Another Newb

[Susie72]

Hello.....been looking for a nice friendly forum and stumbled across this one.

I'm new to the hobby....I set up a 23 litre Fluval Edge about 4 months ago, and I did have 8 male guppies (it just went down to 7). I'm an avid reader and follower of instructions, so I've been quite good at staying on top of water changes, testing for ammonia and doing everything by the book!

Since moving house I've had an algae problem (I'm getting a thin film of green algae over my rocks, gravel and silk plants every 8-9 days), and have been cleaning everything like mad.......then there was an horrific guppy death yesterday. Poor little thing, he was a bit weak and I think a rather hefty water change a week ago may have upped the nitrate levels and pushed him over the edge.

I had my water properly tested by my brilliant LFS tody, and got a clean bill of health (well, nitrates were at the upper limit but they said that was alright) and came away with a proper testing kit, and three freshwater shrimp to help with cleaning duties. I am finding them fascinating to watch and can barely tear myself away from the tank.....

Look forward to asking some typically newb questions in the forum.....

Suze

 

[mattlee]

Hello.....been looking for a nice friendly forum and stumbled across this one.

I'm new to the hobby....I set up a 23 litre Fluval Edge about 4 months ago, and I did have 8 male guppies (it just went down to 7). I'm an avid reader and follower of instructions, so I've been quite good at staying on top of water changes, testing for ammonia and doing everything by the book!

Since moving house I've had an algae problem (I'm getting a thin film of green algae over my rocks, gravel and silk plants every 8-9 days), and have been cleaning everything like mad.......then there was an horrific guppy death yesterday. Poor little thing, he was a bit weak and I think a rather hefty water change a week ago may have upped the nitrate levels and pushed him over the edge.

I had my water properly tested by my brilliant LFS tody, and got a clean bill of health (well, nitrates were at the upper limit but they said that was alright) and came away with a proper testing kit, and three freshwater shrimp to help with cleaning duties. I am finding them fascinating to watch and can barely tear myself away from the tank.....

Look forward to asking some typically newb questions in the forum.....

Suze

Hi Suze and welcome

sorry to hear about your loss of a guppy but we all learn from things like this, hopefully!

i wouldnt worry too much about the nitrate levels in the tank as fish can handle quite large amounts of this its ammonia and nitrite that are the killers even in small amounts. nitrate may even be present in your tap water, its 10ppm in my tap water.
its good to see you are doing the right things with your tank and you have bought a test kit which is invaluable to a running tank.
shrimps are great fun and interesting but dont expect them to clean the tank of algae unless you get a whole tank full.... is the tank in sunlight? as this may be the problem with the algae. if not has the filter got a spray adjuster? maybe the tank isnt getting enough circulation...
dont be affraid to ask away with any questions as there are many good fish keepers on this forum that wont think twice about helping you out no matter how big or small or stupid the problem is. we all start somewhere!
Matt.

p.s. tell us about this brilliant lfs.... where is it? we all need to know the good ones

 

[Susie72]

Yup, that was my first fish death and I didn't like it at all! I felt quite distressed all day, but then I am great big pansy. Hate to see living creatures suffering, and all that.

The LFS did indicate that the shrimp would not eradicate the problem, but that they were keen algae eaters - indeed all they've done since I acclimatised them is climb all over the silk plants and gravel and stuff their faces. Apparently I can have quite a few, as they don't add too much to the load......

You are dead right, the tank is now getting much more natural daylight than it did before we moved (not direct sunlight though), so I guess thats the reason for the algae growth. Is there anything else I can do to minimise it? Apart from put a bag over the tank?

I wondered about circulation too - I've got the filter on maximum flow, so there is as much surface agitation, oxygenation and circulation of water as possible, but maybe its not enough. Can I get something else to add to the circulation?

The LFS? Its Maidenhead Aquatics. I believe they have a main base at Maidenhead (oddly enough), which is in Berkshire in the UK, but they also command a section of our country store near Bordon in Hampshire. I've been there just 4 times, and on every occasion they have been helpful, knowledgeable and interested. Their tanks are immaculate (more than I can say for one of the aquatics stores near me), and the advice they have given me has been far less "woolly" and generic than that I have received from a larger chain store which sells tropical fish. The shop gets extremely busy at weekends, people seem to flock to it.

Today, in fact, the young man who served me relayed many of the "don't's" I have just read in the Beginners Forum.....interesting eh? Including, "don't believe everything you read on the internet".

