Posted: 10/15/2009 7:47:36 AM EDT
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I set up a new fish tank for my grandmother this weekend. The fish seem to be doing fine, but the is a layer of foam on top of the water. What can I do to fix this? I figure if it was soap they would already be dead. |
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Sometimes there is a little foam just from agitation by filters, bubblers etc.
That's nothing to worry about. If it actually looks like protein foam or soap suds then you have a problem. Do an immediate 20% water change and make sure your change water is uncontaminated. As a rule, I never use soap of any kind to wash anything to do with aquaria. The bottom line is that if it hasn't already killed your fish then it's probably not going to. Post a pic and give us a better idea of your concern. |
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Quoted:
Sometimes there is a little foam just from agitation by filters, bubblers etc. That's nothing to worry about. If it actually looks like protein foam or soap suds then you have a problem. Do an immediate 20% water change and make sure your change water is uncontaminated. As a rule, I never use soap of any kind to wash anything to do with aquaria. The bottom line is that if it hasn't already killed your fish then it's probably not going to. Post a pic and give us a better idea of your concern. Pretty much what I was going to say as well. Did you fill with DI water, tap water, or some other type? |
   Its a 10 gallon starter kit from walmart. I wish I knew more, my mom actually set it up and I am just trying to figure out if there is a problem. I think it was about about a 50/50 split of new distilled water and the water from the other tank. Everything was rinsed to some degree with tap water. |
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When bubbles stay formed on the top of the water your ammonia content is too high.
If the fish seem okay, leave it be and let the beneficial bacteria have a chance to start growing and the ammonia will get knocked back down. Don't use distilled water next time. And fill the tank up to the top. The water level should meet the output of the filter. That will help cut down on the bubbles. |
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If the dechlorinator was used to dechlorinate the tap water, then that could cause it (I've seen that happen before).
You're really supposed to let the aquarium run for a couple of days after set up to settle down before you add fish. But you should be ok. Over the next few weeks will be critical as the tank is "cycling" which means the beneficial bacteria that breaks down ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate is establishing. Right now you don't have any of those bacteria growing, so the ammonia levels will rise quickly and high over the next few weeks as the food, poop and piss keep being added to the tank. So you have to change water every couple days (suck out about 10 to 15% of the water with a gravel vacuum and replace with fresh water) anytime your ammonia levels get high (use the test kit, or notice that your fish are stressed - darting around, fins clamped and breathing quickly.) It'll stink while the tank is cycling and the water will smell ammoniated or like garlic. Once it's cycled, it should smell like fresh lakewater or like a pond. |