Looking for advice here. Just moved 2 hours from where I lived with my fish. I am moving the fish over in stages and completed the first stage yesterday. I took 13 danios, 11 barbs, 14 Endlers, and 23 jelly bean parrots. THe fish were moved in 3 10 gallon buckets each of which was half filled with tank water.
Upon arriving at the new location I set up two 20 gallon tanks for the fish (had planned to use my 55 for most of them but my dad wasnt having it on the floor like I had it back in my apartment so it sits empty still. Each tank had an aquaclear 300 on it with the same filter media the tanks had had prior to moving. The media was stored in the buckets with the fish as were two additional sponge filters which were from other established tanks.
Despite knowing that it would be overstocking, I had no choice but to throw all the danios barbs and Endlers into one tank and all of the parrots into the other. To the tanks I added fresh dechlorinated water to fill the rest of the tank up. Everything was fine until I got back from lunch today when I noticed that the barb tank had cloudy water. Ive never had cloudy water before and the only things I know of to cause it are ammonia spikes and algal blooms. I dont understand though, why I would be having a huge ammonia spike given that the tanks are being filtered both by their original filters and additional hydrosponge IIIs. The tanks were out of neccessity set up in front of a window but I dont see algae going nuts that quickly, not to mention that the water isnt green at all. The fish seem to be breathing heavily also which makes me think ammonia.
I did 30% water changes on both tanks and upped the aeration from the air pump but I am not sure I want to do too much given the stress the fish have already been through. I do not however want the fish to die since most of them would be impossible to replace. Any ideas on what might be going on and how I can fight it>?
Upon arriving at the new location I set up two 20 gallon tanks for the fish (had planned to use my 55 for most of them but my dad wasnt having it on the floor like I had it back in my apartment so it sits empty still. Each tank had an aquaclear 300 on it with the same filter media the tanks had had prior to moving. The media was stored in the buckets with the fish as were two additional sponge filters which were from other established tanks.
Despite knowing that it would be overstocking, I had no choice but to throw all the danios barbs and Endlers into one tank and all of the parrots into the other. To the tanks I added fresh dechlorinated water to fill the rest of the tank up. Everything was fine until I got back from lunch today when I noticed that the barb tank had cloudy water. Ive never had cloudy water before and the only things I know of to cause it are ammonia spikes and algal blooms. I dont understand though, why I would be having a huge ammonia spike given that the tanks are being filtered both by their original filters and additional hydrosponge IIIs. The tanks were out of neccessity set up in front of a window but I dont see algae going nuts that quickly, not to mention that the water isnt green at all. The fish seem to be breathing heavily also which makes me think ammonia.
I did 30% water changes on both tanks and upped the aeration from the air pump but I am not sure I want to do too much given the stress the fish have already been through. I do not however want the fish to die since most of them would be impossible to replace. Any ideas on what might be going on and how I can fight it>?
. Moving a fish room is tough work!