My Sister Poured A Whole Container Of Fish Food Into The Tank

So yesterday I walked into my room just as my baby sister was pouring the ENTIRE container of Fluval Bug Bites into my 30 gallon. Right away I tried removing as much of the food with my siphon as possible so I drained around 22 gallons and poured new fresh water into it. This morning the tank water smells SO bad, and I took out 10 gallons. What can I do to lower the ammonia fast? I'm going to continue to do water changes the next few days, I'm getting a new Bio-bag for my filter. Does anyone have experience with Ammo-Lock (API Ammo-Lock Ammonia Detoxifier Aquarium Water Conditioner)? I might get it as well.

All my fish are doing okay for now, except that their stomachs are HUGE so I'm going to fast them until they return to normal size.

 

I would do a 50% water change, wait a few hours, do a 50% water change, and then depending on parameters do one more. If you have seachem Prime, dose at twice as much as usual. Keep doing 50% water changes to make sure everything stays OK.

 

I would do a 50% water change, wait a few hours, do a 50% water change, and then depending on parameters do one more. If you have seachem Prime, dose at twice as much as usual. Keep doing 50% water changes to make sure everything stays OK.

I'll do that! I'll do a bigger water change in a few hours. Most of the food is gone but there is still some left. I do need a new bio bag regardless because the one I have in the filter is filthy from all the food it took.

 

I would keep track of it. Water changes will help. You might also want to take your media out and swish it around in aquarium water to loosen any foods that might have gotten stuck in there.

Also check your filters to see if there are any particles. Now is a good time to clean the filter a little.

 

I would keep track of it. Water changes will help. You might also want to take your media out and swish it around in aquarium water to loosen any foods that might have gotten stuck in there.

Also check your filters to see if there are any particles. Now is a good time to clean the filter a little.

I have a Tetra Whisper 40 so all there is in te filter is a Biobag and a sponge. I rinsed the sponge in hot water and I'm going to replace the bio bag tonight after another water change.

 

Rinsing the sponge in very hot water will kill the beneficial bacteria on the sponge. So will rinsing it in tap water because of chlorine or chloramines. Replacing your biobag will also take away beneficial bacteria, and all of this will kill your cycle. The last thing you need now is an uncycled tank. I would not replace the biobag. Instead, swish it around in some of your removed tank water, then place back in the filter.

 

Rinsing the sponge in very hot water will kill the beneficial bacteria on the sponge. So will rinsing it in tap water because of chlorine or chloramines. Replacing your biobag will also take away beneficial bacteria, and all of this will kill your cycle. The last thing you need now is an uncycled tank. I would not replace the biobag. Instead, swish it around in some of your removed tank water, then place back in the filter.

Actually we have a filtration system that runs through the whole house that takes out all the chlorine in the tap water. The tank water, bio bag, and sponge reek of ammonia, and the bio-bag is a dark brown color so it was going to be changed soon anyway. I actually use Tetra Safestart whenever I do big water changes or when I replace the biobags.

 

Sorry... but the new biobag and the hot cleaned sponge will still be empty of beneficial bacteria, which will at the very least cause a hiccup in your cycle and stress your fish. I understand you want to replace the nasty bag, but you would do better to squeeze a new one with the old nasty one for a couple of weeks in order to seed it. I'm not trying to be hard on you, only to help, and to wish you luck. We've all dealt with disasters before and I know how stressful it can be.

 

Sorry... but the new biobag and the hot cleaned sponge will still be empty of beneficial bacteria, which will at the very least cause a hiccup in your cycle and stress your fish. I understand you want to replace the nasty bag, but you would do better to squeeze a new one with the old nasty one for a couple of weeks in order to seed it. I'm not trying to be hard on you, only to help, and to wish you luck. We've all dealt with disasters before and I know how stressful it can be.

That sounds like the best idea to me, If you restart your cycle, the ammonia will spike and you might kill all of your fish.

