New Tank Syndrome
One should think, starting out with a new
hobby is like learning by trial and error, or better, learning by
doing. Unfortunately a certain amount of knowledge is required to start
the hobby of fish keeping. The understanding of what is going on inside
the tank, as you can't see, feel or smell pH, hardness, ammonia and
such.
Many new hobbyists give up the hobby in the early days because of dead fish, algae and cloudy water.
Pouring
in one load of chemicals after the other and trusting this will solve
problem overnight, will only end with the lasting memory of stores
selling expensive products that don't work.Aquarium Picture
New
Tank Syndrome, as the phrase implies, is related to a newly set-up
aquarium. This may be the main obstacle the new hobbyist has to face.
In earlier references, New Tank Syndrome was often referred to as
"mysterious" or "sudden" fish death. This definition has been
re-defined as "The Cycle", as the knowledge about the hobby grew within
recent years.
During the cycle, two sets of bacteria responsible
for breaking down ammonia and nitrite are settling down. As these two
compounds will reach dangerous levels, the "mysterious" and "sudden
fish deaths" start making sense, as both compounds are highly toxic. As
the cycle is increasingly better understood, fish losses can be kept at
a minimum and even prevented.
Everyone familiar with setting up
a new tank knows about the cycle or at least should. The new tank
syndrome usually shows up right after or close before the cycle is
complete.
Ammonia, nitrite, and finally nitrates are nitrogen
compounds, nutrients that can accumulate and cause problems on a short
or long term basis. The highest accumulation can be measured right
around the time when the tank has cycled. These excess nutrients are
responsible for problems such as cloudy water, green water, and all
sorts of algae joining in to feast on the high nutrients.
While
in the past the cycle had been defined as new tank syndrome, today it
is separated from the cycle by definition, but still causes a lot of
hobbyists to throw in the towel.
New hobbyists often get excited
when completing the "cycle". After all it has a scientific ring to it
and it wasn't too difficult to achieve. The next step according to plan
is to stock the tank with fish, as all levels read safe values. Once
stocked, the problems take their course. The water gets cloudy, green,
and/or algae make their appearance. Finally fish death occurs in
worst-case scenarios.
The reason is excess nutrients created by
the newly introduced fish. The bacteria colonies are not able to
readily adjust to the new circumstances, which would allow them to
prevent the new tank syndrome. In return bacteria colonies start to
grow, sometimes at a rate that turns the water whitish.
Stocking
the tank slowly can prevent new tank syndrome, giving the whole system
enough time to adjust. Another way to avoid the new tank syndrome is by
cycling the tank using the fishless cycling method. This method allows
stocking the tank as soon as the cycle has been completed.
Write up taken from: http://aquarium.invisionplus.net/index.php?mforum=aquarium&showtopic=47