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Took over an abandoned pond 10x15x1.5-2 in my apartment building that has had fish in it but no circulation and the greenest water possible for the past ten years. Got the waterfall and skimmer back up, 4 matala mats in the biofalls (green/blue/blue/grey) and bioballs. This was a little over a month ago.
A week or so ago I used quilt batting to get rid of a lot of the pea soup algae. I was also probably overfeeding for the last week or so.
Woke up a few days ago and there was a dead fish. Tested the water and ammonia ~.5 and nitrite ~1. pH seems to hover between 6.5 and 7.5. Ammonia has been dropping but nitrite doesn’t seem to be.
Does it make more sense that it was the algae removal or the overfeeding? Could I have stalled the nitrogen cycle? Should I see if there is a buildup of sludge in the biofalls? I don’t want to disturb the bacteria unnecessarily.
Some fish are acting completely normal but others are staying at the top or staying at the bottom. Before I did anything to the pond, I’d see fish at the surface all the time and there was probably about 35 goldfish in there when I started working on it so they’re definitely fighters but that may have just been low oxygen because I had 0 nitrites a few weeks ago.
I’m just very overwhelmed and confused and everyone has conflicting advice. Any help is appreciated.
A week or so ago I used quilt batting to get rid of a lot of the pea soup algae. I was also probably overfeeding for the last week or so.
Woke up a few days ago and there was a dead fish. Tested the water and ammonia ~.5 and nitrite ~1. pH seems to hover between 6.5 and 7.5. Ammonia has been dropping but nitrite doesn’t seem to be.
Does it make more sense that it was the algae removal or the overfeeding? Could I have stalled the nitrogen cycle? Should I see if there is a buildup of sludge in the biofalls? I don’t want to disturb the bacteria unnecessarily.
Some fish are acting completely normal but others are staying at the top or staying at the bottom. Before I did anything to the pond, I’d see fish at the surface all the time and there was probably about 35 goldfish in there when I started working on it so they’re definitely fighters but that may have just been low oxygen because I had 0 nitrites a few weeks ago.
I’m just very overwhelmed and confused and everyone has conflicting advice. Any help is appreciated.
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