not sure?

[ckcmann]

I am really new to this hobby and the only outlet I have to find any info out is through the internet and this fantastic message board .  I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 platys and 3 red-eyed tetras.  They have been in the tank for about 8 days now.  Yesterday I did a 10% water change, and today I noticed that on the gravel at the bottom of the tank is some fuzzy stuff.  Is this just excess food that is decomposing or is it some algae, or what?  This is the biggest tank I've had and I'm not really sure what it is that's on the gravel.  Should I look into a bottom feeder, and if so what would go well with the fish I have.  My tank seems to stay at a constant 78 degrees, with a PH of about 7.0.  Or should I just invest in a vaccum?  Thanks for any responses that you might have!

Oh yeah!  The fuzzy stuff is white, if that helps.

Thanks!!!! *thumbsupsmiley*

 

[dattack]

That fuzzy thing might be either a fungal/bacterial growth.  Possibly it's decaying food or a decaying fish.  Just take your hands and pick it out.

 

[equinom]

I think the vac would be a good idea.  For a 10 gal you wont need a huge Python, you can probably pick a a decent one for under $15.... unless you buy it from Colesea's store!

 

[dattack]

I just get any hosing at Home Depot (vinyl clear) for about $5 and start vacuuming.

 

[tabby360]

mine isnt a python but i go it at petsmart for 6$. It works great fo my 10 gallon.

 

[ckcmann]

Any suggestions on a great bottom feeder? :

 

[equinom]

Are you near any law schools?  Full of scum sucking bottom feeders.  and some of them may have some fish....

 

[dattack]

Some loaches(yoyo or clown), small plecos, corys will do a good job.  Even some of those wood shrimps or amano shrimps like detritus.

 

[luvfishies]

Clown and yoyo loaches get too big and active for a 20g. I'd stick with corycats, at least 3 as they like the company of their own kind.

Now is not a good time to add them though as your tank is still cycling. Don't feed as much, do a gravel vac to get the excess out, and see if that gets rid of the furry stuff.

 

[Troy-N-Eli]

As far as bottom feeders, we recommend the corys as well.  Not only are they good bottom feeders, but they are as entertaining as anything else in our tanks.  Plus, they're just so darned cute.

 

[ckcmann]

I think that I will most likley go with some bronze cories but I do want to make sure my tank is cycled first since I am still concerned for the fish I have in there now.  I don't want to shoot my levels back up higher.  Thanks for all the replies!
*celebratesmiley*

 

[Jay S.]

[quote author=ckcmann link=board=beginner&num=1023584195&start=0#10 date=06/09/02 at 16:40:55]
I think that I will most likley go with some bronze cories but I do want to make sure my tank is cycled first since I am still concerned for the fish I have in there now.  I don't want to shoot my levels back up higher.  Thanks for all the replies!
*celebratesmiley*
[/quote]

Your on the right track ckc don't add any more fish for a month.

 

[WonderFish]

Just a thought, but could it be coming from your tap water?  I'm not sure if this is possible, but you never know.      

 

[banert]

If this fuzzy stuff is White and looks like cotton candy, I have the same thing.  It appeared after the use of an algae destroyer.  I let it go for some time and it did not seem to take over the tank.  What it does however is trap all debris on right on the bed of the tank, making it all VERY visible.  This stuff is to fine to pick out of the tank.  What little bit I did get out, rolls up between my fingers almost like a spiders web.  So I broke the tank down, wash everything except the bio wheel.  I used 1/2 of the old water.  The tank looked great for about 3 days, and the fuzzy stuff is back.  I have no other problems, the chem. is fine and the fish are loving life.  So I am going to assume that this "thing" is a plant.  So I am going to try putting in some greenery to give it some competition.  We will see.

 

[WonderFish]

I agree that you shouldn't add any fish for awhile.  A good month.  Keep what's going good now to stay that way.

Any of the small loaches make great inhabitants.  Kuhli loaches, dwarf loaches, etc.  Then there's otto cats (otocinclis, I know that's spelled wrong), which will eat algae.  And of course the all time favorite, cory cats.  Stay away from the large catfish however, your aquarium is a bit small.  And what are usually sold under the name Chinese algae eater.  These fish grow larger and then don't eat algae any more but will feed off of the sides of other fish.

I agree that the white stuff is probably a fungus.  Just suck it up.  I got a gravel cleaner from Wal-Mart for $5 or less. Hoses work, but don't often have the larger end so you can clean more gravel and get more debris out of it.

 

[colesea]

White fuzzy stuff on the bottom of the tank is probably food that the fish haven't eaten. Bottom feeders are a start, but the problem really lies in how much food you are feeding. Cut back on the amount of food. Whatever amount you are feeding right now, halve it. If you are seeing food sink to the bottom of your tank uneaten, you are feeding too much food.  If it looks like a blizzard in your tank at chow time-that is way way too much food going into your tank, and even then a bottom fish won't help you.

If you are feeding the right amount of food, all your fish should scarf it up before it hits the bottom, meaning you'll have no white fuzzy stuff, nor any need for a bottom feeder such as cories. If you are doing your gravel-vaccing at least twice a month with your water changes, that should as well keep the white fuzzy stuff away.  Gravel vacs where I used to work run from $7-$10 depending on brand and bore size, but you can go to Home Depot or Lowes or whatever other major home and garden store you have, buy 2 feet of 4" diamerter airline hose and use that for a gravel-vac/siphon , and it would be much cheaper.
~~Colesea

 

[banert]

Thanks for you input, however, I really do not think that over feeding is the issue here.  What little food I put in the tank, and I do mean 'little', get scarfed up by the 4 tetras in this 12 gallon tank long before it has a chance to make it to the bottom.  As I said earlier, the tank was broken down to nothing.  It was compleatly cleaned out.  New gravel, the whole bit.  The only thing that was left over was half the water and the bio wheel.  This suff was back in just over 2 days.  I does not come up with a vac, so cleaning it is tough.  I do plan on cutting back on the food and light.  We will see.