Random Questions

[littletankbigworld]

1.) This may seem silly, but is there a way I can make wafers out of regular flake food? Flake food makes my tank so dirty, but I don't want to waste 2 cans of it. I prefer the wafers of flake food.

2.) The fake plants in my tank are disgusting. There are covered with brown algae. I have 4 otos, which are not helping that much. They do a great job keeping algae off the side of the tank, but not the plants. (I feed them wafers and pellets, too; don't worry!) I rinse the plants and they stay clean for a little while, but then the algae grows back quickly. What should I do? I might get 4 more otos, but this would not be anytime soon, as we have been snowed in for a week.

3.) Are tetramin bloodworms a good brand? I've heard people have had issues with tubiflex and I'd love to buy some worms as soon as the snow clears a bit.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Another question: Where do you dump your test kit chemicals after you are done checking the water? I'm always afraid of dumping them down the drain.

 

[kezdoc09]

how long do you leave your lights on for?

 

[bassbonediva]

1) It really sounds like you're overfeeding by a lot. If you're feeding only as much as your fish will eat in a few minutes, you shouldn't have leftover food all over your tank. Your cory and your USD cat should be helping to keep some of the excess food cleaned up off the bottom of your tank. If they can't keep up with it, you're feeding too much.

2) I agree with kezdoc...how long are you leaving your lights on? I used to get that algae on my plants because I was leaving my lights on for too long (and there was too much direct sunlight getting to the tank). I wouldn't get any more otos, honestly. Four is plenty for that tank, and if you're having to supplement the four you have, you don't have the established food for four more.

3) I haven't heard anything bad about Tetramin bloodworms, but I feed frozen, so I don't know much about freeze-dried. I've found frozen easier to feed because all you have to do is thaw them, not reconstitute them like the freeze-dried.

4) Why would there be a problem dumping your used test water down the drain? As far as I know, it doesn't harm anything. I dump mine down the drain and haven't had a problem. If you're worried about it, find a patch of dirt outside and dump in there. *shrug*

 

[Newman]

as far as tubifex, just buy them Freeze-dried and you wont have a problem. Omega One makes really good tubifex cubes: YouTube - Feeding Tubifex to 40 Gal
If you need live worms buy California Blackworms (and breed your own if possible) and never buy live tubifex because of disease reasons.

 

[littletankbigworld]

1.) My dad overfeeds my fish. I can't tell him not to, or he'd have a cow.
2.) Depends. 5 to 8 hours. I think it's because I barely have 1/2 watt per gallon and no live plants except for a pitiful sword.
3.) Well, it has toxic chemicals in it. Ethyl alcohol and such are used to test water. In chemistry, we dump our chemicals down the drain only because there is a special bin under the school that collects the chemicals. Some chemicals we use in chemistry are in the liquid test kits. I would think that they would be harmful to the environment. They wouldn't build a special chemical-collecting bin for nothing...

 

[Sharkee]

Just an idea for your dad. Seems like he kind of cares for your fishes otherwise he wouldn't feed them. Start freaking him out about ammonia and nitrate then let him do the param testings and see where your tank stands. don't mention anything about overfeeding. let him figure out that overfeeding causes bad things but "guide him". I don't know if that would work for your dad but since you can't tell him directly, a bit of psychology might help.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Haha. That wouldn't work. We don't speak to each other. Ha.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Besides, I hid the food so it doesn't happen anymore. But I still have algae!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My tank is disgusting and my mom might not even let me get a new bulb because she never looks at the tank and thinks everything is fine.

 

[Sharkee]

are you going for higher wattage? It's a good thing your mom won't let you. Brighter lights might make your algae problem worse. Stabilize your tank first. *SUPERSMIL

 

[littletankbigworld]

I'm going with higher wattage...anywhere form 1 wpg to 2 wpg with CO2 injection, so that my plants can out-compete the algae. I have no idea how to stabilize it first!!!!!1

 

[Sharkee]

the usual water change, clean your gravel and also your ornaments, just make sure you clean them with your old tank water.

Just to confirm, you have a test kit right? With your algae, you may have something out of whack in there.

 

[littletankbigworld]

I clean everything, but a couple days later, my tank is infested again.
I do have a test kit. Everything is normal. My gH is 4 and my pH is 8 because I use tap water.