Filter For My Son's Tank

[brads]

HI, My son got a fluval uno 500 starter kit for christmas. But now I have to do water changes every three days beacause the water is always going green. I have changed the filter media (foam pad) but still the same thing is happening. He has four gold fish, no real plants. Also he has blue and green gravel which is a nightmare to keep clean. I'm going to change the gravel for a more natural one. What filter should I get for this tank???
Please help

Cheers Brads

 

[lym]

Might be down to it being overstocked. The tank is way too small for goldfish, those goldfish need a 40 gallon tank. Your tank is only 9 gallons.

 

[celaeno]

yes, your tank is WAY overstocked. how are the fish able to turn around in there? anyway, for information on green water and possible solutions, please visit the 'green water' section of my website. (i don't recommend the willow tree method.)

 

[gpgscott]

yes, your tank is WAY overstocked. how are the fish able to turn around in there? anyway, for information on green water and possible solutions, please visit the 'green water' section of my website. (i don't recommend the willow tree method.)

Green water is caused by single cell aglae, it is too small to be filtered out unless you have a filter capable of filtering 1 micron. You will not have a green algae 'bloom' unless there is significent dissolved organic material in your water caused by overstocking, overfeeding, inappropriate maintanenance, non cycled aquarium etc.... To correct you need a cycled environment that is properly stocked and maintained, you probably need to rehome some fish and examine your feeding and maintenance. Good Luck. Scott

 

[vinylman]

HI, My son got a fluval uno 500 starter kit for christmas. But now I have to do water changes every three days beacause the water is always going green. I have changed the filter media (foam pad) but still the same thing is happening. He has four gold fish, no real plants. Also he has blue and green gravel which is a nightmare to keep clean. I'm going to change the gravel for a more natural one. What filter should I get for this tank???
Please help

Cheers Brads

You don't need to change the foam filter; just squeeze it out in a bucket of tank water. Changing the foam will mean you're throwing away the beneficial bacteria that every tank needs.