Hidden decaying gunk!

[kenyth]

Well, my tank was becoming a bit of a mess very quickly after a water change. Algae growth, a bit smelly water, etc. So, I proceeded to clean ornaments, scrape algae, give it a 50% water change and a more thourough gravel cleaning. Sure enough, I found significant deposits of decaying food trapped behind the partially buried bubble wall airstone. Now, all is well and the fish look much happier.

The fact that there was no ammonia or nitrite build up is a testament to the effectiveness of the UGF and power filter combo. It also shows that excess algae growth is a sign that the tank needs cleaning and attention to detail, not algacides.

[Lady Hobbs]

I have some oddities myself. I have disappearing nitrates. ???? Don't know where they go but even with over- feeding I always have 0. (All 4 tanks) I just got done with my 4th cycle in less than 3 months (same danged tank) and I don't even need to do a large water change at the end of cycling. My nitrates will spike at the end of the cycle but I wait another day and they go to 0. I have no explanation for it.

I have my silver dollar tank loaded with wood, fake plants and rocks making it a nusiance to clean. Too much stuff in it. They will be getting moved into a 75 gallon soon so for now I have to put up with moving everything each week.