Aquarium problem solver Approved by For more information: www.tetra.net 2 3 Contents If you follow the advice Water clarity 4-7 given by your aquatics Algae 8-9 outlet, and in our information Sick fish 10-13 brochures, it is unlikely that you will Sick plants 14-15 have any difficulty with your aquarium. However, in case you need additional help, this brochure tells you how to solve some common problems. 2 3 Water clarity Problems with water clarity are usually simple to resolve, and normally fall under one of the following: Cloudy / milky water 2 Bacterial bloom This has two possible In new aquariums, it is not causes: uncommon to experience a 1 Failure to clean new temporary cloudiness of the substrate water caused by bacteria. Because new aquariums Gravel, sand, and other do not have an established aquarium substrates contain population of micro- a lot of dust, which should organisms in the gravel be cleaned off before use. and filter, dissolved organic If the water goes cloudy as material accumulates in soon as it’s filled, this is the the water and promotes the most likely cause. The colour rapid growth of bacteria. of the water can be anything from a slight cloudiness to As the aquarium matures, a dirty brown, depending on this should settle down the type of substrate used. and clear. It is not directly harmful to fish, however Although your filter should it could indicate that too clear the water over time, many fish have been added it is preferable to remove at once. It is therefore the substrate and clean important to test the water it properly, to avoid re- for ammonia and nitrite, to occurrence of the problem. make sure it is healthy. The only types of substrates that do not need cleaning are specialist planting ones, such as TetraPlant CompleteSubstrate. 4 5 If the cloudiness is very the substrate. An excessive bad, the bacteria can be amount in the substrate thinned out by performing a can be re-suspended by partial water change, using the activity of the fish, and tap water conditioned with blocked filters will not trap Tetra AquaSafe. Adding Tetra particles as effectively. SafeStart to new aquariums Therefore, to resolve brown will help establish the filter water, you need to clean the more rapidly. substrate with a TetraTec GC gravel cleaner, and ensure Dirty / brown water the filter is free from debris Unless this is caused by (by washing it according to unwashed substrate (see the instructions). above), brown water is If you find that the gravel or normally caused by solid filter is becoming clogged waste becoming suspended rapidly, leading to problems in the water. with dirty water, you should Solid waste is normally check the following: trapped in the filter or in 4 5 1 Are you using a good Yellow water quality food, according Over time, organic waste to the instructions? breaks down releasing Over-feeding, especially substances into the water with a poor quality food, that can cause it to go will put excessive solid yellow. Such water is still waste into the aquarium. transparent, but has a Offer a good quality food, definite yellow / brown taint such as TetraMin or to it. Aquariums containing TetraFin, 2-3 times a day, bogwood can be particularly only as much as the fish prone to this.If this happens can consume within a often, make sure there is not couple of minutes. an excess of debris in the 2 Is your aquarium over- substrate. Good aquarium stocked? Recommended husbandry, including keeping stocking levels are 1cm of fish per litre for tropical fish, and 0.5 – 1cm per litre for goldfish. If your aquarium does have too many fish, you may need to upgrade to a larger one. 3 Is your filter big enough for the aquarium? Check the instructions to ensure it is large enough to cope with the volume of water. If not, consider upgrading it. 6 7 the substrate clean with a TetraTec GC gravel cleaner, can reduce the rate at which these substances accumulate. For complete prevention of yellow water, use activated carbon in the filter. This removes the substances that cause the colouration, helping to keep water crystal clear. All Tetra filters contain activated carbon, or have the option of including it. Alternatively, you can add TetraTec Carbon media to an existing external filter. Green Water Green water is caused by suspended algae, and should be dealt with accordingly. See the section on Algae in this brochure. 