If you are not sure, play it safe.

You know the possible consequences of topping off your tank, its your choice.

 

[Durbkat]

Well I have tin foil over the bucket to keep dust out of the tank and when I took it off this morning it starting popping immediatly and all the bubbles were gone in under 20 seconds. So your saying that every time the water gets alittle low in your tanks that you do a vacum cleaning? What is old tank syndrome?

 

[tttnjfttt]

When my water gets low, i either ignore it (i usually loose 2 inches in the course of a week) until its been a week, or i do a water change. I never top off my tank.

Old tank syndrome is when excessive nutrients, minerals, and nitrates have built up in your tank. An aquarium whatever you put in it, stays in it (minus the water). Minerals, waste, and other things need to be physically removed, as they aren't taken along wiht evaporating water. Your current fish will grow acustom to the high levels, but the real problems begin in a tank with old tank syndrome when new fish are added. They can't survive the harsh conditions, and either die very quickly, or become very stressed, which often results in disease. That is why I try to make it a point that when the water is low, i remove some water, then refill the tank. Think of it this way, if you have to do water changes every 5 days, that means you can get away with doing smaller changes.

 

[Durbkat]

Thanks. Well I added the water and fish were fine then I rinsed the bucket out and put some more water in it and it had the bubbles in it today to. But I also got another bucket of the same size but it didn't have the bubbles in it though.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I would not use that bucket anymore then, or atleast make sure you no longer get bubbles before you begin to use it. Is there any chance that someone in your house used the bucket?

 

[Durbkat]

Nope no one has used it, it just appeared one yesterday.

 

[tttnjfttt]

that is very wierd