HELP!! WATER PARIMETERS HAVE GONE TERRIBLE (THE TANK IS 7 MONTHS OLD)

[nuchumYussel]

I have a 7-month old 20 gallon freshwater tank. In it I've got 4 Tiger
barbs, 1 Pleco, 1 Diamond Scale Tetra, 4 Black Widdow Tetra, 2 Serpae
Tetra, 1 Snake-Skin Gourami, 1 Red-Tail Black Shark. As I was doing my
water change, which is done evry two weeks and I take out 25%, I also
stoped to measure my water parimeters. Everything was going GREAT
until today, Nitrite = 0 Amonnia = 0
and Ph = 7.0, but what did I get back? Nitrie = .5, Ph = 6, and
Ammonia = .25. I checked my bio-wheel, I have a Penguin Bio-WHeel 125,
and part of the wheel was encrusted with lime and other minereal
deposits. So I thought the wheel must not be spinning, which it
wasn't, after a little tinkering, I got it working. I cleaned of the
mineral deposits with lod tank water so I could save as much bacteria
as possible. I also realized how dirty the filter pad was, so I
replaced it. It had been about two months since the last replacement,
so it was about time anyway. Does anyone know if maybe since I changed
the pad I am going through another cycle? And does anyone know of
anyway that I could keep the fish alive and return my parimeters to
normal? Oh, by the way none of my fish look ill or are at the top of
the tank gasping for air, and it has been about 12 hours. If anybody
has any idea what happened or how to fix it, PLEASE RESPOND! Thanks
for and advice.

Evan

[Dinky]

"nuchumYussel" > wrote in message
m...

> the pad I am going through another cycle? And does anyone know of
> anyway that I could keep the fish alive and return my parimeters to
> normal? Oh, by the way none of my fish look ill or are at the top of
> the tank gasping for air, and it has been about 12 hours. If anybody
> has any idea what happened or how to fix it, PLEASE RESPOND! Thanks
> for and advice.
>

Yes, sounds like you're going through a mini-cycle. Your tank is heavily
loaded, with a couple fish that will soon be way too big for a 20) so your
penguin is likely JUST keeping up. Between the bio-wheel that wasn't working
well due to the deposits (normal), and your decision to change the pad, you
probably whacked most of the bacterial colony. Do small water changes, daily
if needed, until the water params return to normal. In the future, never
mess with the pad AND the wheel at the same time. I'd also suggest
examining your fish load, and perhaps find a new home for a couple of the
inhabitants.

--

billy
--
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[nuchumYussel]

How long would thid mini-cycle last? Would it be as deadly as the
initial cycle? Which fish do you believe to be overloading the filter?

Evan

[Dinky]

"nuchumYussel" > wrote in message
om...
> How long would thid mini-cycle last? Would it be as deadly as the
> initial cycle? Which fish do you believe to be overloading the filter?
>
> Evan

It should be much less painful, hence the term "mini". <g> Just do small
water changes and you should be fine. I would look at relocating the pleco,
he'll get up to 12", and the shark will get up to 6 inches. It's not so much
one individual fish is overloading your filter, it's that all the fish
together are jut about too many for that tank. Hey, this is a good time to
tell "Mrs. Evan" if there is one, that you need a bigger tank!!!

billy

[nuchumYussel]

Ha! I dont think she be too crazy about getting yet another tank. (we
have quite a few.)

Evan