I've been dealing with water quality issues in my 180 for the last week and a half. It started the Saturday before last when I did my regular 2-3 week 40% change with gravel vac. It was sort of cloudy (dirty looking/ammonia spike) Wednesday and I had guests coming over Thursday, so I did another 25% water change. That helped a little, by Saturday it was hard to see the back of the tank. So I disassembled my Hot Mag. and switched it to micron filter instead of the 4-5 month old carbon/ammonia crystal mix that was in there. I also disassembled and completely cleaned my Magnum 350 that is on there and also gave it fresh media. Sunday morning I removed the micron insert and replaced it with fresh carbon and ammonia removing media. Today, Tuesday, the water is milky, the fish are discolored, and my ID shark is fuzzy white with blood around his mouth. I came home and immediately removed the ID and put him in a QT tank. Then did another large water change around 30% I would guess. I have picked up all the rocks and it appears as though there are no dead fish in the tank. I don't think that there is any food buried and rotting, but it can't say that with absolute certainty. Did I jack the BB by cleaning two filters at once? Is this just a radical ammonia spike, and I need to wait for the cycle to catch up? What do I do from here? For those not familiar with my tank, there is app. 21 fish in the 180 with an average length of 5 inches. 5 plecs, 1 pbass, 1 pike, 2 bluegill, 2 synspilium, 1 con, 2 poly's, 2 florida gar, 4 rapheals, an ID shark(now removed). I think that's it. Filtration is Hot Mag, Mag 350, some cascade POS rated for a 100 gallon tank, and a sponge powerhead.
