Dirty Water

[Limeyron]

Hi all. I've got a couple of Comets in a 10 gallon tank with a standard filter system. For some reason, there's a constant buildup of what looks like limescale in the water and on the inside of the glass. It gradually builds up day by day and completely covers the inside of the tank with a cloudy white coat. There's also loads of little white bits floating around in the water. The filter picks up some of this but it seems like it cant keep up with it.

Is this harmful to my fish?

I think a stronger pump or a second filter might help but I need a quick fix until I can afford to buy them.
I've already lost 3 fish and I don't wanna lose any more...

See the white bits on the surface and stuck on the glass??

[blaze88]

WHat kind of filter?

How big are your fish?

How often do you do water changes?

Whats the Ph, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites?

Do you get algie growing in the tank?

Is there a light on the tank?

[Limeyron]

Filter - 390L per hour standard internal filter

2 Comets - Small one is 4 inches from mouth to tip of tail. Large one is 7 inches from mouth to tip of tail.

I change 30% of the water every 3 or 4 days and use my gravel pump at least 3 times a week just to make sure I haven't missed anything and to pick up the fresh waste.

Ammonia - trace, but about 50 times better than it was a month ago.

Tetratest 5 in 1 test strips:
pH - 7.6 ish
kH - 6°dH approx.
gH - 10°dH approx.
Awaiting delivery of Ammo Chips.
NO3 (Nitrate)- 10 mg/L approx.
NO2 (Nitrite)- <1 ml/L (Been this level for ages)
Temp. - 77°c - 84°c Varies with time of day, ambient temp. etc

I don't get algae growing on the glass or decorations because I keep it out of direct sunlight. There's a light in the lid of the tank which is on for between 10 & 12 hours a day, making sure the fish get a good balance of light and darkness. I've done my research

Here's a couple of pics:



Apologies for the quality. I'm using my phone to take the pics.

[blaze88]

you seam to be doing everything right. Cudos!

You probably have a fungal infection of the tank. If your fish and plants seem to be fines there is pobably no problem with it. If you want to get rid of it buy some malafix and take out the carbon in your filter. That should get rid of it.

PS your nitrates are slightly high, and a reduction of them through water changes and anti-nitrate add on packs for filters should help. With lett nitrates the white stuff may reduce.

[Limeyron]

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can do next time I get a bit of cash. I'm flat broke at the moment because I've just bought a second filter for the tank and a load of conditioner, food, meds etc.

I don't think its a fungal infection though. My largest fish is recovering from an external ulcer at the moment and wouldn't a fungal infection in the tank attack the wound? I'm still learning at the moment but he's getting better by the day, so I think its just limescale. Are there any water additives to deal with this problem?

[x-Lucy-Fish-x]

Nitrates are fine. Its the nitrites that scare me! They should be at 0ppm not 1!!!
You are very overstocked.. I'd say the minimum size tank for those two fish, would be about 40 gallons. Which is why you cant get your nitrites down, you dont have sufficient water volume and filtration.

[blaze88]

I think it is a fungul, it depends on the fungus wether or not it will atack your fish's ulcers. Get some melafex and put in theperscribed dosage. Take out the carbon in the filter too. Melafex will kill your snails so I woulf also buy a goldfish bowl to keep them in until a month after the treatment.

[blaze88]

If the nitrites are less than one why do they scare you?

[x-Lucy-Fish-x]

Nitrites should be zero. Anything above can kill a fish.. even if its below one, it can leave lasting damage to a fishes gills.

[Limeyron]

Hi all. Haven't been on in a day or two. Thanks for all the info. It's been very helpful. I found out a little while ago that I was overstocked. I had no idea that Comets needed 20 gallons each. I'm saving up for a bigger tank as we speak. I've ordered a secondary filter to help out for now. It will double my filtration and I've got a second air pump on order too so I will have plenty of dissolved oxy for my little fellas.

I even gave up smoking yesterday so I can save up for my new tank even quicker but its gonna cost a fortune because not only do I have to get it delivered since I lost my licence, I need to spend money reinforcing my desk because it won't take the weight of the new tank. I'm going for 60 gallons so my fish have plenty of space to grow for quite a while. 30 gallons each should be enough for quite a while, right?

Thanks again