Tank of Death

[kozaaus]

Hi All

I have a tank that I bought second hand & before using it, I gave it good clean with straight water. Rinsed out several times. I then filled partially with water from established tanks & topped up with tap water. No chemicals were used in the cleaning, but I used the usual conditioners & chlorine, chloramine removers when filling the tank. I tested the tank & all parameters were within normal range. The tank then cycled for a week, I tested again, before adding a couple of older bristlenose & couple of young peacocks. All were dead within a week.

Is there a cleaning solution that is suitable for fishtanks, that will assist with getting rid of any residue from an unknown source. Someone suggested bicarb. Will this then leave a residue that may be hard to get rid of.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Kian

[wrk21]

bud what filters were you using, were they established filters or all new media????

im thinking more that it could be the water not the tank....

yes i know what you did to set up the tank but still a few feeder gold fish in first till everything cycles is what i do......if they kark it its no great loss....


cheers

[Benji]

try leaving the tank with filters running for a few weeks/a month without fish.  Then test it with a fish you don't mind loosing.  if it dies try doing a few water changes, then test again.

[kozaaus]

Thanks for the replys.

Two large sponge filters (the big ones from age of Aquariums), One from an established tank, sponge would have been in there at least 4-5 months, the other was run in an established tank for 3 weeks. There is also an internal filtration system at the back of the tank, similar in set-up to that of a sump. New bio balls (cleaned in tank water) & new sponges(also cleaned in tank water) in that system. I bought two of these tanks & ran similar set-ups in both. I did basically the same thing in both, the only real difference was in the number of fish in the tank that I have had no problems with. The tank that is working fine had several more fish in it (9 blue dolphins), but no bristlenose. Established now for about 8-9 months.

The tank where the fish died, I have tried several times since then with complete clean-outs & throwing a couple of guppies in at a time, after cycling the tank for a couple of weeks. The guppies die each time. Also cycled once for three weeks after previous guppies died.

This is why I think it might  be residue left on the tank glass somewhere, that cleaning out with water is just not getting rid of. The bristlenose died first as well. Is there a non toxic cleaning agent suitable for fishtanks, so I can clean down the glass & feel reasonable sure that there is no residue left on the glass.

Sorry, I did not write all this before, because I was trying to find out if there was a suitable cleaning agent for fishtanks.

Thanks

[caryb]

I make a salt paste (salt & water) & gently rub into the tank, not much can live through that & the mild abrasive action cleans off any scum.


Cary

[dammwoman]

Make a paste of Bicarb and Vinegar.  Cleans tanks beautifully, rinses out easily and no real harm if a tiny bit of residue to left.
Just curious...this tank doesn't have a background does it ?

Cheers Linda

[smiley]

youve done everything right as far as i can see   hard to pick what might be the problem  glass is easily sterilised  so id have thought by now would be clean   has the tank been repaired maybe not aquarium silicone  was used  id be looking at the tank and whats been added to it  if its a back drop filter system are the pipes glued with safe glue

apart from that bi carb is great  and good buffer for fish anyway  short of putting it over a fire and boiling it  maybe put a few heaters in bring it up to a good temp for a day or three and see what happens

apart from that maybe a garage sale   good luck peter

[Calvus]

Cant beat the old liquid chlorine, Kills everything in no time and a good dose of water conditioner will kill the chlorine...

[gasnitro]

i find if you want it gone wash it with Clorine then give it a good rinse fill it with water airate for a couple of days empty it rinse it. then clean as new

[GTR73]

Did anyone ever use the good ol' Condy's Crystals (Aka Potassium permanganate, Aka KMnO4)?
I used to use it as a kid to clean old tanks (especially when I had a rampant trumpet snail infestation in a tank once).
Disinfects and deodorises.

[kozaaus]

Thanks for the replys.

I will give the chlorine a go & maybe rub down the sides with salt.


Cheers Kian