NEED HELP!! Immediately!!!

[Megain]

Alright, I'm doing substrate change from gravel to sand. The sand is cleaned out, so I removed the fish and started to scoop up the gravel. This is the problem. The water in my aquarium turned BLACK! There is so much waste that the water turned to like a mud color. I don't know what to do... my fish can't stay in the bucket for much longer (its a small bucket and I have big fish). Will the water settle or should I just drain it all and add new water? But then I would have to wait for the water to cycle and I don't have that time.. ahh! :eek3:
:help:

[kyryah]

The water itself does not have to cycle. As long as you use a good dechlorinator, you should be fine to change the water. Just keep your filter and filter media in the old tank water until you are ready to add the water in the bucket and the old tank water back in.

Watch your tank over the next week for a mini cycle.

Kristina

[Megain]

The water itself does not have to cycle. As long as you use a good dechlorinator, you should be fine to change the water. Just keep your filter and filter media in the old tank water until you are ready to add the water in the bucket and the old tank water back in.

Watch your tank over the next week for a mini cycle.

Kristina

So I should drain the mud water, put in buckets of dechlorinized water as replacement, put in the sand and then after the sand settles, i put the fish back in? The water should be okay for them?

[kyryah]

Yes, the water will be fine. It is no different than doing a big water change, except that you need to watch your parameters over the next few days until the bacteria grows in the new substrate.

There are no significant amounts of bacteria in the water column, which is why we are able to do big water changes.

Kristina

[Megain]

Yes, the water will be fine. It is no different than doing a big water change, except that you need to watch your parameters over the next few days until the bacteria grows in the new substrate.

There are no significant amounts of bacteria in the water column, which is why we are able to do big water changes.

Kristina

Thanks so much :) I feel much better now.

[GEV83]

Curious. How often do you thoroughly gravel vac your tank? I just went from pea gravel to a bare bottom and when I pull the gravel out after a gravel vac my water stayed pretty clear. I know in the past before I praticed good fish husbandry I would get black water. I thoroughly vac'd my gravel weekly while doing the water change. Should be easier to maintain with sand though since there are not big creavices for waste to go into.

[Megain]

I can only manage to do it once a month. I do it pretty quickly, too.

Well, my first are in. They seem alright. They are extremely pale, every single one of them. I guess they are stressed and still adjusting.

[GEV83]

Oh ok thats why then lol. Well to late now but if u ever do a switch with gravel to sand or bare bottom make sure to gravel vac very thoroughly more work but less stress. =)

Take pics and share with us if u can

[SubRosa]

An easy way to keep sand clean is to introduce a good portion of live blackworms. They'll burrow in and eat waste products. If you have Corys, Loaches or other bottom grubbers it won't work as these fish will eat them faster than they can reproduce. Malaysian Trumpet Snails will work as well, except in the presence of Loaches or Puffers.

[bushwhacker]

great advice kyryah...megain make sure you rinse the heck out of that sand when you think your done rinse it some more

[GEV83]

Megain you may want to clean your filter with your next Water Change cuz all that gunk being sucked up may slow down its performance.

[Megain]

Thanks everyone :)
I plugged in the filter and I heard a gurgling noise, then the entire thing shut off. The filter was done for. I went out and bought a new Tetra Whisper one. It is truly amazing and my water is almost crystal clear now. My poor fish are still stressed out as ever, especially my pleco that jumped out of the bucket while I was putting the sand in. Luckily I grabbed him the second he was out and put him back in. I've been with him for a long time and would hate to see him die.

[LeahK]

I went out and bought a new Tetra Whisper one.

Did you save any of your old filter media to use in the new filter? If so, then your cycle may be ok. But if not, you will most likely have to cycle the tank again. I'd just keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrite levels over the next week or so (as kyryah already said), and do big water changes if the levels rise above 0.

[RDTigger]

Yea.. just reading this for the first time...

Anytime cleaning like that or moving things around turn off the filters... And grab the siphon and do a water change.. all the particles can clog the filter causing issues... You might also want to consider a converted powerhead with a sponge filter on the end of a flexible hose to suck up the excess particles....

[Megain]

**I'm not using any parts except the filter. But I have two filters on my tank, maybe this helps? My tank water is still a tad cloudy and it won't go away, is my tank going through a mini cycle or is this just dust that will settle?

[Dr. Awkward]

If you didn't use any of the old media then you're looking at a full blown cycle. The cloudiness is probably the bacteria bloom starting. Do you have a friend who might be able to give you some old filter floss? Maybe the local fish store?

[Megain]

I still have my old filter. What parts should I be using? I just measured my water. I couldn't find the one for my aquarium so I used the one for my pool. The pH is 6.8, chlorine 0.5 and alkalinity(?) is at 40. Is all good? :S

[Dr. Awkward]

You want the yucky, gross filter floss. If you still have that either cram it into your new filter or swish it around it the tank so all the gunk falls off. They only thing you need to be testing for right now is ammonia, the other stuff doesn't matter as much.

[Megain]

Oh, I know what your are talking about now. My old filter never that thing, but my second filter does. Ill go dump get some gunk into the tank then.

Also, another question. Are my fish going to be alright while the tank cycles? I really don't have another option but to keep them in there. All the fish seem fine and are active and eating, but my pleco isn't moving much. My pleco has always been a very active pleco too.

