Member

Posts: 11
From:Detroit, MI, United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-05-2003 11:56 AM         

---

I have 6 2" Red Belly Piranhas & a Craw Fish in a 55 gallon tank. I have an undergravel filter (which I beleive is the problem), a 30 to 60 gallon side filter & a 10 to 30 gallon side filter. I feed my fish two feeder fish every other day.

For my undergravel filter, I have one dual air pump connected to a five outlet gang valve. On those 5 outlets, I have air tubes with air stones going into the tank & into those bigger tube thing-a-ma-bobs. I also have a power head on one of those tube thing-a-ma-bobs. I have about 3 inches of gravel covering the filter.

What am I doing wrong? I have to change bio bags & clean the tank once a week due to the smell. Is something missing from my undergravel filter or am I overfeeding my fish?

IP: Logged

New Member

Posts: 6
From:la mirada, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-09-2003 07:42 AM         

---

I bet if you tested the water, your nitrites and ammonia levels would be toxic. First thing to do is do at least a 50% water change right away. Continue this until those levels come down. Next, remove about 2 inches of that gravel so there is just a small layer above the filter. 3 inches is a very thick amount of gravel for a little undergravel filter to suck up the wastes of these fish. Remember, undergravels are intended for the smaller less messy fish, and even then they need regular cleanings and maintanence. Once the smell is gone, keep doing those water changes constantly. What has happened is all of the junk that your fish produce has settled in that nice 3 inch layer of gravel and that stagnent water has allowed tons of harmful bacteria to grow and that is what is stinking up your tank.

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 11
From:Detroit, MI, United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-09-2003 09:00 AM         

---

Thanks. I do that when i go home today.

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)