07/05/2025
Todayās client spotlight: A small biorb setup in a little girlās bedroom that sadly went through a rough few weeks.
While I was away on holiday, the client contacted another local company for maintenance. Unfortunately, their methods wiped out the entire tank. They drained all the water, placed the existing fish into a bucket, and washed the biological filter media (alphagrog) under the tap, completely crashing the cycle. The tank was then refilledāmost likely with cold, untreated waterāwhich instantly shocked the fish. My client described them "at the surface and upside down" within minutes of the company leaving.
Weeks later, the company returned with what they called "cycled water" and more livestock, saying an ammonia spike had likely killed the previous fish and their water would prevent that happening again. Sadly, more fish were lost.
Thatās when we were called in.
We tested the water thoroughly, including pH and temperature, safely removed two remaining corpses, cleaned the tank, gravel vacced, and did a 50% water change with dechlorinated, temperature-matched water.
Weāre now monitoring the recovery, and my client is relieved to be back in safe hands.
Tip: NEVER wash your filter media under the tapāand always use a company that understands the nitrogen cycle!
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