Water contamination. (Long, but am in desperate need of help)?

Question

Hello all, I received a 46 gallon tank for Christmas (I have always wanted one). I have gotten off to a horrible start, here is my story.

I set everything up, and let it all circulate for about a day. I had planned on doing a fishless cycle. So, I read up on using ammonia and made sure that I did not buy any ammonia containing detergents. I went to Stop&Shop to purchase ammonia. I picked up "Pure Power Clear Ammonia". I was sure it was 100% pure ammonia, but boy was I wrong. I put a small dosage into my tank (this is before I knew the ammonia was bad). The next morning, I realized that my water surface was very soapy looking. I read the ingredients of the ammonia, and it listed SURFACTANT. Oh no. I looked it up. Turns out you are not supposed to use ammonia with surfactant in it!!! I wish I had known!.

I emptied my entire tank. I trashed the gravel and plants, as well as filter media and bio-wheel because it'd only cost me around 70 bucks to replace. I rinsed out the tank several times, and I also sprayed and wiped each side of the glass with water many times. I rinsed the rock with a hose over and over. After that, I cleaned out the entire filter, thermometer and heater. I filled my tank back up with water and water only. I ran the filter, but with no media or bio-wheel for fear of contamination. I began to test the rock in heated water. I left i over night, plus three more hours upon waking. There was no sign of soap. So, I emptied the tank and added allll my new stuff. This morning, I see....soap. Oh no.

My tank seems to be contaminated yet again, most likely from the large fake rock. I am very upset and am only 15 years old so my budget is pretty slim, and I already spent a lot of money on gravel and plants and stuff. Is there anything I can do to rid my tank of this surfactant, without having to empty it out again, rinse or buy new things? Sorry for the length, but I really am stumped on what to do.

Thank you

I didn't use ammonia to clean the tank...I used it to start the cycle

Answer 1

I had fish for years and I never used ammonia.
Yes there is some in the tank once you have fish in it but you need to treat the water to get rid of it.

Take these steps
1) clean the tank with hot water and baking soda (yes you need to empty it)

2) Rinse it very well The final rinse only use water that has been boiled

3) Use an old big pot and boil every thing You can boil the rocks and all just stir it needs to be at the boiling temp rolling boil for at least five Min's I would do it for eight

If the plants are plastic boil them as well

4) Set it up again and use the drops that will get rid of chlorine and soften the water and make sure it is the right pH

Different fish need different pH

5) Even if you get two real plants that would have to put good bacteria in the water.


As a rule of thumb unless it is alive boil every thing that you put into the tank

And only use plants from places you trust from a pet store not from the lake.

When you start out try Sm tropicals neon's , mollies fish that does not cost too much because you will make mistakes

The pet store should have Sm books on the care of different fish

Answer 2

Kay ce gave the best. You can also start the cycle with aquarium water that has been running for a long time, a few real plants and even 2 fish. No need to throw things out just rinse and rinse some more or BOIL.

Do the same for the bio wheel.

The only thing I recommend you buy at this point is a water test kit so you know when your water is fish safe.

Answer 3

Don't know where you got the idea of using ammonia, my understanding is that you only use water to clean a tank.
I think if you repeat your cleaning but instead of reassembling it put bio-wheel, thermometer and heater in a bucket of water. Some of the gravel in a separate container and the fake rock in something else. See the results and act accordingly. I suspect your fake rock will be the problem as it is probably porous.
My tank is 70 gallons, with an external filter and 2x 75 watt. heaters,. It contains 4 Gouramis, 4 flying foxes 2 Catfish and assorted Plattys.

Answer 4

kay.ce's answer is excellent, I would just like to add - instead of using ammonia to start a fishless cycle, try adding a pinch of fish food, or even a bit of cold cooked shrimp left over from a holiday shrimp ring - the rotting of food (in lieu of fish waste) creates ammonia, which feeds the nitrifying bacteria and thus begins the cycle. After a fishless cycle, you want to add fish very slowly, so the bacteria have time to increase enough to keep up with the additional wastes.