My new piranha is sick!!

[noob4lyfe]

Tank Changes:

I've done 2-3 water changes over the past few days. Added salt 1 tblspoon/ 5 gal. Every time i do a water change, I add salt.

Bio-rings: None yet, didnt get time. The stores should be closed today. Easter weekend.

My Chemicals: Every time I do a bucket water change (Tim hortons Ice cream bucket). I add the following:



I add 5ml of each every time I do a water change.


This is my process: Takeout water 30% -> Empty bucket + rinse it with tap water -> Add 5ml of each substance -> fill bucket with tap water -> pour in tank -> add salt.

Thing is, the bacteria bottle says: Wait atleast 15min before between the chlorine and bacteria chemical for best results. Which I just observed.

Bacteria bottle's expiry date: 09l29 EX 08/12
Chlorine bottle's expiry date: EX04NOV14

Are they out of date?

Equipment: I bought that aqueon water adapter. It hooks onto your sink and does bucketless water changes, wish i knew this before. I don't have the pipe yet, have to drop by my local hardware store to pick that up.
- If i start using this process, do i just add the chemicals in the tank, because it would defeat the purpose of the bucketless system otherwise.

 

[noob4lyfe]

Quick update

Bought a magnetic cleaner

I cleaned 2 walls of the tank. The bacteria should still be floating in the tank, it's just not on the walls. Looks much nicer now!!

Bought Bio-max

The rings you were referring to. Thing with this is. I checked the green filter scrub i put inside my filter. Moved it up and down, a bunch of alge/dust came off it and filled up the tank. I suppose thats a good thing since it's only been in there for about a week or so. Now I put the bio rings inside my filter, and i can see bacteria sticking to it aswell. So that's a good sign IMO.


The weary smell seems to be gone now. After couple water changes it isnt present anymore. Must have been the dead fish..

Speaking of water changes. I got my aqueon bucketless water changer fully operational now! In hindsight, it is kind of useless. It takes longer to set it up, than to empty the tank it's self. Hahah. I suppose that was the purpose, but it would be more beneficial for a +55 gal tank. Still, satisfied at the least.

The only odd thing I can spot, is white foamy bubbles on top of the water. I googled it, and was described as a bacteria spike. Can anyone confirm this phenomenon?

Fish is swimming around happily.

Thanks MFK!!!!!

 

[noob4lyfe]

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Aquanero

Appreciate the prompt follow-ups!!!!

 

[Aquanero]

Your welcome. Sounds like your on the right track, keep up the good work.

 

[duanes]

Let me echo Tom's advice, you "never" boil your substrate, the beneficial bacteria live as a microscopic biofilm on it and the biological media.
And thick gunk in your filter can actually destroy those bacteria by smothering the biofilm. Beneficial bacteria are aerobic, and too much gunk makes for an anoxic and anaerobic environment.