I think the algae is coming back. I have a white film that is forming again on the top of the water and my water is still real cloudy. I poured some Algae Destroyer Liquid in the tank in hopes that it will help. I changed my bio-bag 2 weeks ago and already it is really brown and green looking. Do I need to replace is again? I'm afraid that my filter is going to clog up again and quit running like it did on Wednesday. What is going on? My husband is almost ready to take the tank and throw it out - we are both so frustrated. Any advise would be appreciated.
Help!
- Thread starter Angibug
- Start date
29 gal, 20 watt Aqua Rays flourescent (full hood) usually on about 7-8 hrs a day, 11 fish: 2 fruit tetras, 2 male guppies, 2 dwarf gourami's, 3 zebra danios, 2 red serpae, 1 cory catfish. (yesterday I lost my 2 angels and today I lost my neon tetra). Set up on June 13th. Everything tests fine except ph is high (7.8) and I can't seem to get it down. I can tell that the film is slowly starting to cover the front glass of the tank. This same thing happened Monday and Wednesday it took me an hour to scrape it off (also filter clogged and quit). It's Friday and it's starting all over again. I purchased some Jungle Clear Water. Do you think I should put some in to see if it would remove the cloudiness? My problems started when I put live plants in. Thanks for trying to help!
I'd hold off on more chemicals until you did a water change. Maybe about 50%.
Like Davy said, just rinse the bio-bag . . . that's where your bacteria colonies live. Kill that off and your tank will have to be re-cycled.
Do you have a test kit that include Ammonia and Nitrite tests? Maybe run a water sample down to the LFS if you don't. I'm curious as to what kind of filter you are using.
Like Davy said, just rinse the bio-bag . . . that's where your bacteria colonies live. Kill that off and your tank will have to be re-cycled.
Do you have a test kit that include Ammonia and Nitrite tests? Maybe run a water sample down to the LFS if you don't. I'm curious as to what kind of filter you are using.
algae destroyers usually dont wort well
the algae dies, rots and becomes nutrients for new algae to grow after the chems are gone
did you treat the plants before you introduced them to your tank?
brown algea is common in new set-ups and will eventually go away on its own
add 2 ottos to eat the algae if you dont like to clean it off...what are you using to clean the algea? an hour is a long time for a 29gal
also i saw someone mention that they didnt clean the on back wall of the tank and a nice thick carpet of algae grew there making for a nice background, he also said that algea grew nowhere else in the tank after he let the back grow in...the threads around here somewhere i'll see if i can find it when i have time
also the fish you have do not need a "perfect" 7.0 ph...they need a STABLE ph which you cant get if you keep playing with it to try to "get it down"
for the most part chemicals that claim to destroy algea, clear cloudiness or raise/lower your ph are usually worthless imo and may cause more harm than good...they are no replacment for proper tank maintenance
--liz
the algae dies, rots and becomes nutrients for new algae to grow after the chems are gone
did you treat the plants before you introduced them to your tank?
brown algea is common in new set-ups and will eventually go away on its own
add 2 ottos to eat the algae if you dont like to clean it off...what are you using to clean the algea? an hour is a long time for a 29gal
also i saw someone mention that they didnt clean the on back wall of the tank and a nice thick carpet of algae grew there making for a nice background, he also said that algea grew nowhere else in the tank after he let the back grow in...the threads around here somewhere i'll see if i can find it when i have time
also the fish you have do not need a "perfect" 7.0 ph...they need a STABLE ph which you cant get if you keep playing with it to try to "get it down"
for the most part chemicals that claim to destroy algea, clear cloudiness or raise/lower your ph are usually worthless imo and may cause more harm than good...they are no replacment for proper tank maintenance
--liz
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The white stuff does not sound like algae. If there is any algae, the algae destroyer will kill it and most likely the live plants in your tank, causing an amonia spike at the same time. I do not recommend using any chemicals to get rid of algae.
