Tank turned orange...

J

jberemy

AC Members
Feb 13, 2008
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I came home today, looked at my tank, and there's some sort of orange algea all over it...What should I do? Like most beginners, I started out to fast, and my tank didn't cycle before I added fish. That was right around Jan. 1, and it still hasnt cycled. I do at least a 25% WC everyweek, and treat the water with prime. Right now my readings are Ammonia=2.0, nitrate=0, nitrite=0, ph=7.8.

I did a 50% WC today when I saw it, and plan on doing another one tomorrow. I removed all decor that was in there to clean it good, and I plan on changing the filter cartridge.

:help:
 
Now before I say anything I want to ask, what type of test are you using, strip or liquid? And when did you actually started the cycle? Now...

YIKES! 2.0 ammonia?

you should be doing as many water changes as possible to keep ammonia under .25 ppm!!!

and DO NOT chane out the filter media, that will only stall the cycle.

I dont think the "orange" is your problem at this point if your reading are correct. Most likely it is diatoms which are reddish-brown. If those do not match what is in your tank, please post pics...
 
Like jpappy said do lots of water changes, then lots of water changes, then lots of water changes. Please put the decor back in the tank without cleaning it. The bacteria you are trying to cultivate use any surface to grow on. That includes decorations, plants, gravel, the tank glass and anything else. It most especially includes your filter cartridge where all the water flow goes. The esthetics of looking clean can wait until you have healthy water for your fish to live in. Until then, scrubbbing surfaces needs to be avoided. I know its no fun to look at a dirty tank but its even less fun to constantly be removing dead fish.
 
i've been trying to keep my ammonia low, but my tap water is terrible, and comes with a good amount of ammonia in it. I try condidtioning it, but it never seems to go down no matter how much prime, amquel, or ammolock I use. (I don't use much more than recommended, I stick the to recommened doses.)
 
Prime, or the other brands, will not get rid of ammonia but only detoxify it. But a cycled tank should be able to handle safe amounts of ammonia in the tap...that is your problem. Water changes are the only way to remove ammonia at this point if your bacteria colony cannot handle the amount in the tank. When did you officially start cycling?
 
Drastically reduce feeding...try feeding every 2 or 3 days only until it is resolved, then only regular amounts. Consider adding a lot of ammonia-hungry plants like cabomba, hornwort, etc. Floating plants and plants without significant root systems are good at absorbing nitrites and ammonia, so will help with your cycle. Provide at least 2 watts of decent lighting per gallon. As everyone else has said, lots of water changes. I think ammo lock may not be helping to establish your ammonia-converting bacteria (I am having similar problems with one of my tanks where I put ammo chips in the filter). This might be extending the time it takes to cycle. You just need to keep at those water changes. I am concerned that your tap water has so much ammonia in it also...that can't be healthy for you, either. Is it city water?
 
I've already been feeding only every other day. I'll look into getting some kind of plant to help out with killing the ammonia today or tomorrow. Thanks for the advice everybody.
 
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