I think I have a problem bacteria or algae, I don't know - maybe you do. It started with my daughter's small tropical tank - it had ammonia spikes and really dirty water...we were doing daily water changes. I put it down to overstocking, but even after taking fish out it is still an issue. Then the Goldfish tank started malfunctioning - a snail died and then a blackmoor. On the weekend I did a 30% water change and rinsed out the filter pads in tank water - they were gummed up in the same red sludge that was in my daughter's filter. I put both of it down to overfeeding with Tetracolor tropical and goldfish crisps (kids can kill with love). But I took away the food and I have been monitoring and thismorning there were 2 dead fish...when I did NH3 test it was 8!!!! It is a 3ft tank that was cleaned 3 days ago that is no where near overstocked. The filter (fluval 4plus) has a little indicator that goes red if the filter is blocked and it was on!! I took out the filter and the red sludge was totally choking it. It has also found it's way into the tropical tank in my bedroom, fortunately I have done daily ammonia checks because I changed the substrate on the weekend, so I have not lost any fish but the reading has been 0.5 (which is high for me) and the filter is disgusting and I am doing daily pwc's.

Fortunately I use different buckets with the big o's and little o's...but I do use the same syphon..I'll stop doing that IMMEDIATELY....

Any suggestions?????????

Shaz

Can you get a picture of the red sludge???

I used to have that in my Goldy tank, but it was from the flake food...

Goldies are dirtier than O's... Over filter, over filter, over filter

I just cleaned my filter and the g/f filter. Did daughter's yesterday, but I be hers is dirty again...will go and have a look and post photo when I get a good one of it. It is browny / red sludge that stains the filter pads and wool red / pink. It reminds me of Lochia...as a woman and mother you will understand that...guys, don't ask what lochia is if you don't know, you don't want to know..trust me!!!!!!

LOL, Got it! Although a picture would now round it out! LOL...

I wonder if you should add another filter, and maybe try a different food???

And you know there are a WHOLE LOT of Google searches going on... LOL

Nicki--Sue wrote:


And won't they have a nice mental picture when they find out!

Will do both of your recommendations...I spoke to the "fish expert" at the LFS after I picked up the kids today. She told me it was probably an algae bloom because I don't have any real plants in my tanks and...get this... "there is all this light in my tank looking for something to use it to grow and if it can't find a plant then it will create algae.." OMG and I kept looking at her with a straight face..bloody malicious light ey!

it sounds like "a picture is worth a thousand words".

cebosound wrote:

yep, will put one up tomorrow....thanks....Shaz

sharyn wrote:


And this is why we are all here instead of at the LFS looking for answers... I have several grow lights in several tanks.. And I have NO ALGAE issues... What a NOB!!!

I researched a bit and I think I have at least 2 types of algae in my tanks and I know how they migrated...My daughters tank was infected first, probably with the last balloon Mollie I got her. Then when her tank crashed and I put it down to overstocking, I rehomed her comet into the goldfish tank and her bristle nose into my tank. The fish carry the spores in their gut and when they poo they infect the tank. I'm gonna get some anti phosphate filter media tomorrow. I will also try to get a Siamese algae eater.

i hope you get rid of this deadly red sludge just don't let it get to newcastle =]