Cleaning a very filthy tank

Hey everyone,
Due to everyone's suggestion, I have now vaccuumed the tank a few times which is also accomplishing a 50% water change. The tank is getting cleaner/clearer and the nitrAte is around 40ppm. So, it is coming down. My goal is to get the nitrAte around 20ppm. The amount of larva is about 4 or 5 and I "think" I may have gotten rid of the amoeba type bugs. There is still some debris floating around but, that might be from the plant.

Thank you for the suggestions on the fish. Yes, Danios and mollies are definitely out. I just wanted something different than a betta but, I'm actually entertianing the idea of a betta.

Anyway more tank cleaning, filter pad cleaning, and water testing.

Thanks
 
My only curiosity is, How did the bugs get into your tank? Do you have plants in your tank that they hitchiked in on? Are you using pond water or something? lol I have plenty of bugs and critters in my SW tank, but I havent seen a single bug in my FW that I didnt put in there asside from hitchiker snails.

But I agree with Msjinkzd, fish will eat the bugs once your down to an acceptable nitrate level.
 
They just appear. The first time I saw a planaria I freaked out-I think everyone does the first time. They can be an indicator of poor water quality if present in excess amounts. Nitrates at 40 is poor water quality-not his fault, of course, but it is.

Not that I think they spontaneously generate or something. They are hitchhikers.
 
i don't think it's anything to worry about. if they were fish parasites or something else harmful, they wouldn't have survived very long without a host. they're just bugs. little aquatic critters are a normal part of any tank.
 
The amoeba type bugs were definitely baby snails without developed shells. Yes, the water quality was or still is (somewhat) bad. This is the reason for the 40-80ppm of nitrAte. Yes, there is a plant in there which is where I think the snails came from. The larva I assume is just bad water conditions, a temp of 82, and a blackened tank inorder to kill algae. I had put some bulbs in there to see if they would sprout. I will think twice before doing that again. The fish should enjoy the larva.

It is almost cleared up. I still have some larva and I believe I have gotten rid of all the snails. I need to still perform a couple of water changes to clean and lower the nitrAte level. NitrAte is still around 40ppm (from 80ppm). I still need to keep up my ammonia until ready to add fish.

As far as fish... well I wish I had started with a much bigger tank. A 2.5 gallon tank is not big enough for anything. My fish choices are narrowed down to guppies (2), or to endlers livebearers (2), or to a betta. I think my choices should be alright? Any comments welcomed.

Thanks
 
Personally, I think all your bug problems are natural or hitched in on the plants.

Drain the tank and refill with chlorinated water.

Put a betta in there.

Problem solved.
 
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