RudeeRu

Ok! So while my title says it's a new tank, it's totally cycled and has been for months.

Now, I will admit I made the mistake of placing this tank right next to my dining room window so I ended up with ALGAE! But the tank wasn't too cloudy. We moved the tank further away from the window (still in the eat-in kitchen but not right in front of the window), but that didn't seem to help. Then my filter DIED. Flat out DIED. I HAD no choice but to run out and get a whole new one. Then the cloudiness got WAY worse. I figured AH the tank is recycling so I didn't pay it too much mind. Water values were all fair (not great, but not bad). Well, the heater then decided to BREAK (it was an old heater, should've known better)! Well, my water turned VERY cloudy and most of my fish DIED. WELL, I did about 3 water changes over 5 days (the first one was 75%, the rest about 50%). My pH was OUT OF CONTROL, reading 6 (I think it was worse) for a week; I went thru AN ENTIRE BOTTLE of pH up.......which brought the readings to 6.4. LONG STORY SHORT, the pH is finally at 6.8 (although would prefer 7.2...slowly getting there), ammonia was up to 1 but is back to 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 5. I have 2 albino corys, 1 upside down cat, 1 mickey mouse platy, 2 sunburst platys, 1 "odd ball" platy, and 2 fry (found them amongst the muck!). I also have 2 "large algae shrimp"--they just look like really big glass shrimp, 2 mystery snails and 2 gold incas (and 2 large egg packets). I have real plants and real driftwood.

Here are the chemicals/things I have tried so far:

1. Accu-clear by API...did absolutely nothing.
2. Activated carbon...did absoultely nothing
3. Added an extra filter pad thingie I had to cut on my own...did absolutely nothing
4. pH up
5. AmQuel
6. pH stabilizing tabs
7. Kent freshwater clear...did NOTHING after 2 doses.....

I'm at a loss. Seriously. I had big plans for this tank. I'm so disappointed, I spent SOOO much money.....I was going to do yet another water change but I figure I'd ask here first on what to do next....and I doubt it's water hardness issues as I had no problems when I had my 10 gallon and used the same water.......I just didn;t think it'd be so long, I can't enjoy my tank, and I'm not enjoying the experience My water has been awful now for 7weeks (it's been 4 weeks since I moved the tank from the window).

HELP! What else can I try?!? And should I do another water change?!?

Shawnie

Hi rudeeru...did you use the old filter media that was already cycled? or did you use all new filter equiptment??

RudeeRu

It was a totally different filter; it was a canister filter but I couldn't find it anywhere (I had gotten the tank 2nd hand), so I bought a hang-off-the-side filter system and tried to fit the old canister filter inside to at least give it a chance but it kept floating up so I just tossed it. I figured I'd get a mini-cycle but it's been so long.

Shawnie

so yes, as you said, it went into a mini cycle...I think between the combination of that, and the chemicals, the fish couldnt take it...ive read here most of the time, water changes are recommended for ph issues...that and the fish acclimate to all kinds of ph readings..so the chemicals arent used....when you get the start of a cycle, whether it be mini or not, daily water changes of at least 50% are whats needed..everyday until the ammonia and nitrites come back to 0...can you get some bio-spira from your LFS to speed up that process??

kra-z-fishmumm

it started the cycle basically allover again sorry that happened. If you have another tank, try an get some filter media from that and put in with the new filter. Do no more than 50% water changes(NO GRAVEL VACUUMING), until the water is clear and your readings are Nitrate <40,and ammonia/nitrites 0. If you can find the Bio-Spira, that would be good, but atleast you still have the substrate that has the old bacteria. Keep us posted and let us know if you have anymore questions.

Shawnie

nitrate 40? id have major algae and dirty water if mine were that high..ive seen most are 5-20 ...

RudeeRu

Thanks! I actually had done the gravel vacuuming because I was worried about chemicals from the heater--I had actually called the fish store and asked if I had to worry about mercury or lead and they said no. I'll try to just do the water only then. I also read on the algae threads (because I have an algae problem too) to do a 48 hour blackout. Unfortunately the store I love to go to is 45 min away, so hopefully I'll be able to go tomorrow and get some Bio-Spira! I'll be busy tomorrow!

What about the crushed coral for pH? I can't get my pH better than 6.6 (JUST checked it)....I wanted to add a few more fish (order my pitbulls, get a couple more cories, some red shrimp) but not with the current conditions esp this dang pH....

kra-z-fishmumm

Oops,, sorry bout that,, nitrates should not be any higher than 20. You have live plants that I believe helps with keeping the nitrates down. Right now you need to just maintain good water perameters and clear water,,,no fishies till you get straightened out lol Did you boil the driftwood before putting it in? The wood can lower your pH!!! and leaches something called tannins that give your water a dirty color. hope some of this helps. How is it going?

RudeeRu

My nitrates aren't 40, mine are 5....

kra-z-fishmumm

yeah,, i posted the wrong thing, sorry. I wasn't saying that was what you had. I was just saying that plants will help with that. sorry for any misunderstanding.