|
 |
 |
June 15th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Bum
|
Question:
Is it possible to have an algae bloom and a bacteria bloom together?
I set the 30 gal hex up Friday night. I declorinated the water, waited a couple of hours and added the bio-spira and have been "feeding" the tank with Top-Fin Flake food. I thought I added food sparcely to avoid an algae bloom. Maybe not? Even if I did...seems a little quick for it to happen. Either way, I woke up this morning with white cloudy water. This evening the water is the strangest shade of green. Green looks good on everything except bologna sandwiches and aquarium water. Any words of wisdom?
|
|
|
|
June 15th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Bum
|
Sorry, I don't have any way of taking pics...daughter ruined my camera. The tank is not in front of, but directly across the room from a big picture window that faces the northwest.
|
|
|
|
|
June 15th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Mentor
|
 HI, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!
My first question is why are you "feeding" a tank if you used bio-spira?
You aren't suppose to feed it like you do when you are doing a fishless cycle. With Bio-Spria, you put your fish in right after the bio-spira...No cycling necessary....Don't change any water for a week, feed sparingly, and then after a week test the water, and change 25%....then change 25% every week.
Yes you may be having a bloom, but I really don't think it would be algae.
Good Luck, and keep us posted! |
|
|
|
June 15th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Bum
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by susitna-flower
HI, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!
My first question is why are you "feeding" a tank if you used bio-spira?
You aren't suppose to feed it like you do when you are doing a fishless cycle. With Bio-Spria, you put your fish in right after the bio-spira...No cycling necessary....Don't change any water for a week, feed sparingly, and then after a week test the water, and change 25%....then change 25% every week.
Yes you may be having a bloom, but I really don't think it would be algae.
Good Luck, and keep us posted!
|
I thought that even after the bio-spira I was still to wait at least a week before I added fish. I misunderstood something? So in the morning I go to the PetSmart and buy a little school of zebra fish even if the water is still looking like an Incredible Hulk breakfast shake? No water changes yet? Sorry I'm so ignorant folks, I just really don't wanna kill anything. |
|
|
|
|
June 15th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Keeper
|
susitna-flower is right on the money. People buy expensive Bio-spira so they won't have to have a long cycling period.
What you're doing is putting fish food into a tank that's already cycled, but has no fish to eat it, hence the big algae bloom!
The fish should have gone in right away so that the cycle created by the Bio Spira won't be compromised.
You need to test your water now to see if levels are safe for fish.
Good luck!  |
|
|
|
|
June 16th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Helper
|
And don't feel too bad. I'm new to all this and almost did the same thing! I'm trying to ask plenty of questions before I even get water in my tank to prevent similar things from happening. We're all very lucky that the good people here at Fishlore are so understanding!
|
|
|
|
|
June 16th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Bum
|
Thanks:
First of all, Thanks Everybody!!!! Then an update. I tested the water last night, and everything was normal. Then just to be sure, I tested again this morning. Everything was fine, so I assumed it was ok to try a small school even though the water was still a little green than I would like. Took a small water sample to the PetSmart and they tested it (for FREE!!! I didn't know they would do that!!!) They said my water was ok, GH and KH being just a little high. Now I'm a proud fishy momma of a school of 6 zebra fish that seem to be swimming nicely through their new home. Now as far as the algae is concerned. I know now what happened. My husband and I both enjoyed the way the aquarium lit the living room so beautifully, so we left the light on (a lot)! I had no idea artifical light would promote algae growth. In addition to the natural light the aquarium picks up during the day, plus the fact that I was putting in fish food was just too much. Gonna wrap it in black bags for a couple of days, feed the new addition very little, and if I every see a pretty clean tank again I know I won't make the same mistake again....ever.
|
|
|
|
|
June 16th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Mentor
|
The Petsmart near me uses the strips and they're not very accurate.
Did they tell you what the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates are?
It's a good idea to have your own test kit so you can keep a log of your parameters yourself.
The API master kit is highly recommended here.
It's kind of pricey, buy hey, with gas prices what they are, it's probably cheaper to get one than drive back and forth to Petsmart.
Good luck with your tank.
|
|
|
|
|
June 16th, 2008
|
|
|
Fish Keeper
|
Welcome! and I dont feel bad about not knowing that you were suposed to add the fishes right away, you just went on the safe side and added food to prevent any fishy from dying.
Congrats for your Zebras and again welcome  |
|
|
|
|
|
Similar Aquarium Fish Forum Threads
