[Dveha]

My fish are all dead My snail was the last to die last week...

I'm not sure what went wrong in my tank though. Everything (over time) was covered in a black, hard-to scrub substance...even the leaves of my live plants (moneywart grew great in my tank/anubias nanas so-so). There is brown slime in my filter and on my tank glass every week that I scrubbed off. I cleaned and replaced water weekly, replaced my filter cartridge/those carbon things inside regularly, etc.

I started up my 20 gallon planted tank almost a year ago, but my fish (platys & mollies) never stay alive over 3-4 months. I fed them once a day and added more root tabs for the plants, as needed.

I am on well water, which is high pH but runs through a water filtration system and softener before coming out of my tap. When I run water tests, I'm good on nitrates/nitrites/etc. I add aquarium salt and a little conditioner with each water change to play it safe. I have a bubbler in the tank to help with oxygen already. The hood has LED lights (~ 6 watts, which are on for 12 hrs./day), and I use a Top Fin Power Filter EX20. It stays about 78-80F. I use small gravel substrate.

I want to fix my tank before I shop for new plants and fishies, but I am not sure where to begin.

 

[baz2126]

You say you are changing the sponges there's your problem these sponges hold all the bacteria needed for the tank the best thing to do is just when you change your water give them a squeeze in the taken out water this getting rid of bad bacteria but keeping the good bacteria that is needed. When you replace them it's like starting from new again. And also your light should only be on for 8 hours a day 12 hours is too long hence why you are getting the horrible brown algae hope this helps.

 

[Dveha]

You say you are changing the sponges there's your problem these sponges hold all the bacteria needed for the tank the best thing to do is just when you change your water give them a squeeze in the taken out water this getting rid of bad bacteria but keeping the good bacteria that is needed. When you replace them it's like starting from new again. And also your light should only be on for 8 hours a day 12 hours is too long hence why you are getting the horrible brown algae hope this helps.

no, not the sponge. I just change out the filter and carbon that sits behind it.
I'll have to figure out how to regulate my tank lighting since i'm away from home for 11 hours a day.
Thanks, kat

 

[scott1234]

Hello Dveha, you said that your water goes from a well through a "water filtration system and softener" What kind of filtration system? If it is RO/DI, that is your problem, the water needs to be " re-mineralized" ( I think thats what they call that process) as far as the "softener" I've always heard that is not good either because of the type of salt is used in it, plus if your adding more salt on top of that, could lead to problems. You also did'nt say whether you tested for ammonia. Also, your PH is high from the well, Have you tested it from the tap? If it comes out neutral (around 7'ish) that probly means it's on RO/DI. Although, I'm not sure if your fish would even last that long on straight RO. Anyway, just my observations on the situation. I'm sure others will chime in with more.

 

[corina savin]

I believe the softener you have its not RO. Im pretty sure its not RODI. These are very expensive to install for the entire house and they are wasting a lot of water (3 gallons for each gallon produced).
It is more likely that you have the "salt exchange" kind of softener...The one you are adding more salt once in a while. That kind is replacing calcium and magnesium from your well water with sodium. Your water is softer but it has a high sodium level. And you add more aquarium salt (another sodium). I am wondering if that might have an impact on fish.
I know for sure that anubia can tolerate some salt. But most plants prefer soft, acidic water