Hi guys,
I was lucky enough to escape to the coast for 5 days leaving the tank in my wifes capable hands.Wasn't so lucky on returning. Unfortunately upon opening the tank lid, i was hit with a musty smell. The water also looked murky. On further investigation, I discovered that the filter intake was so badly clogged that water had stopped passing through it. I have a Jebo tank with a built in trickle filter in the lid. The problem stems from a major hair algae outbreak which i have gradually been getting on top of. There is at times a fair bit of dying algae blooms floating in the tank. It gets into the impeller and clogs it unless I clean it frequently.
I have'nt been here so had no way of knowing how long ago the water stopped flowing over the filter medium, but longer enough ago to effectivly kill the biological filter I would guess by the evidence.
So...I totally cleaned all the filter mediums, impeller, intakes ect. I also took eveything out of the tank including driftwood, rocks and heater and scrubbed off algae. I vacuued the gravel and did a 50% water change.
I tested the water. PH 7,Amonia 0, Nitrite 0. I dont have a nitrate test but plan to get one tomorrow.
I have effectively just set up all over again so can exspect some problems I guess...Bugger.
The fish, 2 oscars, 1blue Acara and 3 and 3 clown loaches seem fine.
My plan was to carry out water changes every day or two and keep a close eye on water quality.
Am I on the right path?
Any other advise?

You should keep checking your ammonia in the morning, then again in the evening for the next few days. Assuming that you having completely cleaned your biological filtration, the bacteria may not have all died, if you don't get an ammonia spike then you may be in the clear. However, if you start getting ammonia problems then you will have to be very careful, especially since you have clown Loach, these fish do not tolerate poor water conditions. Hopefully if your pH stays at 7.0, that should detoxify the ammonia quite a lot so the fish shouldn't get too much of a hit of poison ammonia.

good luck

i just want to check how did you go with the cleaning????
have you use the murky tank water???? if you did, you will be fine.
have ammonia and nitrite at zero... you tank will be fine.....
any sign of heavy breathing ????? if none, just go with the regular
water change....

Cleaned up well. 50% water change but totally cleaned filter mediums. No sign of heavy breathing.
I used the clean up as a chance to replace Drift wood with a nice LARGE new piece I have been preparing. Tank looks a million dollars. Just hope I can maintain water purity.

Kanga-Fish wrote:


Just keep up with the testing like the Boss suggested, and things may not be as bad as you suspect.

Totally cleaned, as in old tankwater or rincedunder tapwater may be an essential difference to the beneficial bacteria...

Can't wait to see the new wood, that can make such a big difference in a tank.
I thought my tank was "aced" after i put in the latest "tree".

I'll be interested in seeing what the readings start coming out as.

Did a 33% water change and tested water. Nitrite and Ammonia still reading 0. Cross fingers, we might be ok.

cross my fingers too... i believe you will be fine...

Did another water test today. Ammonia 0.6, Nitrite 0.1.
I know these are vevy low readings, but they have been 0.
Still haven't got a nitrate test kit. Will its results be important? I bought a Nutrafin test kit pack some time back which came with several test kits but not Nitrate. Guess I will go get a Nitrate kit tommorow. Bugger, there not cheap. Nothing in this hobby is. Sob

Yes your Nitrate test will be very important.. It tells us about how much if any good bacteria you have left!

OK, went out and got my Nitrate test kit. These are the results this morning. Ammonia 0, nitite .01, Nitrate 5.
The Ammonia went down from last night. The Nitrate figure looks a bit low am I right?

you have a Nitrate reading and that is what is important!

Do me a favor and check your tap water for Nitrate!