aquarium tank

Question
I have a gorgeous setup in my 55 gallon tank. Filtering it is a Topfin60 filter. Admitingly, I lost interest in the tank and it sits in my rec-room with one large gourami which is at least 8" long and two good size angel fish.I laso have a large plecostimous. The gourami is at least 6 yrs old. Obviously I feed the fish daily, two times a day in fact. But I have not changed the filter in at least three years. However,the water is crystal clear. The plastic plants and all the other things have a good amount of algae on it though.I plan on taking down the set up, and cleaning everything out and start all over. I know not to replace all the water with fresh. My real question here is that I cant understand how the water can still be so clear after never changeing the filer. The filter is one total glob of yuk. Anything you can tell me about how this is so, and anything else about re-doing the tank would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer
Hi Ronn,

Eww! (sorry, I'm a girl!)  I'm assuming even though you didn't change cartridges that you still did partial water changes and did gravel cleanings?

Have you tested your tank water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrates?  How about pH, GH, KH and phosphates?  Your phosphates are probably through the roof and while this may not cloud the water it will certainly give you a bad algae problem, indicative of a filter in poor condition and not enough maintenance.

I would obviously not advocate doing what has happened here but in a 55 gallon tank that is lightly stocked as yours is, it's probably the only reason the fish didn't die from the gunky cartridges and the water managed to look clear.  However, don't mistake 'clear' for 'healthy'.  Healthy water remains to be seen via your test results.

I would certainly do a good, one time 50% water change and change out your cartridges and clean the filter.  Do not use tap water on anything.  When you drain 50% of the old tank water into a bucket, take a new toothbrush to the filter and clean it with the old tank water, this way you won't destroy the good bacteria that has built up.  You want to make sure that the filter is working to it's full potential.  Put in some new cartridges.  If you don't like the disposable cartridges you can use a Hagen Sponge and a Hagen Biomax insert in place of disposable cartridges and you never have to throw these out.  You simply rinse these in water that came from the tank when you do partial water changes at your 2-3 week maintenance and put them back.  Easier and cheaper than disposables and it works better because each time you toss a cartridge you chuck a lot of good bacteria that may potentially throw your tank into a re-cycle.

As far as your plants are concerned, you should also take those out and scrub in a bucket of old tank water with the toothbrush.  Use some aquarium salt for some stubborn build up and then rinse in the bucket and put back in the tank.

You can use any magnet cleaner for the walls of the tank, or your hand will work too.  I would HIGHLY recommend a good product for you, Tetra's Easy Balance.  While I dispute the fact that anyone could or should go 6 months between water changes as it claims it will help reduce your nitrates and phosphates and keep your pH, GH & KH stable in between routine maintenance.

Make sure you are doing 25% water changes from here on out with a good gravel cleaning every 3 weeks or so and rinse your new sponges and biomax insert and put back in.

Good luck : ) April M.