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Aquarist Forums => Freshwater General Discussions => Topic started by: martin_jones on December 22, 2013, 09:48:45 PM

Title: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: martin_jones on December 22, 2013, 09:48:45 PM
I've been away on vacation for 2 weeks, and left a neighbor to look after my 3 tanks.

My small (30G) tank has been completely overfed, and all but one fish in it are dead. (Does anyone want a molly?). About 1/2 container of NLS Cichlid pellets used in the 2 weeks.

Pretty upset by this (lost 5 cardinal tetra, 5 rummy nose, 2 blue rams, 1 glass catfish and 1 molly), and the plants look pretty unhealthy too.

Would anything be salvageable from the tank, or would it be best to just tear down it down and start again?
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: wolfiewill on December 22, 2013, 10:23:46 PM
I had the same thing happen to me. Left the feeding to my teenage son for a month. But I tried to rescue what I could and after a time everything was back to normal. One tank was completely coated with blue green algae. I've never before or since seen something so completely covered as it was. Not a single thing that didn't move could be seen. Rocks, wood and plants. In one spot the blue green algae had actually begun to grow a column straight up. The filter inflow and outflow pipes were blocked and there was only the slightest water movement...... Yah, chuck it all and start again.
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: exv152 on December 23, 2013, 08:34:05 AM
Last summer we went away for a week and I left the feeding on all my tanks to these bad boys...with no issues. I highly recommend getting something similar, especially if you have expensive fish. As for the tank I would probably start over.
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petco.com%2Fassets%2Fproduct_images%2F7%2F720686350106C.jpg&hash=5105ccd44c209c756d486c6b5d83052f19a9b06b)
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: charlie on December 23, 2013, 08:53:52 AM
I`m so sorry to hear of your tank loss Martin.
Not seeing the plants etc, I would tend to do some large water changes over the next couple of weeks with some aggressive vacuuming of the substrate bed, your plants should rebound.
Errol
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: martin_jones on December 23, 2013, 10:40:35 AM
There were a few plants which still looked alive - the rest seemed to be rotting - lost their structure, melting, etc.

Decided to empty it and put it into storage for now. Might start afresh next year. (Still got 2 tanks going, so this might be a way to cure my MTS)

Thanks for the help

Martin
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: daworldisblack on December 23, 2013, 11:45:20 AM
I came home to a similar issue - on my prized tank. Argh! The dilemma. I'll try my hand at salvaging it all - plants are alive but just all covered in gunk and hair algae. Challenge accepted. Good thing i only had minimal livestock losses.
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: martin_jones on December 23, 2013, 01:37:12 PM
Does anyone know if Big Als will take unwanted fish? The remaining Orange molly is currently living in a bag in my saltwater sump (so the water stays warm, but unsalted). I don't want to set up a tank for one fish, and my 2 remaining tanks are unsuitable (saltwater and tanganyikan).

Alternatively, does anyone want an orange molly - he's a survivor :) I am in Greely but could deliver locally (Barrhaven/South Ottawa, etc)
Title: Re: Overfed tank disaster
Post by: bettabreeder on December 23, 2013, 02:38:00 PM
Generally they will take rescues if they have space


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