Common Tank problems

[KrptcMschfMkr12]

OK... The other thread I started got a little out of hand as far as needing info, so I figured I'd break it all down a bit, to help myself and others keep it organized and maybe find things easier if other newbies were to need help finding some stuff...

This is pretty much gonna be like the other thread I started except for... what are some common tank problems? What are symptoms, treatments, and causes?

I'm already familiar with (thanks the other thread :) ):

New Tank Syndrome - Adding too many fish at once, and therefore losing a large number of fish.. treatment = larger tank or remove some fish

I know what cycling is, but I'm trying to grasp my mind around it a bit more to be able to explain it in laymen's terms, so any help with that would be appreciated

TIA for any help and I'm sorry if any of this is getting annoying or redundant to some :(

[zoowks]

might want to try asking in the newbie section of the freshwater forum, more people there may be willing to tank the time to help explain some of those

[KrptcMschfMkr12]

Ok, would it be possible for a mod to move this to that section then? thanks :D

[Sploke]

dunno if you read this, but this should cover cycling for you http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598&highlight=cycling+article

Another problem is old tank syndrome (OTS). This occurs to a neglected tank. The basic idea is that the nitrates build up so much that it crashes the pH to a point where the bacteria can no longer survive. So, they die off, resulting in an ammonia spike in the tank, often killing some or all of the fish. Easy to prevent - just keep up on regular water changes.

[msjinkzd]

Easy to prevent - just keep up on regular water changes.

To treat you do small (10%) daily water changes until nitrite, ammonia, and nitrate levels are stabilized (ammo 0, trite 0, trate less than 20) and then do weekly or as needed maintenance water changes.

[Hooked Newbie]

In a nutshell; Fish wastes as well as decomposing food, fish, and plant matter contain Ammonia. Over time, a naturally occurring bacteria colony gradually grows to consume it. These bacteria in turn produce Nitrite (NO2). Again, a naturally occurring bacteria colony gradually grows to consume it. These bacteria in turn produce Nitrate (NO3). Ammonia & Nitrite are EXTREMELY toxic to fish. Even if they survive until the colonies are established, they will have suffered poisoning and will be more susceptible to disease and shorter life spans. High Nitrate levels can also be harmful and must be kept in check by performing regular water changes.

[Star_Rider]

new tank syndrome..see nitrogen cycling
brown algae..actually a diatom happend in tanks with excess silicates(new glass tanks get this often)

OTS(old tank syndrome) several lines of thought but in essence a neglected tank..TDS(total dissolved solids) gets high in essence high pollution..fish do not thrive but many survive. new added fish usually don't survive...the cure is several small water changes over the course of a week+ usually 10% per day after 4-5 days you can increase to 20%.

my understanding is the bacteria do not die in ots but the pollutants are high and dangerous..in time all fish will secumb.

other health issues to consider

ich/ick a parasite lots of info regarding this. it is an external parasite.
there are numerous parasites you may encounter internal and external

fin rot(a catch all phrase) usually related to, but not always , to water quality.

popeye (another catch all) can be injury or infection.

and numerour internal infections.

luckily with propet quarantine methods and hospital methods you may reduce exposure to the main tank..
with proper maintenance...you should be able to be fairly trouble free.

[doreenjoy]

If you're looking for good basic advice to give new fish owners, mine would be:

1. Do not over stock your tank.
2. Do not over feed your fish.
3. Every week, change 10 to 20 % of the water.

Those basic pieces of advice have served me well.

[leighasnana]

Acclimate the new fish. Many people do this with the fish in the bag. I have a jug which I only use for my fish. I pour the contents of the bag into the jug. I slowly take out (with a measuring cup) little bits of water and replace same amount with tank water. Do it slowly until all of the water that was in the bag is replaced with tank water. Net the fish and put in tank.

Get a good test kit (not strips). Mine had a pic of the nitrogen cycle which really helped me understand the process.

Adding lots of plants really helps speed up the cycling process.

Make sure the water you add during water changes is the same temp as what you took out and add dechlorinator. I used to add more than directions specified, I don't do that anymore - more is not better. I don't think it hurts anything but it doesn't help it's just wasting conditioner.

[leighasnana]

Research the fish you want for your tank. Don't overstock and make sure all fish are compatible.

[Lupin]

If you're looking for good basic advice to give new fish owners, mine would be:

1. Do not over stock your tank.
2. Do not over feed your fish.
3. Every week, change 10 to 20 % of the water.

Those basic pieces of advice have served me well.
The scheduled water change will depend, of course, on the bioload. Weekly is just about the maximum for me.:) No longer than that.

[KrptcMschfMkr12]

Thanks guys. What are some other common problems?

Good ways to get rid of algae? Snails?

And at work, we sell test kits that come with vials which you fill to a certain point and put so many drops of the chemical to detect pH/Nitrate/Nitrite/Ammonia/etc in... I can't remember the brand it is right now, but I can check tomorrow when I'm in there...

Best way to condition water? (let it sit out for 24 hrs and then heat up to aquarium temperature or use actual conditioners and heat up to aquarium temperature?)

How often do you gravel vac/water change/other tank and/or filter maintenance? What other maintanence DOES a freshwater tank need? (at my work, we gravel vac 2x/week, algae scrape every other day, water test daily, change our prefilter daily, change our micron every mon/wed/fri) but I'm not sure what exactly you would do with a private tank..

[Hooked Newbie]

Thanks guys. What are some other common problems?

Good ways to get rid of algae? Snails? Reduce lighting and/or plant the tank for algae. Reduce overfeeding for snails. Excess snails can be removed via veggies (romaine lettuce, etc.)

And at work, we sell test kits that come with vials which you fill to a certain point and put so many drops of the chemical to detect pH/Nitrate/Nitrite/Ammonia/etc in... I can't remember the brand it is right now, but I can check tomorrow when I'm in there... API?

Best way to condition water? (let it sit out for 24 hrs and then heat up to aquarium temperature or use actual conditioners and heat up to aquarium temperature?) Prime and temp match the faucet before changing the python from drain to fill.

How often do you gravel vac/water change/other tank and/or filter maintenance? Weekly. What other maintanence DOES a freshwater tank need? Plant trimming, Media rinsing, replacement when absolutely needed. (at my work, we gravel vac 2x/week, algae scrape every other day Control the algae and there's nothing to need to scrape, water test daily, change our prefilter daily, change our micron every mon/wed/fri) but I'm not sure what exactly you would do with a private tank..

Comments in Blue.

[KrptcMschfMkr12]

Yeah, API is the brand! Thanks Hooked :) our lights are only on about 12 hours a day (when the store is open), but we still tend to get algae growth, even in the cages where we have algae eating type fish (algae eaters, plecos, snails, etc). Any suggestions for helping inhibit/controlling the algae growth?

[Hooked Newbie]

Yeah, API is the brand! Thanks Hooked :) our lights are only on about 12 hours a day (when the store is open), but we still tend to get algae growth, even in the cages where we have algae eating type fish (algae eaters, plecos, snails, etc). Any suggestions for helping inhibit/controlling the algae growth?

12 hours is a long time especially in a non or lightly planted tank. Live plants will tend to out compete algae for nutrients if given the chance.

[KrptcMschfMkr12]

Oh I didn't know that.. =/ I'm doubting they'll let us have the lights off longer, but I can see about maybe putting one or two plants per tank.. even some small ones would be better than nothing, right?