Big problems in the tank recently. 
Went on vacation in mid-August for 7 days and made the BIG mistake of using one of those dissolving vacation feeders. When I returned, there was a massive algae problem in the tank. I had never had algae before using the feeder. I am not sure what type of algae it is. It appears in a thick film along all the gravel but also on the plants and on the sides of the aquarium in a similar film. It does not respond to an algae killer I bought at the LFS (which was recommended to me by the staff). No amount of scrubbing, cleaning, water changes, reduced light, etc. seems to be working. I recently cleaned the filter (there was some algae clogging it up). I also replaced half of the sponge filter insert. Was very careful while doing this.
My fish do not seem very happy. One fish (a head and tail-light tetra) has been pale for a week or so and seems to also be gasping a bit. I just peeked into the aquarium moments ago to find my rummy nose tetra belly up on the gravel. It has not been acting differently lately and it seemed to be fine. This was very sudden and very suprising. Also very saddening.
Tank Details:
Size: 5.5 gallons
Inhabitants: two head and tail light tetras, one black neon tetra, two cardinal tetras, and one pepperd cory (minus one rummy nose tetra)
Levels (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia): were all around 0 when I last measured.
I don't know what to do.
Went on vacation in mid-August for 7 days and made the BIG mistake of using one of those dissolving vacation feeders. When I returned, there was a massive algae problem in the tank. I had never had algae before using the feeder. I am not sure what type of algae it is. It appears in a thick film along all the gravel but also on the plants and on the sides of the aquarium in a similar film. It does not respond to an algae killer I bought at the LFS (which was recommended to me by the staff). No amount of scrubbing, cleaning, water changes, reduced light, etc. seems to be working. I recently cleaned the filter (there was some algae clogging it up). I also replaced half of the sponge filter insert. Was very careful while doing this.
My fish do not seem very happy. One fish (a head and tail-light tetra) has been pale for a week or so and seems to also be gasping a bit. I just peeked into the aquarium moments ago to find my rummy nose tetra belly up on the gravel.
It has not been acting differently lately and it seemed to be fine. This was very sudden and very suprising. Also very saddening. Tank Details:
Size: 5.5 gallons
Inhabitants: two head and tail light tetras, one black neon tetra, two cardinal tetras, and one pepperd cory (minus one rummy nose tetra
)Levels (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia): were all around 0 when I last measured.
I don't know what to do.
