I have a 6*2*2 ft heavily plated tank.Has been going strong for 3 years now. Massive luscious growth. Weekly pruning. Only algae problem is BBA on my slow growing Anubias sp. Yes i mean heavily planted. Picture a tropical jungle. That's my tank. Can't see the back of it. I have 50 fish. 30 rummy nose teras 5 angels 6 rainbows and some dwarf cichlids and bristlenoses.
Lights are MH for 4 hrs and T5/8 for 7hrs/day. MH are on in conjunction with fluoros totalling 7 hrs of artificial light daily. CO2 set up and EI ferts with 50% water changes.
Two powerheads with large sponges at either end of tank for mechanical filtration.
When i clean the sponges i use tap water. Have been doing so for 3 years with no problems, until last week.
I noticed that prior to my regular water change the water is crystal clear. After my water change the water is slightly turbid for 24 hrs before it clears again. Last week after my water change, i notice significant more turbidity in the water with labored breathing from my prized Koi angelfish. Next day it was dead. Not happy!
So what went wrong?. Was not NH3 according to my kit. Could it be chlorine? Granted have not been using dechlorinator for all these years and have not had an issue with it. Or could it have been loss of good bacteria plus maybe dubious water from recent rains. Don't know.
I thought plants provide most of the biological filtration. Maybe the sponges were harboring good bugs as well.
I presume the turbid water is an indication of loss of good bacteria??
How do i avoid this in future?
LAKA
Lights are MH for 4 hrs and T5/8 for 7hrs/day. MH are on in conjunction with fluoros totalling 7 hrs of artificial light daily. CO2 set up and EI ferts with 50% water changes.
Two powerheads with large sponges at either end of tank for mechanical filtration.
When i clean the sponges i use tap water. Have been doing so for 3 years with no problems, until last week.
I noticed that prior to my regular water change the water is crystal clear. After my water change the water is slightly turbid for 24 hrs before it clears again. Last week after my water change, i notice significant more turbidity in the water with labored breathing from my prized Koi angelfish. Next day it was dead. Not happy!
So what went wrong?. Was not NH3 according to my kit. Could it be chlorine? Granted have not been using dechlorinator for all these years and have not had an issue with it. Or could it have been loss of good bacteria plus maybe dubious water from recent rains. Don't know.
I thought plants provide most of the biological filtration. Maybe the sponges were harboring good bugs as well.
I presume the turbid water is an indication of loss of good bacteria??
How do i avoid this in future?
LAKA
