Water problems - experienced input needed

[Miles]

When you transfered the power filters over, did you add them to the tank while the water was still cold? Perhaps your nitrifying bacteria went into shock, or you somehow killed it? Was the power filter left dry at all? Did you 'Clean' them really good before you swapped tanks? FYI, Water holds very little to no bacteria, so it won't jump start your tank at all, it is the power filters that will help.. but it looks like the nitrosomas have died off?

It sounds like to me, he has no nitrifying bacteria to break down fish waste.

A build up of Ammonia, causing the acidity, is what is making his pH drop... ?

Is your tank slightly cloudy? What does your Ammonia/Nitrite register at?

Sounds like your tap water has a low alkalinity, so you will want to buffer it with crushed corals, not chemicals.. Also the silicone could be questionable.

 

[guppy]

I am with harley and miles on this,
as Harley asks, was the silicone made for tank use, rv silicone is initially very acidic and should not beused for tanks.
And as Miles said, you might have had a die off in the filter bacteria, even if not from the colder water, I suspect that since your tank is empty of fish you might be starving out your filter colony. you can add some cheap tough fish like dianos after a partial water change and see if that helps. When I have done transfers like that I have just moved everything at one time including the fish, never had a problem yet.

 

[rvd]

guys the silicone i used was GE 100% clear silicone from the hardware store, not rv silicone.Aquarium silicone says the same thing on it 100% silicone. It looks exacatly like aquairium silicone also. I didn't clean the powerfilters at all, i think i mentioned that in the original post. i just removed them from the 50gallon and put them on the 68 gallon.

Maybe it's the silicone because it is new ? i cant see it being from fish waste because the fish is small for the size tank and he hasnt really ate much the past few days after transfering him into the new tank. H'es only a 4" Pygo Natterreri.

 

[guppy]

I'm thinking to little waste might have caused a die off in the filter, if this is so the tank should stabalize in the next few days. If it is from the silicone you will need to keep doing water change until it cures, I have never had that happen so I don't know how long that will take.

 

[rvd]

guppy, i was starting to think that.. maybe the silicone is till too new, it was still smelling really strong before i added the water. I did let it cure for 28 hours before adding in water to test it, after the water was added to test it, it sat for another 20 hours or so before i drained it and transfered the fish/gravel and filters

 

[MaJiKTeRRoR]

I was under the impression that silicone was supposed to cure for 48 hours.

 

[HarleyK]

guys the silicone i used was GE 100% clear silicone from the hardware store, not rv silicone.Aquarium silicone says the same thing on it 100% silicone..

Howdy,

Check the label. If it lists "aquarium use" on the back you're all set. If it doesn't, I suspect this to be the problem. I had the exact same issue, and I ended up using the tank for terrestrial plants. As a matter of fact, my fish even died. Maybe frequent water changes help in your case, but I wouldn't throw out that old tank if I were you ... you may have to use it again.

HarleyK