Ned, anyone, help!
Through a series of mishaps set in motion by my dog, my yeast generator backed up into my tank. About two cups of yeast/sugar/water solution was _ into the 45 gallon freshwater planted tank.
I was out of town when it happened and by the time I returned the tank was filled with this greyish scum. On all the leaves, wood, glass, etc. It sort of looks like hair algae. Water was cloudy and smelled like hell. I'd lost 50% of my livestock and the remaining were clearly oxygen deprived (gasping at surface). My theory is that the yeast was propagating in the tank and creating an anaerobic environment.
I boosted the oxygenation by lowering the water level below the filter outlets. The increased agitation seemed to help and the fish have returned to normal. Then I did a 60% water change. However, the water quality remains poor and the bloom of algae/fungus/bacteria or whatever it is continues.
I'm not sure what to do next. I obviously need to continue with water changes, but I'm not sure what else would help. Please help me end this nightmare!