Urgent Fish Tank Help Please!!!?

Question

I have had my fish tank for two months the first four fish I had all got ick and died. I cycled out my water and waited a month before adding new fish. Yesterday one of my molly's died. My other molly and my plecostamous see to be just fine (no ick signs). I panicked yesterday and topped off my water, added water treatment, stress coat and PH and Ammonia balance. Today my tank is white cloudy and algea seems to have popped up in large amounts. What should I do????? Please help me so I don't kill these fish.

The pet store told me to empty the tank and scrub everything. This doesn't seem right to me. I am vey new at this and just want a healthy tank. DO I need to change any of the water?

will my tank be ok without a water change until tomorrow? I am 20 minutes from a store and I usually use distilled water.

Answer 1

The white cloudiness is due to a bacterial bloom and isn't all that unusual in a cycling tank. As for the algae, it's probably a result of the nitrites and some nitrate being produced by the cycle getting going and could also be the result of the pH balance as most of those balance type chemicals contain phosphates which are pure algae food. In your haste to help your fish you are creating a chemical soup for them to swim in.

My suggestion: Stop with the extra chemicals. Don't try to balance your pH, let it be what it's going to be. That far better for the fish than the constant changing pH that using chemicals will create in your tank. Don't use any type of ammonia correcting chemicals. Most of them intefer with the start up of a cycle and once the tank is cycled you don't need it anyway. Don't use stress coat unless the fish are injured or recovering from a disease.

Begin with a routine of small daily water changes for the next week to 10 days. Then check you ammonia after a day of no water changes. If it's still high continue the small water changes another week and check it again. Repeat until the ammonia reads 0 or very near 0 for a few days straight with no water changes. Use only some dechlorinator during this time.

This will settle the tank down and allow the cycle to progress normally and eliminate the cloudy water. It will also remove the nutrients the algae is feeding on. During this time also keep the tank light off most of the time to help control the ammonia. Soon you will have a healthy and stable tank you and your fish will enjoy!

MM

Answer 2

Follow what magicman told you, he is right on the money. You really do want to stop adding extra chemicals and no medications. If you must medicate your fish if sick, get a hospital tank. Depending on the size of fish you have, I'd get a simple 10-15 gallon tank that is used to quarrentine new fish and/or treat sick fish. By adding in medication, you destroy your bio filter as these medications are anti biotics. I have rather large fish myself. Two decent sized Arowana's, two good sized Oscars, two long Irid Sharks, one 3 inch Datnoid Tiger, 1 4 inch Male Lavander Gourami, 1 6 inch Gold Tin Foil Barb, and an assortment of Pleco's and Cat's to clean up. They are in a 75 gallon tank until I get a 125 up and the 75 will become my hospital tank. I am currently using a 20 and 15 gallon as a temp hospital tank until I get my bigger one set up which will house these pigs/monsters for longer term.

Answer 3

Sounds like your Chlorine level is too low. Algea blooms when the CL2 level drops below 3.0 parts per million. Add about 1/4 cup of bleach to the will clear your problem right up. Don't let the pet store sales people lie to you and steer you away from this. all they want to do is sell you a bunch of over priced chemicals which are nothing more than a bleach solution labled "Ick treatment" or algea control.

Answer 4

Do a 25-50% water change with spring water and try to block off some of the sun. If there is no source of sunlight, then don't turn on the aquarium light. If algae continues to grow, the pleco will eat some of it; the rest you have to clean.

Answer 5

Hm. reminds me as quickly as I positioned something new in my tank that doesnt trust the water and adjustments its shade. Did you happen to place something new in it? additionally, that's only in simple terms my opinion, doesnt actually rely in all probability, yet isnt that an undesirable lot of stuff to put in a tank at as quickly as? I recommend, what if all of it mixed at the same time in a bad way? yet you assert you have performed it a mutually as, so perhaps that's in simple terms me? I completely disagree with Rainbow baby. quite some individuals have reported with the intention to have a Crowntail Betta you want a minimum of a 10 gallon tank. Ive had 2 -one in a 5 gallon and one in a a million gallon- and that they have been thoroughly content textile. If the fish have been in there that long it shouldnt subject them what the dimensions is (till they're nonetheless becoming great)

Answer 6

Not only shade or move your aquarium away from the sun or light source, but also try to (for at least a week) try to totally block all light from the aquarium. I have gotten algae booms before and they suck. The steps I took were:
1. Changed ¾ of the water out.

2. Try to shade the aquarium from the sun

3. Limit the time that your lamp is on to the very minimum. (do you leave your light on all night??? That’s not good.)

4. Cross your fingers and hope they don’t have to go to the flush-o-rama ride.

Answer 7

If you have algae after only 24 hours, your fish tank is getting too much sun. Maybe you can screen the side that the sun shine through to cut down on algae.

Answer 8

read instructions on bottle use clear water treatment particulate water clarifer and turnoff lights for a day or two