Brown "stuff" on slate rocks and fish dying

Sonjamo

Sonjamo

AC Members
Jun 11, 2007
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Hi. I recently setup a 35 gallon fresh water aquarium and I've been having problems with my fish. I have a few slate rocks in the aquarium and within the first week i've noticed there are brown spots/markings all over them and even on some of the gravel. I don't know what it is or how it got there. Also, I've had the tank running for about 1 month now and so far 2 rasboras and 1 pleco have died. I currently have one red tail gourami who is on the verge of dying. She is struggling very much to swim and is just laying there. I placed her in a breeding box in hopes that she will heal. The water is clean and clear, the temperature is usually between 23-27 Celsius. What is a safe range of ammonia and pH level? Does the ammonia and pH level have something to do with the brown spots? If you could e-mail me back a.s.a.p with some information/advice, I would greatly appreciate it. If at all possible, I can send you photos of my tank to show you exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks.
 
The brown stuff is diatoms, a harmless single cell creature that feeds on silicates. It will go away on its own.

You need to keep nitrites and ammonia under .5 ppm. It sounds like you need to start doing water changes to keep those levels in check. What are your readings? Eventually when the tank cycles the numbers will stay at zero.
 
aquarium

Here are some pictures of my aquarium, and the brown stuff. Should I take out the slate rocks? And Another weird thing is that my pleco always stays in one spot the whole day. He doesn't swim around or anything. I took a picture of it just staying in the same spot he always does. Hes been like this ever since I bought him. I've noticed that if i'm not in the room and I walk in he quickly goes to that same spot as in the picture.

Here are all the pictures

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pi...e=http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos
 
:welcome: to AC!

Has your tank cycled? Ammonia and nitrites must be kept zero at all times for the fish to thrive. API liquid test kit is the best kit recommended for you.

Do not remove the slates. Diatoms have nothing to do with your fish's deaths.
 
rich311k said:
The brown stuff is diatoms, a harmless single cell creature that feeds on silicates. It will go away on its own.

You need to keep nitrites and ammonia under .5 ppm. It sounds like you need to start doing water changes to keep those levels in check. What are your readings? Eventually when the tank cycles the numbers will stay at zero.
Click to expand...

I'd say you need to keep the nitrite and ammonia below .25. .5 is dangerously high imo and can lead to very quick fish death.

You need to have a good test liquid drop test kit and use it...do whatever whatever changes are necessary to keep your ammonia/nitrite below .25 ppm...50% back to back...50% twice daily...whatever it takes.

When cycled you never want to see ammonia or nitrite at all, as said by rich.
 
:iagree: with Coler 110%

The link by rBishop is a good one!

I would suspect a cycling issue and ammonia and/or nirtIte poisoning is the cause of your deaths :(

Sorry for the losses, but keeping those readings at or under 0.25ppm will keep most hardy fish (ie. tetras, rasboras, etc.) alive.
 
aquarium

Ok i don't know if my tank has "cycled" yet. Should i add a second filter? Right now i just have a aqua clear 200. I'm thinking about getting another aq200. My tank is a 35gallon.(and does it matter how low the filter intake is?)

I also wanted to get 2 parrot fish and 2 tiger oscars. Will they be ok together?
 
aquarium

One more question I have is, when adding water to the tank, do i have to treat it with something before i add it in?
 
you dont need another filter... and i'd hate to be the one to tell you, but those fish wont work in that small of a tank.

and you'll have to add dechlorinator...a lot of people use prime.
 
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