Hi guys!
So long story short - I have a 65 gallon freshwater aquarium. I've had the tank for about 2 years now, although it's been dormant for about 9 months ever since my mom did a 90 percent water change because she thought the tank "looked dirty" and shocked and killed all the fish. (I was devastated).
Fast forward to now. I went back to the tank, bought a new aqueon 75 gallon filter for it. Drained out all the tank water, took out the gravel and had it bare to the basic glass tank. I then mixed vinegar and water to make a weak acid in a spray bottle and sprayed down the tank and cleaned it. I then bought new gravel, rinsed it, put into the tank as well as some ornaments, air bubble walls and one air stone ornament. I then filled up the tank with tap water and put in the seachem stabilizer as well as the seachem detoxifier. The water looked clear as day for about 2 days then all of a sudden got real cloudy, which I expect is the bacterial bloom and the start of the nitrogen cycle. I have a pH test kit So I tested the levels, my nitrite level was 0.25 ppm and my nitrate level was 0, as well as ammonia 0 and pH was about 7.6. Because I didn't like the tank water looking so cloudy I got the tetra aquclear liquid and put some in the tank and that helped clear it up a bit. Now on day 5 of my tank setup the tank is much more clearer.
My issue is that yesterday I checked the filter cartridge and noticed that both cartridges were coated in a light brown residue. I changed out the cartridges with new ones and today when I check it again both are brown once more. Is this normal? Is this the good bacteria? Or do I have to do a water change? Keep in mind there are currently no fish in the tank. Secondly I'm noticing a lot of white foam bubbles on the top of my tank near the filter. My water level is pretty high, yet bubbles are forming... Should I be concerned about this as well? I've attached some images to show my cartridges, as well as the bubbles I see on top and my current tank setup.
I'm super paranoid since all my fish died last time and I just want to make sure I have the best environment for the fish before I bring them in!
So long story short - I have a 65 gallon freshwater aquarium. I've had the tank for about 2 years now, although it's been dormant for about 9 months ever since my mom did a 90 percent water change because she thought the tank "looked dirty" and shocked and killed all the fish. (I was devastated).
Fast forward to now. I went back to the tank, bought a new aqueon 75 gallon filter for it. Drained out all the tank water, took out the gravel and had it bare to the basic glass tank. I then mixed vinegar and water to make a weak acid in a spray bottle and sprayed down the tank and cleaned it. I then bought new gravel, rinsed it, put into the tank as well as some ornaments, air bubble walls and one air stone ornament. I then filled up the tank with tap water and put in the seachem stabilizer as well as the seachem detoxifier. The water looked clear as day for about 2 days then all of a sudden got real cloudy, which I expect is the bacterial bloom and the start of the nitrogen cycle. I have a pH test kit So I tested the levels, my nitrite level was 0.25 ppm and my nitrate level was 0, as well as ammonia 0 and pH was about 7.6. Because I didn't like the tank water looking so cloudy I got the tetra aquclear liquid and put some in the tank and that helped clear it up a bit. Now on day 5 of my tank setup the tank is much more clearer.
My issue is that yesterday I checked the filter cartridge and noticed that both cartridges were coated in a light brown residue. I changed out the cartridges with new ones and today when I check it again both are brown once more. Is this normal? Is this the good bacteria? Or do I have to do a water change? Keep in mind there are currently no fish in the tank. Secondly I'm noticing a lot of white foam bubbles on the top of my tank near the filter. My water level is pretty high, yet bubbles are forming... Should I be concerned about this as well? I've attached some images to show my cartridges, as well as the bubbles I see on top and my current tank setup.
I'm super paranoid since all my fish died last time and I just want to make sure I have the best environment for the fish before I bring them in!
