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So....in my about 4 years of keeping fish, Ive never had this happen..I guess there is a first time for everything.

I was performing a WC on my tetra tank, siphoning the bottom when I seemed to have somehow broken, moved, snapped, touched, (you name it) I dont know, the UGF. I assume this is what happened as the water in the tank turned brown and I mean brown. Whatever was down there somehow escaped and not thru the siphon but out somewhere else and basically turned the tank brown. I couldnt even see my fish.

I figured it would probably kill them if it remained that way so I stuck the hose in the tank and siphoned out water at the same time. I would say I probably changed about 75% of the water in an effort to clean it. Hours later the tank seems clear but I was really freaked out.

I am perfectly aware of how bad it is to change so much water but I felt like I had no option. What I wanted was to ask and see if anyone has had anything like this happen to them.

Any ideas what could have happened or what I coudl have done to cause it?

I'm trying to think how that could have happened. I guess this is just one more reason I hate UGF, you never know when they'll next try to screw you your tank! Just bumping it shouldnt have released that much waste. Do you run a powerhead on the UGF or just an airstone?

I've seen tanks turn bad like you describe, in a tank I purchased from a classified ad. The previous owner had no idea what a water siphon was for and just draining some of the water turned the tank black! Removing the plates was, if possible, even worse

I'd reccomend getting a HOB filter to suppliment the filtration if something like this happens again. And when you have the time, possibly switching entirely to a HOB system.

^_^

Hi,
In 5 decades of fish keeping, all with UGFs, I've never
had that happen. However, I always stock lightly, and
feed accordingly. When I do my weekly tank maintenance
I always vacuum a part of the non-planted sections straight
down to the UGF plate. Perhaps the plate snapped or gave
way at that point.
In any case, you did the right thing by siphoning out most
of that dirty water.

Frank


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

That can be the real problem with the undergravel systems is that so much waste gets stuck underneath where nobody can clean. You did the right thing. It could take months to get your tank back to normal, but be patient. Partial water changes will help you very much.

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The calming qualities of a good aquarium are irrefutable