Help...just help -twitch-

[Silver Crescent]

Well if you read my last post here, I had to catch that rainbow cichlid and move him to a bowl. Well in the process I disturbed my driftwood, uprooted all my plants, and upset my filter. Gunk just floated up from nowhere it seemed, and now the tank is murky and filthy, I don't know where this gunk came from, my water was clear too. I've never had this happen. This is a 29g breeder setup with live plants, angels, a loach, banjo, cory cat, and my betta. I have black sand/substrate, no gravel here. I uncovered no bodies, I searched everywhere, did a triple headcount, not missing anyone. I'm baffled. I have children in the house, it is quite possible they have been over fed or something, and the food sank to the bottom, I don't know, all I know is my tank was clean, was. And now i've drained 50%, should that do it, I don't want to go overboard and kill all my stock.

Another problem I found that the bottom of my Cascade heater is MELTED. Like, I don't know how, it's glass, and it just looks melted.

So, I know get a new heater asap, but about my water situation, what exactly should I do? A fifty% change for now and another in a few days? Help is appreciated

 

[le patron]

fifty percent water change and time should do it. let the filter sort it out after the wc

 

[FavCatfish]

It sounds like to didnt stir your sand and it piled up under the sand. Once you lifted log it stirred it a bit and it came up. I would get a water hose or gravel siphon and hold it above the sand and stir it to where the gunk floats up and get sucked up.

If you just let the filter cover it, it will probably just end up gwt back to the bottom.

 

[Silver Crescent]

heh, I have the filter lifted up now, that won't happen again. I didn't really think it would get trapped under the sand, seeing as most of my fish don't dig around. But i guess the currents and all worked their magic...so yeah, I'm going to look into a python now xD

 

[Dr Joe]

How often to you clean the bottom?

Just sounds like detritus buildup.

Like le patron said let the filter deal with it, just keep the filter cleaned out (use used tank water).

After the water clears, then go with FavCatfish vacuuming.

Dr Joe

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[Silver Crescent]

I usually stir it once a month o.o I figured sand didn't eat debris as well as gravel xDD Thanks for the advice though I will def. do it weekly with my water changes!