I know your tank looks horrible right now, but here is the best advice I can give you:
0. Buy a really good book on fishkeeping. You and Your Aquarium (Unknown author) or Complete Idiots Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (by Mike Wickham).
1. Clean your filter. Remove your carbon.
2. Do a 25% water change (make sure you vaccum the gravel).
3. Do an amonia test. If amonia is over 0.0, repeat step 1.
4. Place fresh carbon in your filter.
5. Throw out the algae destroyer and return the Jungle Clear Water (if you haven't opened it).
6. For the next 2 weeks, test for amonia every 2 or 3 days, you will probably notice it start to rise. Do not worry, this is natural.
6a. After 1 week, do a 10 - 15% water change(make sure you vaccum the gravel).
6b. After week 2, repeat step 6a.. If your filter has a sponge, rinse any debris from it using dechlorinated tap water.
7. For the next 2 weeks, test for amonia every 2 or 3 days, yo should notice it start to drop off. You tank is finishing it cycle.
8. Also during these two weeks, test for nitrite every 2 or 3 days. You should notice it rise and then fall back to zero.
8a. After 1 week, do a 10 - 15% water change (make sure you vaccum the gravel).
8b. After week 2, repeat step 8a. Replace the carbon in your filter with fresh carbon.
9. You are now ready to add your next couple of fish, I'd say you could safely add another 6 fish that will be 3 inches or less in length when fully grown. Remember to try and fill out your schools of fish to a minimum of 3 per species, and maintain proper male-female ratios per species.
10. Begin again at step 1. Repeat the entire process until you have filled your tank to capacity, for a 29 gal., I'd say no more than 25-29 fish that will be less than 3 inches in length when fully grown.
Avoid angel fish as they get entirely too large for the size tank you have (it is a myth that fish will only grow to fit in the tank they are in).
As for your PH. Check the PH of your tap water. If you are on city water, that is most likely the reason for the high PH. There are a couple of reliable chemicals you can use to change your PH. I don't recommend them at this time thought, you need to get the rest of your tank in order.
I know your tank looks horrible right now, but here is the best advice I can give you:
0. Buy a really good book on fishkeeping. You and Your Aquarium (Unknown author) or Complete Idiots Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (by Mike Wickham).
1. Clean your filter. Remove your carbon.
2. Do a 25% water change (make sure you vaccum the gravel).
3. Do an amonia test. If amonia is over 0.0, repeat step 1.
4. Place fresh carbon in your filter.
5. Throw out the algae destroyer and return the Jungle Clear Water (if you haven't opened it).
6. For the next 2 weeks, test for amonia every 2 or 3 days, you will probably notice it start to rise. Do not worry, this is natural.
6a. After 1 week, do a 10 - 15% water change(make sure you vaccum the gravel).
6b. After week 2, repeat step 6a.. If your filter has a sponge, rinse any debris from it using dechlorinated tap water.
7. For the next 2 weeks, test for amonia every 2 or 3 days, yo should notice it start to drop off. You tank is finishing it cycle.
8. Also during these two weeks, test for nitrite every 2 or 3 days. You should notice it rise and then fall back to zero.
8a. After 1 week, do a 10 - 15% water change (make sure you vaccum the gravel).
8b. After week 2, repeat step 8a. Replace the carbon in your filter with fresh carbon.
9. You are now ready to add your next couple of fish, I'd say you could safely add another 6 fish that will be 3 inches or less in length when fully grown. Remember to try and fill out your schools of fish to a minimum of 3 per species, and maintain proper male-female ratios per species.
10. Begin again at step 1. Repeat the entire process until you have filled your tank to capacity, for a 29 gal., I'd say no more than 25-29 fish that will be less than 3 inches in length when fully grown.
Avoid angel fish as they get entirely too large for the size tank you have (it is a myth that fish will only grow to fit in the tank they are in).
As for your PH. Check the PH of your tap water. If you are on city water, that is most likely the reason for the high PH. There are a couple of reliable chemicals you can use to change your PH. I don't recommend them at this time thought, you need to get the rest of your tank in order.