red stuff

Question
i am fairl new to all this....i got a tank from a friend that didnt want the responsibility anymore...i have had it up and running for about two minths now...things were going pretty well...about 2 weeks ago i got my water tested and the nitrates and ammonia were high and was advised not to do a water change for a month...so i didnt, now all of my fish are dead and theres a red film on the fish toys....i read that this could've been the ammonia, so i got the water tested again and my water is perfect....i dont know what to do??!? i thought this couldve been a bacterial infection due to how my fish were acting...one of them was hiding a lot...and another had fin rot....so i got "marasyn" (sp?) hoping that would change something....im on my 3rd day of treatment with the marisyn...no fish are left...and theres still a film...not as severe....but its still there.....should i throw away the plants and rocks? vacuum? i dont want to mess up the good bacteria...any help you could advise would be greatly appreciated!!! THANK YOU!!

Answer
Hi Logan:  whomever gave you advice gave you very bad advice.  When the ammonia and nitrates began to rise... that indicates that something in your tank was beginning to decompose... like extra fish food, or fish poop, etc.  That is the time that you needed to change about 25 percent of the water. That would have protected your fish.  It sounds like your tank was beginning to cycle again and without the fish in it... it did.  That is why your water is now perfect.  The red slime is either a from of algae or a bacteria that was caused from the poor water conditions.  You can stop the medication because it will not kill the red slime.  At this point what I would do is to take the decorations out and wash them in warm water and salt... NO SOAP... and then I would gravel vacuum the tank. The red slime will go away... get the water tested again and think about adding a couple of fish.... dave