 

At the very least right now the bacteria in that biobag and sponge are pushing through some of that excess of ammonia, converting it into nitrates. What you should do is rinse them really really well in old tank water, the water you just took out of the tank, and squeeze a new biobag in beside the old one for a few weeks for the bacteria to transfer. Right now the best possible thing to be doing is large water changes and dosing Prime if you have it. If it were me, I would rinse everything really well in old tank water, do a really really good gravel vacuum and do a 50% water change. I would wait about an hour and test ammonia. If it was still bad I would wait another 3 or 4 hours and do another 50% water change. After an hour I'd test and if it was still bad I'd wait again and do a water change until ammonia levels are OK.

 

At the very least right now the bacteria in that biobag and sponge are pushing through some of that excess of ammonia, converting it into nitrates. What you should do is rinse them really really well in old tank water, the water you just took out of the tank, and squeeze a new biobag in beside the old one for a few weeks for the bacteria to transfer. Right now the best possible thing to be doing is large water changes and dosing Prime if you have it. If it were me, I would rinse everything really well in old tank water, do a really really good gravel vacuum and do a 50% water change. I would wait about an hour and test ammonia. If it was still bad I would wait another 3 or 4 hours and do another 50% water change. After an hour I'd test and if it was still bad I'd wait again and do a water change until ammonia levels are OK.

Very good advice. In other words Zofia, your instincts to clean everything up are right on. Clean, do not replace.

I had another thought for you. I have little ones myself, and these things, while not pretty, have saved my tanks from unwanted hands, toys, food and whatever else. I don't love looking at them, but it's more important to protect the tank.

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Xtraguard-Action-Multi-Latches/dp/B007A2ZSZ8/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516391580&sr=8-2&keywords=munchkin+refrigerator+lock&th=1

 

Sorry... but the new biobag and the hot cleaned sponge will still be empty of beneficial bacteria, which will at the very least cause a hiccup in your cycle and stress your fish. I understand you want to replace the nasty bag, but you would do better to squeeze a new one with the old nasty one for a couple of weeks in order to seed it. I'm not trying to be hard on you, only to help, and to wish you luck. We've all dealt with disasters before and I know how stressful it can be.

Ok do that! I'll hold off changing it for a week or so until everything clears up.

Very good advice. In other words Zofia, your instincts to clean everything up are right on. Clean, do not replace.

I had another thought for you. I have little ones myself, and these things, while not pretty, have saved my tanks from unwanted hands, toys, food and whatever else. I don't love looking at them, but it's more important to protect the tank.

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Xtraguard-Action-Multi-Latches/dp/B007A2ZSZ8/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516391580&sr=8-2&keywords=munchkin+refrigerator+lock&th=1

That looks nice, what is it?

 

It's meant to lock a refrigerator or perhaps a stove and the like. Basically it prevents doors from being opened. So, one side sticks to the side of my tank, and the other is stuck to the lid. I have one on each side of my 20 gallon long reef tank. You have to squeeze them to release the lock, allowing you to access the tank. I have the reef tank in my living room, with very curious toddlers about, so I would not do without some kind of protection. I can only imagine what may happen in the few minutes I need to myself here and there.

 

It's meant to lock a refrigerator or perhaps a stove and the like. Basically it prevents doors from being opened. So, one side sticks to the side of my tank, and the other is stuck to the lid. I have one on each side of my 20 gallon long reef tank. You have to squeeze them to release the lock, allowing you to access the tank. I have the reef tank in my living room, with very curious toddlers about, so I would not do without some kind of protection. I can only imagine what may happen in the few minutes I need to myself here and there.

My tank doesn't have a lid unfortunately, just an attached Nicrew light.

 

I wish I could go without a lid... I dare not with toddlers around.

 

I wish I could go without a lid... I dare not with toddlers around.

Yeah it isn't the best decision I've made, but at this point there's nothing I can do. In the future I'll just make sure to hide my aquarium supplies better.