What is OTS (Old Tank Syndrome)?

jere1558

jere1558

AC Members
Dec 14, 2006
354
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Pennsylvania
I have seen OTS mentioned here and other sites. What is it? What are the causes? I'm not particularly worried about it at this time. My tank is only a few months old. I am religious about water changes (approx 40% now) every week with vacumm gravel alternating on each side on the tank. I test my water parameters before and after each water change. A=0 (always), nI=0 (always), nA=5-10, pH=7.2-7.4, Chlorine/Chloramines=0.

I just want to be educated. Forewarned is forearmed!
 
generally it happens when there is no maintenance schedule on the tank..the nitrates usually get really high and the fish in the tank adapt(to some extent) to the high nitrates(also includes TDS total dissolved solids)
when new fish are introduced the new fish usualy cannot adapt and die.. the fish that have gotten accostomed to the old tank will perish if moved to a new tank.
to fix this it is recommended to do water changes to sowly reduce the nitrate and TDS the od fish can then slowly acclimate to cean water.
 
Basicaly, OTS is letting the tank go and rarely doing any maintenance, water changes, etc. The water gets old and the fish adapt to it if they survive.
 
Great information. Thanks. I think I'll continue to be diligent with water changes and gravel vacuums.
 
I don't think you will have to worry about OTS as long as you kep up the maintenance on the tank.

Marinemom
 
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