Update on tank problems

[Angibug]

I want to thank everyone for their advise on the problems I've had recently. I learned a lot. I still have 2 male guppies, 2 fruit tetras, 3 zebra danios, 2 red serpae tetras, and 1 cory catfish. They all seem to be acting fine. I have cut back to feeding them once every other day and I am daily checking my ammonia and nitrites. They seem to be coming down - almost to 0. I do have a few more questions: I did the water change (cleaned the gravel) and rinsed the filter cartridge like you suggested. Do I need to put a new filter cartridge in (it looks really brown and green) or will that mess up with cycling my tank? I also did not rinse the black sponge with tank water. Every time I move this sponge I have all kinds of debris and junk to come out in the water and it makes it really nasty looking. How long before I need to change the cartridge if I'm not suppose to change it? Thanks!

 

[revfred]

I would rinse out the black sponge in tank water . . . the gunk will clear up. Take the water out of the tank to rinse it . . . I wouldn't rinse it in the tank. When you do your water change this is a good time to do it.

The sponge contains the bulk of your bacteria colony. IMO I'd wait until your tank is completely cycled before you change the filter cartridge but it is OK to rise it off during the water change. If you take a small paint brush . . . new one . . . rinsed well . . . you can brush the filter cartridge and get a lot of the gunk off of it. Rinse it after you do this.

 

[Guardian]

The white stuff does not sound like algae. If there is any algae, the algae destroyer will kill it and most likely the live plants in your tank, causing an amonia spike at the same time. I do not recommend using any chemicals to get rid of algae.

I know your tank looks horrible right now, but here is the best advice I can give you:

0. Buy a really good book on fishkeeping. You and Your Aquarium (Unknown author) or Complete Idiots Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (by Mike Wickham).
1. Clean your filter. Remove your carbon.
2. Do a 25% water change (make sure you vaccum the gravel).
3. Do an amonia test. If amonia is over 0.0, repeat step 1.
4. Place fresh carbon in your filter.
5. Throw out the algae destroyer and return the Jungle Clear Water (if you haven't opened it).
6. For the next 2 weeks, test for amonia every 2 or 3 days, you will probably notice it start to rise. Do not worry, this is natural.
6a. After 1 week, do a 10 - 15% water change(make sure you vaccum the gravel).
6b. After week 2, repeat step 6a.. If your filter has a sponge, rinse any debris from it using dechlorinated tap water.
7. For the next 2 weeks, test for amonia every 2 or 3 days, yo should notice it start to drop off. You tank is finishing it cycle.
8. Also during these two weeks, test for nitrite every 2 or 3 days. You should notice it rise and then fall back to zero.
8a. After 1 week, do a 10 - 15% water change (make sure you vaccum the gravel).
8b. After week 2, repeat step 8a. Replace the carbon in your filter with fresh carbon.
9. You are now ready to add your next couple of fish, I'd say you could safely add another 6 fish that will be 3 inches or less in length when fully grown. Remember to try and fill out your schools of fish to a minimum of 3 per species, and maintain proper male-female ratios per species.
10. Begin again at step 1. Repeat the entire process until you have filled your tank to capacity, for a 29 gal., I'd say no more than 25-29 fish that will be less than 3 inches in length when fully grown.

Avoid angel fish as they get entirely too large for the size tank you have (it is a myth that fish will only grow to fit in the tank they are in).

As for your PH. Check the PH of your tap water. If you are on city water, that is most likely the reason for the high PH. There are a couple of reliable chemicals you can use to change your PH. I don't recommend them at this time thought, you need to get the rest of your tank in order.

 

[FroggyFox]

Hmm...if I had more energy right now I'd go through Guardian's entire post and say what I agree and disagree with...because I definitely don't agree with all of it.

Angibug - Take this as an example of why you need to take everyone's advice with a grain of salt.

As far as your filter, I agree with revfred. Just rinse it in tank water when you do water changes, swish it as much as you need to get most of the gunk off. I wouldn't change your filter cartridge completely any more than maybe every few months...even then I don't know that its necessary. There was a thread about this subject, if you do some searching in the archives you might be able to find it or I'll look for it later when I get home.

Glad your fish are looking better, sounds like you're definitely on the right track!