This morning when I woke up, the water in my 55 gallon tank was cloudy. I checked the ph and ammonia levels. They were off the chart. I have done a 50% water change. I have live plants in the aquarium, so I am using a DIY CO2 system. Could that have caused the problem? I just did a 25% water change on Monday morning.
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2 hours ago
The ph levels are high and so is the ammonia levels. ph didn't crash. My tank has been running for over 4 months now. When I did my weekly water change I cleaned the filters in the old water in a pail, then put them back in. The only difference is that I bought 5 fish yesterday. Could that be the problem then?
3 hours ago - 3 days left to answer. - 3 answers - Report Abuse
2007-02-16 04:36:45 · 8 answers · asked by HK 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
If your pH is higher then it has nothing to do with the CO2. In regards to danielle's comment, it is extremely unlikely that the CO2 will deplete the O2 in the tank, especially a DIY CO2. It just doesn't produce enough CO2 and the CO2 produced doesn't disolve into the tank well enough.
Oh, on that line, I don't know if you were still looking, but I came across a good CO2 diffuser: http://www.petsandponds.com/securestore/c163336p16522394.2.html
Anyhoo, I'd be willing to bet that it's the 5 fish you added yesterday. Your tank was only bacterially equipped to deal with however many fish you had in the tank. Now that you've added more, the bacterial colonies need some time to grow so they can cope with the excess ammonia. Just do 20% water changes every day or every other day until the ammonia and nitrite levels drop.
2007-02-16 05:12:26 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your first water change somehow managed to upset your nitrogen cycle is my first thought. I would continue to do small water changes as needed to keep the ammonia low enough for the fish and wait until the cycle kicks back in. The CO2 will lower the pH in the tank unless the water is quite hard, but only about .2 -.3 at the most. The plants can have a bigger impact on pH over night than the CO2 injector.
Hold the levels down until nature can take control again and all should be well.
MM
2007-02-16 05:06:37 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As I said before, you could have a problem with the CO2 system you are using. The ammonia levels spiked more than likely due to the new fish introduced into the tank. It seems odd that the ammonia would spike that high, what kid of fish did you add? If they were gold fish, it is possiable. What was the water quality prior to adding the fish?
Your fishless tank is now becoming acclimated to the fish. Honestly, how comfortable are you with the CO2 you are using? Now that you have fish, you have to be careful not to deplete the Dissolved Oxygen in the water with the CO2.
Honestly, I would recomend getting rid of the co2 for now. Your plants and fish will live happily together. Your plants do not NEED the extra Co2 now that you have fish.
What ever you do DO NOT EMPTY your entire tank This is not an option in a cycled tank. Keep an eye on the ammonia levels. Do a 20% water change every other day until it adjusts itself.
2007-02-16 04:49:15 · answer #3 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your new fish could be the problem. 5 fish is a lot to add to a tank all at once and if they all poop, that's a lot of ammonia in the water.
2007-02-16 04:44:56 · answer #4 · answered by chamelean75 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The problem is that you need to completely empty your tank and clean it out thoroughly.
2007-02-16 04:39:50 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel-san 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
i dont know just change the water
2007-02-16 05:10:29 · answer #6 · answered by kandy girl 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I would start with all new fresh water..Empty the tank completly and start from there.
2007-02-16 04:41:43 · answer #7 · answered by Torey♥ 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋
try cleaning it again
2007-02-16 05:10:40 · answer #8 · answered by jballin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