 

[mattlee]

if the tank cant be moved away from the light then i actually know someone that covers the tank during day time.... if the flow is on full power than the only other thing to do is to add an air stone but its probably not worth it just extra expense... i bet its the light not the flow. also there isnt much spare room in an edge so again wouldnt bother.

maidenhead genarally are good shops i use the one near me often, its good to hear they are offering good advice elsewhere too they can be slightly expensive i find though on some things....

shrimps dont add much of an impact on the bioload so you can ge away with quite a few just dont go overboard and give the fish as much room as posible. they are massive algae eaters but are so small they hardly make a difference but worth having in a tank just for something different, i have shrimp in all of my tanks just to help scavenge and eat any left over food etc

hope your other fish can live in the edge happily, i wouldnt add any more fish as i think with the shrimps and 7 remaining guppys you are pretty much fully stocked. adding too many fish will only cause more problems etc. you are probably aware of this but thought i would mention it....

good luck with the tank and if you cant sort the algae probs then ask in the planted section they will help you out

 

[Susie72]

Thanks! Yes Maidenhead are a bit pricey, I paid a lot for the testing kit. Got £72 worth of master kit for £35 - a bit excessive for 23 litres maybe, but I like to do things properly - even so I could have got a version of it on ebay for about £17. At least I know I've got a genuine kit though huh.

I am indeed aware of the limitations of the Fluval in terms of stocking - will watch very closely. If I continue to do my 20% per week water changes the LFS thought I could afford to replace the deceased guppy, but will see how the water pans out over the next 7 days first. I may go for a couple of endlers....or is that enders, I can't remember

Will be interested to see if the shrimp have much of an impact on the algae. It is a small tank....lol

Thanks again for the welcome and the advice

 

[mattlee]

the API master kits can be bought on ebay for £17 and are genuine, i get all my stuff on there like that unless its urgent.
i really would hold off getting any more fish. there is a guide thats there to try and help with stocking levels that is - 1 inch of adult fish per gallon of water. this is only a guide but it gives an idea of fish levels to add to your tank.
now some fish are messier than others like alot of plecos are known for pooing alot so have a bigger impact on the filters bioload and small tetras have nowhere near as bigger effect. the plec can be say 6 inches and 3 small tetras can equate to 6 inches but the pleco will have a bigger strain on the filter if you like. like i say its just a guide and it kind of gets thrown out of the window when people over filter. i currently use 2 x external filters on my 65 gallon tank that filter 3500 litres an hour, ish, between them so i am getting much much more filtration that the filter sold with the tank so i can up my stocking levels if required.
you have 7 guppys that reach 2 inches i believe when adult sized so you have 14 inches of fish in total + the shrimp. the edge is 23 litres so about 6 gallon ish. so going by the guide you have over 2 x the stocking suggested.... with good water changes and tank husbandry it shouldnt really be a problem but you are potentially overstocked already! we all want as many fish as possible in our tanks and the edge is a very good looking tank but really designed for smaller fish like rasboras, pygmy corydoras, shrimp and smaller species due to its size.
i hope you dont think im being rude or having a go just trying to help and dont believe everything the lfs tell you although the maidenhead you mentioned seem to know their stuff they are there to sell fish and make money... its cruel sometimes but its best to double check before buying certain species first
this is a very good place to get info and peoples opinions before you get what you have set your heart on.

Matt

 

[chrisbassist]

a UV system would help with algae I think, (Ilthough I've got no experience using one) but I'd be really unsure of how to get one on an edge...

 

[mattlee]

a UV system would help with algae I think, (Ilthough I've got no experience using one) but I'd be really unsure of how to get one on an edge...

UV systems are good for algae thats floating in the water not on substrate or wood etc. it has no effect on these as it zaps the particles as they pass through the UV light not while they are stuck to objects. also pretty impossible to fit on an edge too.....

 

[chrisbassist]

Thats what I figured, no way of getting one on an edge (probably possible though)

but surely, if its getting zapped then it won't settle and make a home for itself on objects?

(I'm asking for my sake really, the more I know the easier things get)

 

[mattlee]

Thats what I figured, no way of getting one on an edge (probably possible though)

but surely, if its getting zapped then it won't settle and make a home for itself on objects?

(I'm asking for my sake really, the more I know the easier things get)

some algae is water born and some develops on the substrate/wood etc. green water is a type of algae and a UV would do wonders on this as it stays in the water but algae that forms on items doesnt move, unless you scraped it off and it was sucked into the filter then it would be zapped.
i have a UV that i no longer use and personally see it as a waste of about £85..... fish are safer with UV as it does reduce bugs etc but it can also reduce the fishes immune system as they arent fighting the bugs off if you like. if new fish are introduced carrying bugs then the weaker immune fish will struggle to fight them off.
hope this helps and makes sense

 

[chrisbassist]

cheers