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Heya.

I have a 23 gallon guppy tank (with like 6 guppies in it) that I've had for years and suddenly it smells very bad (like rotten eggs) and is very cloudy. I initially treated it with an algae cure then realised it was probably a bacteria bloom so took out all the plants, stopped feeding the fish and changed 80% of the water and put in a new second filter with a carbon bit to help clear away some of the bigger particles. It was less cloudy and smelled a little better and then overnight it was worse again.

Any suggestions?

Do a thorough gravel vacuum with your water change. You probably have recently released hydrogen sulfide from anaerobic pockets in your substrate.

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As said. Good advice.

And I'd take the fish out while you are vacuuming, as some people find that a direct hit with a bubble is enough to kill the fish.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I would go a step further. Seeing you have two filters going I would completely empty the tank and give the gravel a very good cleaning.

Naturally take the fish out and at least 50% of the water keep the filters running in the temp home.

By doing this you will remove 100% of all the gunk in and under the gravel.

Then it will be just a matter of putting every thing back and adding all the water slowly as not to disturb the gravel very much.
If you have air stone/s I certainly use them.

With the plants I would not bother to plant them for a few days just put them in the tank and when every thing settles down plant them.

One week later I would completely clean the filters using the old tank water. It can be done on the same day but I strongly suggest you get some help to do both jobs.

Also when you get the tank set up and every thing running Start using Seachem Stability as recommended.

There is a faint chance you could get a Mini Cycle but if you are using the Stability it will not even be noticed.

I know this is going to be a lot more work but why not do it fully to start off with.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
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Keith

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Hi,

I have a 23 gallon guppy tank (with like 6 guppies in it) that I've had for years and suddenly it smells very bad

All of the replies have been good and will help you correct
the current problem. Now you have to eliminate the cause.
That, will be done with a regular, weekly or at least
biweekly, tank maintenance routine. Each week (or so) you
should be using something similar to the Python Siphon
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17879
and while draining up to 50% of the tank water, you
should be vacuuming the non-planted sections of the tank.
That will prevent the accumulation of waste products
and turning over the gravel. That will clean it,
and eliminate the anaerobic areas of the tank
that produced the Hydrogen Sulfide gas.

You might, also, consider the addition of the MTS snail.
These snails burrow through the gravel keeping it loose
and eating the detritus that settles between the grains.

Depending upon the species of plants that you have in the
tank, you may have too much gravel in the tank. Thinning
the thickness of the substrate will lessen the chances
of creating anaerobic areas that caused the problem.
While many plants will grow fine in an inch or two of
gravel, some will require 3-4 inches of gravel.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--