Smelly green tank with dead fish!

[bmonahan]

About a month ago I broke down my daughter's ten gallon tank for its annual cleaning. She had about 9 fish in the tank (various tetras and platys--nothing too exotic and a Chinese algae eater who I have never seen eat a bit of algae). Used about 5 gallons of old tank water to recondition as recommended in Skomal's SETTING UP A FRESHWATER AQUARIUM. Also used Stress Coat. Water was cloudy, but figured it would clear in a few days. I had purchased a 20-gal filter (Whisper Bio Bag system) thinking that more filtration would be better than my old 10-gallon one). I used a new filter to set up the tank again. Well the water never did clear up, even began to smell and has turned progressively greener (now lime green) to the point where you can hardly see the fish and notice the smell from outside the room! One fish died, which sent me back to the local chain fish store and was told to use Stress Zyme in order to build up 'good bacteria' that work on ammonia and add additional carbon to the filter. When that didn't work, was told to use Algae Destroyer for that obvious problem and Ammo-Lock. A week later, and its worse than ever and two more fish have died. I have done two partial water changes of 2+ gallons. According to the fish store, I should not have used a new filter with the reconditioned tank which makes sense to me. However, NOTHING seems to be attacking the water quality or algae--just killing more fish. The pH has been generally good, borderline neutral/acidic and the nitrates/nitrites have been OK, but ammonia has been high and is now at the danger level even after having added more Ammo-lock last night.

Should I remove fish and do a complete water change/partial water change? If so, when should I change the filter? Use any chemicals to correct? Also forgot to say that I have always used distilled water in the tank. Should I get an undergravel filter? Is a crystal clear tank too much to ask for?

 

[famman]

You've lost your biological filtering by killing and removing the benificial bacteria culture. When you went to the new filter you caused an ammonia and maybe nitrite spike and a subsequent algae bloom. With 0 nitrates you are subject to blue-green algae (actually a bacteria) which is nasty and difficult to get rid of.

You should have kept the old filter running with the new filter for a month or so. You will now have to re-establish your culture.

Do not use distilled water because it lacks trace elements and is in effect too pure for the fish. Use your tap water with amquel or aquaplus tap water conditioner. I would start with a 10% water change with your tap water twice a day for 2 days to get the fish used to any differences in pH and kh. Then do 50% water changes every other day or so for the next week.

If you can get some gravel from an establish fish tank from your local fish store or a friend and add a small amount every day your new cycle will progress rapidly.

A gallon of clear water from a well established tank will often contain the predators that live on the floating green algae you see.

Sorry for your troubles.

good luck

 

[wetmanNY]

Originally posted by bmonahan
About a month ago I broke down my daughter's ten gallon tank for its annual cleaning.

Annual isn't very often. "Breaking down" and "reconditioned" sound as if everything were removed and scrubbed and the gravel was thoroughly stirred up. You started up again with a raw filter, dirty water and a bacterial community in chaos from stirring up the gravel...

She had about 9 fish in the tank.

That's a full, even a heavy bioload-- even if the fish are all quite small.

Used about 5 gallons of old tank water to recondition.

Old tank water has few nitrifying bacteria, but lots of metabolic wastes. The breaking down has initiated a fresh nitrogen cycling of this tank...

Also used Stress Coat.

A simple dechlorinator is all that's required. The AmQual you also used will help...

Water was cloudy, but figured it would clear in a few days. I had purchased a 20-gal filter (Whisper Bio Bag system) thinking that more filtration would be better than my old 10-gallon one). I used a new filter to set up the tank again.

Too bad you didn't reuse some of the old filter media...

Well the water never did clear up, even began to smell and has turned progressively greener (now lime green) to the point where you can hardly see the fish and notice the smell from outside the room!

Water changes are urgently required today...

One fish died, which sent me back to the local chain fish store and was told to use Stress Zyme in order to build up 'good bacteria' that work on ammonia and add additional carbon to the filter. When that didn't work, was told to use Algae Destroyer

Algicides kill fish. They are not recommended in aquaria. The directions should have been on the packaging...

and Ammo-Lock.

That was a good move! Notice that you can expect false positive ammonia readings with Ammo-Lock...

A week later, and its worse than ever and two more fish have died. I have done two partial water changes of 2+ gallons. According to the fish store, I should not have used a new filter with the reconditioned tank which makes sense to me. However, NOTHING seems to be attacking the water quality or algae--just killing more fish.

Water changes will help... Mortality will reduce the fishload. Remove the corpses...


The pH has been generally good, borderline neutral/acidic and the nitrates/nitrites have been OK,

Why so mysterious about test results?...

but ammonia has been high and is now at the danger level

Any detectable ammonia at all is the danger level. Same with nitrite..

even after having added more Ammo-lock last night.

Now, don't just keep adding chemicals. Use them as directed on the label...

Should I remove fish and do a complete water change/partial water change?

Partial water changes every day until the ammonia and nitrites are undetectable...

If so, when should I change the filter?

Leave the filter alone, except to rinse it in the tank water you're siphoning out...

Use any chemicals to correct?

Nope. Cut out the chemical dependence...

Also forgot to say that I have always used distilled water in the tank.

Yet your alkalinity must be strong, not to have a severe drop ("crash") in pH under these stressed conditions. What made you decide to use distilled water? Is your water very hard?

Better start reading some beginner information. Try www.thekrib.com for "FAQs" (frequently asked questions)......