[Dr. Awkward]

If you can get enough good bacteria from the old filter you might be able to stop the cycle. Maybe tomorrow you can go to the LFS and pick up some Prime or zeolite to help with the ammonia. It might slow down the cycle but at least your fish will be okay. If the fish look good now they'll probably be okay. It takes awhile for the ammonia to get bad, I'm sure you can fix it in time.

[Megain]

Thanks so much Dr. :) You've really helped me out. Luckily enough, I snuck into my sleeping brothers room and swiped the flossy/spongy thing out of his filter which was full of gunk and put it in my filter. I'll be sure to grab something to lower the ammonia tomorrow. Also, even better news for me, I went in and saw my pleco out and of his hidey hole and eating a cucumber. I really hope things go well from here on out.

[Dr. Awkward]

Luckily enough, I snuck into my sleeping brothers room and swiped the flossy/spongy thing out of his filter which was full of gunk and put it in my filter.

Oh, that's so funny! Sounds like you've got everything under control. I hope it doesn't give you anymore problems!

[OldMan47]

The best and fastest way to lower ammonia is to remove half the water in the tank and replace it with fresh dechlorinated water. Chemical additives are a very bad idea for that. Some of them actually work but the end result is that they remove the ammonia and the filter that you need to use to process ammonia never sees any. Where that leaves you is with a filter that can't process ammonia and nitrites properly and every time the artificial chemical runs out you get to put the fish through a fresh ammonia spike. Do your fish a favor and leave the artificial chemicals and zeolites at the fish store. A big water change is your fish's best friend if you actually start to measure ammonia or nitrites. You can do a 50% water change every hour around the clock and not bother the fish, although I am sure it would wear you out.

[LeahK]

I still have my old filter. What parts should I be using? I just measured my water. I couldn't find the one for my aquarium so I used the one for my pool. The pH is 6.8, chlorine 0.5 and alkalinity(?) is at 40. Is all good? :S

I don't think a pool test is going to help you out here. None of the above measurements are relevant to the aquarium cycle. You need to be able to measure ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
Both ammonia and nitrite are toxic to fish. In the early stages of a cycle, ammonia and nitrite levels rise and can kill fish. Eventually, bacteria in your tank will keep the ammonia and nitrite below measurable levels, but until the bacteria are established, you have to keep the ammonia and nitrite below measurable levels. As OldMan47 said, the best way to do this is through water changes.
It may be that your brother's filter media will help jump-start your cycle, and everything will be ok. But you won't know this unless you test the water for ammonia and nitrite. If they measure 0.25 or above, you should do a large water change. Again, the pool test won't help you here--you must get readings for ammonia and nitrite in order to know if your tank is cycling or not.

[Megain]

I went out to my local petsmart and bought an ammonia thermometer, and put it in my tank. Surprisently, my ammonia is at 0 without any chemicals. I bought some bacteria supplement though, which I hope helps, and I've been doing two 10% water changes a day. Things seem to be going smoothly, but my fish have all almost lost their colors completely. My pleco used to be jet black (he was beautiful), but hes been a light gray/brown since the substrate change. I really hope they aren't still stressed out.

[Dr. Awkward]

Is the new sand a lighter color than the old gravel? Some fish change color depending on their background. I don't know if plecos do that but someone else might.

As for the ammonia reducing products, I personally don't use them but I think they're good to have on hand in case of an emergency. Doing big water changes to lower ammonia is the best but IMO it's not always enough because you can't be home 24/7 to monitor the situation.

I like products like Prime that convert ammonia into ammonium because they don't mess with your cycle too much. Zeolite isn't as good because it will inhibit your cycle as it absorbs ammonia - but I would not write off using it for a short time and then get the cycle going again later when you're better prepared.

If your ammonia is still zero tomorrow you're probably in the clear. I think those in-tank ammonia gauges are perfect for situations like this.

[Flamfish]

they make an in tank ammonia gauge? I didn't know that? are they accurate? how long do they last? that could save loads of time during cycling instead of constantly pulling water and playing with the dropper thingy.

[bushwhacker]

i've never used one so i cant say but there is nothing better than the api freshwater master kit to check your parameters.. just follow the directions and remember to shake the bottles and you will know your waters condition

[Flamfish]

thats the one I just bought. did my first tests today. below .25ppm(almost 0) ammonia, .0 nitrite, .0 nitrate. (it's kinda hard to judge the color not having done this before or having a gauge of how off the card is to the actual result colors)I added 1/4 tsp of ammonia. I'll test again tomorow.

[Dr. Awkward]

Those ammonia monitors are about as acurate at test strips and they only last a few months but they're good for watching emergency situations where you'd be testing several times a day. For regular testing or cycling I'd still recommend liquid tests.

[Megain]

Yes, the substrate is lighter (its white sand). My pleco doesnt seem to like the sand, he wont eat his algae wafers without getting sand all over.

I was wondering if the ammonia moniter was accurate. My bateria supplement will hopefully help. Things seem to be going fine, not deaths thank goodness. Yesterday night I noticed that the water was clearing up, could this mean the end of the cycle?

[GEV83]

Is the new sand a lighter color than the old gravel? Some fish change color depending on their background. I don't know if plecos do that but someone else might.

Pleco's tend to change color to match there inviroment the best way they know how. Put a pleco like a gibbiceps in a tank with dark gravel and he will show up nice and dark put it with light colored gravel and the colors will look dull and will look stressed but is just blending in. :)