AboutChris Robbins Expertise I have 25+ years of personal experience as a pet
store employee and manager in the family pet store
business. The main part of our business was
Freshwater Fish. I can answer questions on; Fish care, diseases,
parasites and fish identification, feeding your
fish, breeding and sexing your fish, setting up
your aquarium, cleaning your aquarium, and
"what`s this weird stuff in my tank/on my
fish" questions. I am not an African Cichlid expert, Plant expert or Brackish Expert. No Pond or Saltwater Questions Please.
Experience I worked in and managed my family's fish and pet and fish store for 26 years and maintained the 35 aquariums. My experience also has included occasional in-home consultation and aquarium maintenance for my clients.
Expert: Chris Robbins Date: 3/15/2008 Subject: Recently changed tank
Question This is a two part question. The first part is mainly description. I recently went away to college and so my wal-mart bought fish were left to my mom. There was inches of fish for a 10 gallon tank. Previously there was 6 inches, but the two sucker fish died due to their year span. I hadn't gotten around to buying any others because my experiences with stores near by were less than successful (the new fish died). Anyway, as I was away, I learned that my mom had been over feeding them (greatly) and the tanks build up (.5 cm) had killed most of the water plant. [part 2] When I got home I quickly took the fish out, cleaned out the plant, replaced the rocks and filter (carbon), added salt, and put the fish back in. I though that this would help them, but two have died so far and the other two are fading quickly. Note: the two that had died were the older fish but not necessarily bigger. Question 1: Why didn't the fish show any symptoms before I changed the tank despite the massive build up? Question 2: How can I save my two other fish. Question 3: How can I measure the pH, ammonia, and nitrite levels?
Sorry this question was so long.
Answer Hi Candise;
It might seem like a logical the thing to do to clean out a tank and let it start over but it actually isn't healthy. It can shock the fish and it disrupts the biological balance of your tank. Basically, it's like starting over with a brand new tank and it has to go through the break-in period again. During the break-in period, fish waste toxins will rise because the beneficial bacteria that consumes fish wastes isn't mature enough. It needs to establish colonies in the filter, gravel, and all over the decorations. All tanks need a 25% water change and gravel vacuuming once a week every week, but no more than 25% at a time. This keeps the system stable without overcleaning and without shocking the fish. Make a 25% water change right away to lower the toxins and get your remaining fish through this tough period. You can find out how far along the process is if you test the water for the toxins ammonia and nitrite with test kits from your local fish store. They will have pH kits there too. If toxins are still high a day after changing some water, change 25% again and do it again every day that ammonia or nitrite are in the danger zone. Once they are both at zero it means the biological balance is back in order and you can just do weekly 25% changes from then on.
Here is a link to my article on the break-in period to help you know more about it;
