Dana

ok, you'll know more about this than I would. i'll keep the curtain closed on the opposite wall, as that's where the main source of light is. It may be getting more sunlight than I realise when I'm at work. Is it light or UV? I was thinking of having the windows treated. GGGGRRRRRRR I just popped down to the LFS to have a looksee at better filtration options and price them up. I neglected to close the cabinet door and my german shepherd has eaten my entire store of fish food. About $80 worth. I was highly unimpressed, then walked into the kitchen to find she'd pulled out and ransacked the garbage. I'm not doing well on the pet front today....

Yes, nitrite and nitrate. Thank you for the link, very helpful. Sophia, this is in a well lit room, but no direct light. I chose the spot for that reason. The brown algae I have is like slime and dissolves when touched. It's very easy to wipe off. Although, I have noticed the problem is getting worse as the weather gets better. The ammonia spiked again this morning. I've just done a decent water change, cleaned as much as I could off. In doing so, I pulled the equipment apart to find that the entire filter system had become clogged, severely reducing flow. I cleared it all by cleaning in buckets of aquarium water. So much brown and black gunk it made me gag. The flow is much much better and i've changed the pump set up to do the same. The bubble tube was thick with algae even inside. I've concentrated the airflow in one area rather than spread out which has really helped with flow. I've taken out those particular plants as advised, and also removed any that appeared to be rotting. I found that the BBA has started coming back too. I think i've found myself in a vicious circle. The algae is blocking everything, which is making more algae. Just need to break the cycle.

Live liquid bacteria as in something like Cycle? Haven't heard of bioballs. Will have a looksee. Those plants are out now. I am having PH swings, but over 2-3 days. 7.6-8.5. My tap water is 7.6. I'll follow up on the Phosphate and Iron tests. Thanks for all your help. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'm determined to get this sorted. On the upside, dealing with this is teaching me quite a bit. And re the brown algae in new tanks, yes I had that about 2-3 weeks after I started, it cleared as expected. This is worse and more persistent.

Good idea but I don't have access to that I'm afraid. The suggestion has been made before though. Will a canister filter have an impact on algae? Will an infected tank just not infect a new filter, cycled or not?

Cheers, but I use a master test kit at home, they're only 4 months old so should be sweet.

I'm in Palmerston North. I go to wet pets, nice people, very helpful. Just not a huge range in plants. Oh to be close to HFF. My Dad virtually lived there before he died LOL

Testing for anything in particular that I can't test for at home? Thanks for the plant list. I'll have a hunt in the for sale lists and on TM.

Will do. The stardust was the first to go. Very hard to get good plant advice these days (when shopping). Especially if you're not up to play with names and types. Happily admit that I'm a plant idiot, but I'd like to learn more. Any common LFS types that are better? I need some height or the gourami get a little antsy.

In hood filter Feeding flake, pellets and blood worms once (worms once per week) once per day 2 x sunlight tubes and 1 x tropical

This was about 6 weeks ago IMG_1086 (2) by danaj2009, on Flickr

Hi, camera chose the best time to die, so these are on my phone. Cleaned tank 48 hours ago. Black gravel with schist Have only used excel, LFS said to avoid ferts until established. I'm sure this is where I'm going wrong. Pics below, plants were all an experiment as no shop could give advice on the best plants, so took a variety to test. The Java was going quite well, now is turning black. WP_000690 (2) by danaj2009, on Flickr WP_000692 (3) by danaj2009, on Flickr WP_000676 (3) by danaj2009, on Flickr WP_000681 (3) by danaj2009, on Flickr WP_000684 (3) by danaj2009, on Flickr

Oh, and the tank has plenty of natural light. I noticed with the warmer weather that the sun was hitting the tank in the mornings, so I keep that curtain drawn to avoid the direct sunlight.

