Danz Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 hi have a new jebo 40L tank that was running for 1 1/2 weeks. before i added any fish. I put old noddles and filter wool from my 70L cold water tank into it (never had any problems with it). so far i have gone through 2 platties. I have done a 25% water change every day now after the first fish died and i have now added 2 neons. i have also added another 200L/PH clip on filter that was from a tank out in the shed that has been running for 6 months. when i do water changes on my 70L tank i put the waste water into that little tank out in the shed. also i have taken the light hood off to let more air get to the water. i remember when i setup my cold water tank it was only running for 2 days then 2 baby goldfish got added and it never went that smelly.when my guess is ammonia by that smell. what have i missed / doing wrong??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 I usually associate smelly water with planted tanks and algae do you have either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 one little 7 cm plant as i read some where on the web that plants help with ammonia no algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 whats in the tank in your shed? What other fish are in the tank that's smelly? I'd be taking 2 buckets a day out if the smell is that bad.. till it settles. Did the noodles from the other tank run on a fishless tank for 1.5 weeks? If so the bacteria will have died of starvation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 there is nothing but plants in the tank in the shed, in the smelly tank there is only 1 plattie and 2 neons, and the noodles from my 3rd tank has goldfish in it, also should i have carbon in the smelly tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Daft question, but what does it smell like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 a very strong ammonia smell, have worked in fish factory and sometimes you would have these leaks and that is what my tank smells like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 I think it needs to be cycled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 ok. with no fish in the tank in the shed, it means that you adding the filter from there to you 40L tank won't have done anything to help your cycle along. The bacteria need fish. They don't exist without it. It takes time for the bacteria to build up, more filtration doesn't help the bacteria grow any faster. If you took noodles from your goldfish tank for your 40L, but didn't put fish in the tank until later, then those bacteria died. Basically it sounds to me like your tank is cycling from scratch. Not a big deal since it sounds like you've only got a few fish in there.. but you still need to help it along. If you haven't been doing much in the way of water changes in a week and a half, that will explain why your water smells like ammonia. If you don't want more fish to die you need to do water changes until everything comes right...start with big ones since it's so bad you can smell it. Suggest you get a test kit so you know what's really going on. Also reduce your feeding to very minimal levels until its sorted. more food = more ammonia. I have a 40L tank and taking out 2 buckets worth is no big deal. Just make sure the water is a similar temp for refilling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 the water in the tank out in the shed had waste water that was running through that filter so it should help it??? or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 I'm not so sure. I think the bacteria need ammonia to feed on. The water you change out will have nitrates but not ammonia. It sounds great for the plants in the shed though..but I'm not sure the filter in there would have bacteria. You can try adding a heap of those plants to your 40L though... they might be able to use some ammonia directly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 so what should i do just keep doing water changes and keep adding fish when they die. (If this is the case this could get costly) If i was to put carbon in would that help with the problem. i can also add some stones from my 70L tank would that help as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 The bacteria in the filter will multiply to balance with the food available which will be from urea from the fish. I would do a big water change, then leave it a couple of days before adding fish slowly---like one every few days. Feed only a very small amount so you don't cause a bacterial bloom in the water. The bacteria will multiply to form a balance with the fish in a couple of weeks and all should be well. If not don't ring me I am on annual leave. It is all about balance--- I have some tanks which are lightly stocked with no airstones or filters and all is well because they get regular water changes and are lightly stocked. Don't add anything but fish and a tiny amount of food and give it time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 its just this did not happen when i first setup the gold fish. what did i do wrong this time?? how about tank temp would this matter at the moment its 28.7 it goes down to 27.9 and up to 28.9 when the fish came from the shop there tanks temp where 30.9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 This would have been happening with the goldfish too.. but goldfish are very hardy so you probably didn't notice. You're not missing any fish are you? (ie: maybe there's a dead one decomposing somewhere in the tank?) That could explain the smell and high ammonia level. I have a cold tank and a 'warm' tank and my heated one always smells a bit more than the cool one. Tanks sounds pretty hot.. platties like it cooler I believe....25 would be more than enough....if you have your heater set very high you can turn it down 1 degree per day until you get to a good temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 the heater says 26C, thermometer says 27.9C to 28.9C Accuracy +/- 1.0 deg C so what one should i believe??? this is a green house thermometer with a indoor temp and a outdoor temp probe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 I would go with the thermometer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 This would have been happening with the goldfish too.. but goldfish are very hardy so you probably didn't notice. You're not missing any fish are you? (ie: maybe there's a dead one decomposing somewhere in the tank?) That could explain the smell and high ammonia level. I have a cold tank and a 'warm' tank and my heated one always smells a bit more than the cool one. Tanks sounds pretty hot.. platties like it cooler I believe....25 would be more than enough....if you have your heater set very high you can turn it down 1 degree per day until you get to a good temp. no dead fish laying around i have taken the dead ones out whenever i see them... i think the tank smell is starting to get weaker as were today it was real strong. add more stones from 70L tank and added plants also turned temp down a little aquaone heaters are not very accurate as i had set my one on 26C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Sounds promising Danz I found when lowering the temp in my tank I had to turn the dial back past where I wanted it (lower) and then back to the right temp like the dial was more accurate turning it up than turning it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danz Posted December 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 did a big water change no more dead looking good less smell. thanks will have to look into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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