Is it possible for a tank to recycle? Somehow I think my beneficial bacteria died, since all my water readings are back to high ammonia, and 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate. This happened in two of my tanks, what could be the cause??
Recycling?
- Thread starter Trail_Mix
- Start date
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Hubert90
Aquarium Advice Addict
Trail_Mix said:
Did u wash ur filter media in tapwater?
Yes but I kept the part of the filter where the bacteria is supposed to grow submerged in tank water... I've always done this and it's never been a problem, but now my ammonia levels are through the roof and there's some sort of fungus growing on my driftwood etc. What else are you supposed to do if you have to change the carbon bag?
mom2reds
Aquarium Advice Addict
Are you using any kinds of meds in the tanks ?
Hubert90
Aquarium Advice Addict
Trail_Mix said:
What did u wash under tap water? The filter or the media? And changing carbon is simple, take it out then replace it with a new one. There could be somethin rooting in ur tank. U should check ur aquarium for any dead bodies.
My filter has a cotton type bag that you put carbon into, and then a piece of spiky plastic where the bacteria are supposed to live I'm pretty sure. I only swapped the cotton bag and carbon, I left the plastic piece submerged. Did I do something wrong?
BeavisMom62
Aquarium Advice Freak
Well, the bacteria live on the cotton bag as well, but since you left the spiky plastic piece (I never know what that is called either!), it shouldn't have made that much of a difference. BTW, you really don't need to use carbon unless you are removing meds. To me its just an added expense.
Are you sure your tank was cycled in the first place? Are you keeping up with pwc's and testing? Have you either replaced all of your gravel or all of your water? Are you using Prime to dechlor your water before you add it to the tank?
Any dead fish or plants maybe? I just had this happen in one of my tanks as well and never did find the cause. A week of daily pwc's and extra doses of Prime helped bring the ammo back to 0.
Are you sure your tank was cycled in the first place? Are you keeping up with pwc's and testing? Have you either replaced all of your gravel or all of your water? Are you using Prime to dechlor your water before you add it to the tank?
Any dead fish or plants maybe? I just had this happen in one of my tanks as well and never did find the cause. A week of daily pwc's and extra doses of Prime helped bring the ammo back to 0.
