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Posted by Ken & Sandy on February 8, 2009, 3:37 pm
Please log in for more thread options I have a 10 gallon tank. I have a biowheel filter system. My tank was
having an algae issue for some time which water changes wouldn't fix. The
stones were several years old so I thought perhaps this was the issue. I
changed the stones yesterday, and took out three gallons of water as well.
The water now 24 hours later looks clean but there is a fog look to it. The
smaller fish (tetras, catfish) are acting fine. The large angelfish while
swimming around and acknowledging me when I walk into the room, will not eat
and is hanging around the top of the water quite a bit (though not gasping
at the surface). What could be the issue with the foggy water? Is the
angel probably just stressed some? I will do a test on some of the water
parameters and post them separately.
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Posted by Ken & Sandy on February 8, 2009, 3:56 pm
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water parameters are:
Ammonia 0 ppm (no surprise there since the tank is so clean, new stones,
etc)
Nitrite 0 ppm
GH & KH rnage 50 ppm
pH is high at about 7.6 (usually it is 7.0)
Could this pH spike be causing the foggy water and the angel's stress?
Will the tank cycling with the bio filter fix this on it's own?
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Posted by Tynk on February 8, 2009, 4:01 pm
Please log in for more thread options > I have a 10 gallon tank. =A0 =A0I have a biowheel filter system. =A0 My t=
ank was
> having an algae issue for some time which water changes wouldn't fix. =A0=
The
> stones were several years old so I thought perhaps this was the issue. =
=A0I
> changed the stones yesterday, and took out three gallons of water as well=
.
> The water now 24 hours later looks clean but there is a fog look to it. =
=A0The
> smaller fish (tetras, catfish) are acting fine. =A0The large angelfish wh=
ile
> swimming around and acknowledging me when I walk into the room, will not =
eat
> and is hanging around the top of the water quite a bit (though not gaspin=
g
> at the surface). =A0 What could be the issue with the foggy water? =A0 =
=A0Is the
> angel probably just stressed some? =A0 =A0I will do a test on some of the=
water
> parameters and post them separately.
Hi there.
When you changed out the gravel you took too much of the nitrifying
bacteria. The cloudiness is from a bacterial bloom.
You are re-cycling the tank basically.
Take care to do the regular weekly 10-20% water changes.
You angel does sound it's stressed.
What's your normal water change and gravel vacuuming schedule?
How long has the tank been up and running with fish?
You also didn't mention the amount of tank mates.
Algae problems can occur from not enough water changes, over feeding
issues, over stocking, or direct sunlight.
If you answer the above questions, and honestly, it'll be easier to
figure out the *why* and then how to correct it.
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Posted by Ken & Sandy on February 8, 2009, 4:33 pm
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>What's your normal water change and gravel vacuuming schedule?
Just once every 3 weeks, always been that way with no issues until recently.
>How long has the tank been up and running with fish?
6-1/2 to 7 years.
>You also didn't mention the amount of tank mates.
One large angel, two small cory cats and two tetras.
>Algae problems can occur from not enough water changes, over feeding
issues, over stocking, or direct sunlight.
I don't believe I over feed, everything is eaten, doesn't appear I overstock
and there is no sunlight as the tank is in the basement. I felt that the
stones were the issue. While I siphoned the stones they still seemed to
hold a lot of matter in them, as evidenced when I took the stones out to
replace them. The same stones have been in for the life of the tank (nearly
7 years). They also were not typical gravel stones, but recycled polished
glass. I only do water changes about every three weeks, as I have done for
as long as I've had the tank. When I did my usual water changes every three
weeks, I would take out three gallons (via gravel siphon) from the 10 gallon
tank. This always worked well for years with great water until the last few
months when an algae appeared (blanket algae easily removed from the
stones). I was hoping the changing of the stones to new gravel and a good
algae spot cleaning would do the trick, I guess with that matter time will
tell. As for the cloudy/foggy water issue right now, I did leave the old
filter in the biowheel filter, as well as still keeping six gallons of the
original water. So I am a little surprised for the bacteria bloom you
mentioned but I don't doubt your suggestion that it is probably the cause.
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Posted by Tynk on February 9, 2009, 11:43 am
Please log in for more thread options > >What's your normal water change and gravel vacuuming schedule?
>
> Just once every 3 weeks, always been that way with no issues until recent=
ly.
>
> >How long has the tank been up and running with fish?
>
> 6-1/2 to 7 years.
>=A0While I siphoned the stones they still seemed to
> hold a lot of matter in them, as evidenced when I took the stones out to
> replace them. =A0The same stones have been in for the life of the tank (n=
early
> 7 years). =A0
This is what I suspect to be the cause.
Your water change schedule should be increased (once a week, to at
least every 2 weeks).
The problem with the debris in the glass stones is most likey the
"why" you're looking for. Being glass blobs you couldn't do a good
enough vacuuming. This is why you were still seeing a lot of matter.
Too much debris left in the stones over that period of time most
likely caused an old tank syndrome.
What were the nitrate readings before you changed out the glass stones
for gravel?
=A0 As for the cloudy/foggy water issue right now, I did leave the old
> filter in the biowheel filter, as well as still keeping six gallons of th=
e
> original water. =A0So I am a little surprised for the bacteria bloom you
> mentioned but I don't doubt your suggestion that it is probably the cause=
.
The amount of nitrifying bacteria on the biowheel wasn't enough to
keep the tank from going through a mini-cycle.
By removing so much of it (removing the glass) this is why the
bacteria bloom. They're growing their numbers again to support the bio
load.
As for keeping old water, that does nothing for the bacteria. They
don't float about in the water column. They adhere like glue to every
surface in the tank.
That means every side of each piece of glass had them stuck like glue.
The tank walls, the decor, the filter pad, the bio wheel, every
surface.
Do you toss out your filter pad or rinse it in old tank water and
replace it?
The only time you want to actually toss it out is when it's worn a
hole in it or torn.
I know the directions for the filter say "replace", but they want to
make money. There's truly no need to replace them every time. They
shouldn't be rinsed under the tap either, as that would kill off the
nitrifying bacteria. This is why you want to rinse it in the water
that removed.
There are myths out there in the hobby about using old tank water to
cycle a tank, or "squeezing" out an established filter to add the
bacteria to a new tank. Those are totally false. Years, and years ago
they didn't know that the bacteria secrete a glue-like substance that
adheres these bacteria the surface that they live on.
The only time they are in the water is when they are growing during
the cycle period. This is when you see the white cloudiness.
As soon as they all find a place to stick to, it goes poof and your
water is clear again. That of course is simplified, but it's the
easiest way to explain it.
Oh, what type of tetras are they, and what's the size of your
angelfish? Don't add in the fins, use body size such as a quarter, a
lime, baseball, etc.
Also, is it a veil or standard. The veils need more tank space than a
standard.
I specialize in angelfish, as well as bettas, and both have been a
passion of mine for the last 30 yrs.
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