To much poop!

[Mountainlion63]

Hello! I've had my 29 gallon set up for about 6 months. It is extreamly dirty. My filter is fine, none of the fish are sick, and I don't think I have been over feeding them(but just in case i'm going to cut down on the food I give them). I think the reason my be that after the waste begain to show up I started doing big water changes every day and I think I desrtoyed my bacteria colony. Could this couse the problum? If it could, how can I make the levels go up again? Thanks!

[Lady Hobbs]

Do you vac the crud out of the gravel each week? No tank should be extremely dirty especially with your low amount of stock.

[Strider199]

Do you use a gravel vac when doing your water changes? It will pick up that poop and get it out of your tank while doing a water change.
Your BB is mostly in your filter media so taking out water from your tank will not get rid of it unless your refilling your tank with city tap water that is not treated for chlorine. Do you use a water conditioner?

What type of stock is in that tank and how many gallons is it? Just seen it in your signature, stock to tank size looks good. sorry.
Your filter type and model would also help to pin point the problem.

I'm thinking gravel vacuum.

I just saw that Lady Hobbs types faster then I do. hehehe

[Goes to 11!]

Pictures of said dirty tank please?

Since you did not post any water parameters [Please do:11: ] & your fish and filter are fine. What makes you think you destroyed your BB colony?

Water changes do not destroy your BB colony btw.

[Lady Hobbs]

(If it could, how can I make the levels go up again? Thanks!)

Mountainlion, you do not want your levels to go up again. You want 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and nitrates less than 20.

If you don't start cleaning out the gravel, you nitrates will be sky high. You don't want that.

[Mountainlion63]

Thanks for the bacteria info! I do have a python that I use to vaccum the tank bottom, so I guess I should just keep vaccuming and try to lesson their food a bit? Thank You again!

[Tiari]

When you say dirty, do you mean when you gravel vacuum that the water comes out black? Or perhaps you are getting brow diatom algae that is covering plants and decorations and glass?

If your tank is cycled and established, there should be no reason to have to do water changes daily.

Also, if you are feeding the cories sinking wafers, try sinking them in exactly the same spot all the time. The reason for that is they will partially dissolve and get into the gravel, and you will know where to "target vacuum" the most.

[ldoerr]

Also, if you are feeding the cories sinking wafers, try sinking them in exactly the same spot all the time. The reason for that is they will partially dissolve and get into the gravel, and you will know where to "target vacuum" the most.

This is exactly what I do. I think that it also benefits the fish in that they know where dinner is served.