215ltr Ar980 3 month set up so still new 6 clown loach 4 ghost cats 4 dwarf gourami 1 bristlenose PH 7.6 Ammonia 0 No2 0 No3 0 I posted a while back that I had BBA. I used excel which fixed the problem. Afterwards, the ammonia kept spiking and my fish became quite sick. Drastic water changes from advice on here and they came right. The fish are fine now, but the tank is not. Black algae (fluffier than BBA), green algae and brown algae that is so thick, it's like slime. I change water 1-2 times per week (20%) religiously and use a gravel siphon. Not overfeeding. The brown slime is back and thick within 48 hours. I'm very careful with contamination and remove the chlorine before adding new water to the tank. The plants which were average from the start, are now dying and actually rotting in front of me. Turning black, roots rotting off and plants float to surface. The whole tank looks disgusting no matter what I do. The fish seem happy. So, what am I doing wrong that is preventing me from having both healthy fish and a healthy tank?? I really love this hobby but every day it just seems worse. PLEASE I'll take any advice!!

Ok, I'll take your advice LOL

Not really I'm afraid. My friends think I've turned into a "fish nutbar" lol

Looking forward to seeing it. I've become quite interested in plants but know very little about them. Be good to hear how you get on.

Phoned house sitter. She says they are slow, but swimming and they are all eating. I'll do another water change when I get home. Will pick up some new filter cartridges too. Thanks for your help!!!! No doubt that massive water change saved them. I was sure at least some of them were goners for sure. Still not right but better. I'll talk to the cute guy at the LFS about emergency products.

We'll, they're still alive this morning. A bit more movement, 2 gourami are eating. The poisoning does sound right, I was just surprised as even though the levels spiked, they weren't what I would have though of as dangerous. Sensitive little tykes they are. I'll keep tabs on them while I'm away, and I can drive back tonight if need be. It's only 2 hours away. Not out of the woods yet but they are looking better.

Ok. The pump I have is dual, I'll whack another tube in and do the large water change now. Watch this space...cross fingers

I took some, but to be honest, they just look like normal fish sitting on the bottom of the tank. Just very still and lifeless. They move a bit, roll around, move a bit more. No gasping, no heading to the surface. I've arranged a house sitter to watch them while I'm away tomorrow night (she thinks i'm nuts). If it continues, I'll drive back.

That's not a silly question, but no, I'm chemically sensitive (anaphylaxis) so I don't use that sort of thing. I asked my daughter nicely again if she'd helped Mummy with the tank, and she said she wouldn't touch as it gives the fishes a tummy ache. I know she hasn't "assisted" in any way. Add 1 more loach and cat to the "sick list". They're all just rolling around on the bottom.

Dropped temp slightly, did another water change. Levels are back to PH 7.4, No2, No3 and Ammonia at 0. 1 Gourami rolling side to side, only moving with the current. 2 others have started bobbing very still at the bottom of the tank. 2 glass cats are following suit. The recovering loach has lost so much black in such a short time, and is not moving. 3 other loaches have slowed. None are eating. Tested tap water. Aside from a PH of 7.4, all others are zero. Trying to get hold of council to see if any toxins have made their way into water supply. And I have to go away for work tomorrow morning for the night. This is not going well.

Tank is at a stable 27. Their activity picked up when I raised it last week from 26.

Question, I've done 2 water changes over the last 2 nights. Is it safe to do another tonight? Or will that potentially shock them.

Levels have dropped back, ammonia nearly zero, No2 and No3 dropping, fish are getting worse. 2 Gourami's and 2 ghost cats are hardly moving, refusing to eat. Loaches seem ok. Good theory re the child thing, I do have a 3 year old. She does however know the rules, and it's an AR980 so tall with a closed hood. I've asked her and she said she hasn't touched it. I didn't put excel in on last nights water change. The algae is still disappearing, brown algae has gone too. I'd prefer to have it back along with my healthy fish The water appeared a tad cloudy when I added the excel. It's cleared mostly, but still slightly visible. Any theories??