Algae

[fishnchipsplease]

Hiya all im pretty new to the hobby and was looking for some advice for my tank which is covered in algae. Im doing a fishless cycle and im pretty close to the end so i was wandering can i take all my plastic plants,gravel and ornaments out and give it a good clean and and a full water change

ph7.6
ammonia processing in about 10 hrs
nitrite processing in about 18 hrs
nitrate 80mg/l

 

[freddythefish]

yes but make sure there is some ammonia in the tank after to feed the filters either from a prepared source or from fish that you put in because the new water will (hopefully cos its from your tap) be ammonia free and so the bacteria in the filter wouldn't have food and die...defeating the object of your fishless cycle.

 

[fishnchipsplease]

I think i might do it in three stages 1. take out the plastic plants and ornaments clean them 2.take the gravel out and clean it 3. do a large water change when the tank is cycled and go get my fish. This sound ok

 

[freddythefish]

I would say yes...just make sure its all done quickly 9but with care and attention given to the fish obviously)

Good luck

 

[fishnchipsplease]

I would say yes...just make sure its all done quickly 9but with care and attention given to the fish obviously)

Good luck

I have taken the plastic plants and ornaments out and washed them.should i leave the gravel a couple of days then do it.

 

[freddythefish]

it's up to you really...you could leave it until tomorrow to be on the safe side but theres no reason why you shouldn't do it now.
make sure there is not much water on the stuff when it goes back in the tank because it may have tap water with chlorine in it, on it. add a small amount of dechlorinator to the tank after to be on the safe side

 

[vinylman]

If you swapped your fake plants for hardy, fast-growing real ones, they'd strip a lot of nutrients from the water that encourages algae.

 

[freddythefish]

If you swapped your fake plants for hardy, fast-growing real ones, they'd strip a lot of nutrients from the water that encourages algae.

I have to agree ..this might be a good idea but its up to you what you choose...

 

[redevilman]

If you swapped your fake plants for hardy, fast-growing real ones, they'd strip a lot of nutrients from the water that encourages algae.

can you recommend some plants.Its something i havnt even looked into

 

[vinylman]

If you swapped your fake plants for hardy, fast-growing real ones, they'd strip a lot of nutrients from the water that encourages algae.

can you recommend some plants.Its something i havnt even looked into

Any shop should sell things like Hygrophila, Elodea Densa (VERY fast growing) and Ludwigia Repens. You don't need to spend a fortune on them; my LFS sells them in bunches for a quid each, or ten bunches for £8.50. Put plenty in; they're a handy 'backup filter'. They'll give the fish a sense of security, too. Give them a good rinse/soak in a bucket of tankwater first for a few hours, some plants can carry snails eggs. Not the end of the world if you get some snails in your tank, but some people hate them. Personally, I think they're just as much a part of a waterscape as fish.