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New Tank / Old Tank Woes a.k.a New Tank / Old Tank Syndromes
Scenario 1: You've just set up your new aquarium, you thought you did everything right, and then - sudden fish death! What happened? During cycling, bacteria that breaks down toxic ammonia and nitrite, formed from metabolic fish waste, settle in the substrate or aquarium gravel bed. Ammonia and nitrite form nitrates - all nitrogen compounds - and nutrients accumulate, causing problems to fish and plant life. Excessive nutrients cause cloudy water, green water, and algae to appear. As soon as fish are introduced into the tank, nutrients also increase. The bacteria colonies can't handle the overload and they grow, turning the water white and cloudy. What can be done? Either cycle the tank without fish first, or stock the tank slowly, to give the system time to adjust. Then play wait and see! If all goes well after a few days, you can add one or two more fish.
Scenario 2: Cycling has been going fine in your established tank. Then suddenly something happens! Since the ecosystem is constantly changing and fish can slowly adjust to even harsh environments, when something is amiss it's often not caught until the fish start to react. When new fish are added that have not yet adjusted to an established tank, they may not do as well as the fish that are already broken in. Shocked fish can be a threat to the entire aquarium, and disease and death follow. Nitrate levels have probably risen, as well as hydrogen ions, which affect the pH level, or the bonding of carbonate ions with hydrogen ions. As the hydrogen ions rise, the carbonate ions decrease until the water is acidified. Beneficial bacteria won't grow as a result and will not be able to convert ammonia into nitrites, and nitrates and toxic ammonia build up. To solve the problem, water changes are necessary to rid the tank of nitrates and water hardness and get the cycle back to normal again. But how do you do it without shocking the fish? Gradual change is the key. Do partial water changes of 10% to 25%, not to exceed 30%. Changing only a portion of the filter media is recommended. Always adjust water parameters slowly. Prevention is the best course of action, however, and this is achieved through regular maintenance.
Scenario 2: Cycling has been going fine in your established tank. Then suddenly something happens! Since the ecosystem is constantly changing and fish can slowly adjust to even harsh environments, when something is amiss it's often not caught until the fish start to react. When new fish are added that have not yet adjusted to an established tank, they may not do as well as the fish that are already broken in. Shocked fish can be a threat to the entire aquarium, and disease and death follow. Nitrate levels have probably risen, as well as hydrogen ions, which affect the pH level, or the bonding of carbonate ions with hydrogen ions. As the hydrogen ions rise, the carbonate ions decrease until the water is acidified. Beneficial bacteria won't grow as a result and will not be able to convert ammonia into nitrites, and nitrates and toxic ammonia build up. To solve the problem, water changes are necessary to rid the tank of nitrates and water hardness and get the cycle back to normal again. But how do you do it without shocking the fish? Gradual change is the key. Do partial water changes of 10% to 25%, not to exceed 30%. Changing only a portion of the filter media is recommended. Always adjust water parameters slowly. Prevention is the best course of action, however, and this is achieved through regular maintenance.
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