6 7 Algae Algae are simple plants that occur naturally in aquariums. If they grow to excess, they can spoil its appearance by covering the glass, plants, and ornaments, and in some cases causing the water to turn green. Algae come in various • Remove organic matter shapes and colours, the type from the substrate. depending on the chemical Allowing the substrate and physical properties of to get very dirty will the aquarium. Generally they cause nutrient levels are green or brown, and may to rise, fuelling algae form smooth sheets or stringy growth. You should keep growths. You cannot prevent the substrate reasonably algae entering the aquarium, clean by using a but you can manage its TetraTec GC gravel growth and prevent it cleaner, and clean the becoming a problem. filter as necessary. Tips for controlling algae • Use a good quality food. Foods that are • Control the amount efficiently utilised, such of light within the as TetraMin and TetraFin, aquarium. This means result in less nutrient keeping it out of natural build-up. This helps to sunlight, and leaving control algae growth. the light on for no more than 10-12 hours a day. • Add live plants to the You should also replace aquarium as a natural light bulbs according to algae control. Fast-growing the instructions, as old species are best, and their tubes emit the wrong growth can be encouraged quality of light and can with TetraPlant PlantaMin. encourage brown algae to grow. 8 9 You can get an indication of nutrient levels by testing the water for nitrate with a TetraTest Nitrate kit, or TetraTest 5 in 1 test strips. • Use Tetra EasyBalance. suitable. This actively reduces Bristlenose two important algae catfish may eat the nutrients – phosphate plants as well, so seek and nitrate, thereby advice before deciding helping to control on which fish to use. its growth. Tetra A mixture is often best, NitrateMinus can also as some fish only eat be used specifically for certain types of algae. nitrate control. • Keep a selection of algae-eating fish. In tropical aquariums it is possible to control algae using certain fish. Bristlenose catfish (Ancistrus), Otocinclus catfish, and Siamese algae eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis) are all 8 9 Sick fish Fish kept in a healthy environment rarely get ill, and if they do it’s important to identify any underlying causes. If the environment is not right they will be stressed, causing their immune system to weaken, leaving them open to infection. Signs of illness The following table offers A change in the behaviour a guide to some typical of the fish, such as loss of symptoms and diseases they appetite or sluggishness, are likely to be associated is often the first sign that with. Use this to try to something is wrong. In some identify the problem and the cases, specific symptoms correct treatment. Where a may develop that can help specific disease cannot be identify the disease, but identified, use of a general this is not always the case. remedy such as TetraMedica Just like humans and other General Tonic (tropical fish) animals, infections may be or TetraMedica GoldMed caused by a range of fungi, (goldfish) is recommended. parasites, bacteria, and For more detailed advice, viruses. The more common consult your aquatics outlet. ones can usually be treated Curing sick fish with off-the-shelf remedies, provided any problems To begin with, try to identify with the environment are any underlying environmental corrected. problems: • Test the water to ensure it is healthy. You can do this with TetraTest kits, and your aquatics outlet may be able to test a water sample for you. At a minimum, you should check for 10 11 Symptoms Likely cause Treatment Small white spots White spot Tetra ContraSpot covering skin and fins Peppering of yellow Velvet disease Tetra ContraSpot – gold "dust" Fish gasping at the Water quality, Check water quality, surface Gill disease Tetra General Tonic or Tetra ContraSpot Thickened mucus, Water quality, Check water, Tetra "milky" or slightly grey Skin slime disease ContraSpot appearance to skin Mucus trailing from gills Water quality, Check water quality, Gill disease Tetra General Tonic or Tetra ContraSpot Fishes are "flicking" Skin parasites, water Tetra ContraSpot, against things quality check water Cloudy eyes Water quality, Check water, Tetra physical damage, General Tonic bacterial infection Red streaks in fins and Bacteria, water quality Check water, Tetra on body General Tonic Ulcers Bacteria Check water, Tetra General Tonic Cotton wool like Fungus Check water, Tetra growths on body FungiStop Darkening in colour/ Water quality, bacteria, Check water quality, lethargy possible parasites Tetra General Tonic or Tetra ContraSpot Rapid gill movements Water quality, Gill Check water, Tetra disease ContraSpot or Tetra General Tonic Swollen body and/or Bacteria (Dropsy) Tetra General Tonic raised scales Protruding eyes Physical damage, Tetra General Tonic bacteria Eroded mouth and head Cotton wool disease Check water, Tetra with cotton wool like (bacteria) General Tonic growths 10 11 ammonia, nitrite, and • Ensure you are feeding a pH. If no problems are good quality food, as this identified, you should will provide everything also check levels of needed for a healthy nitrate, oxygen, GH, and immune system.