Is this safe

[jerseyvtr]

I currently only have a group of neons in my tank and some fake plants and decorative pots. the gravel has started to go brown with algea is it safe if i remove all the water, half into a bucket with the fish and the other half in another bucket clean the gravel with the tank water in the fish less bucket then add back the tank water less say 25% and add fresh de-chlorinated water.

Any comments will be useful

also if you were to go and buy new fake plants of tank decorations how would you treat them before going in the tank with the fish cheers

 

[sylvia]

Deffinately don't clean the gravel... this will kill off many of the beneficial bacteria in your gravel. The water you can replace (always with dechlorinated water) as the bacteria don't live there but your gravel and filter media should not be cleaned eccessively. You should, however, vacuum sectiones of your gravel with each partial water change and you can, if absolutely necessary, change SOME of your filter media at a time. NEVER change all of it or you will cause a re-cycle.

BTW, is your tank cycled? Algae grows if there are excessive amounts of nutrients in the water (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate etc.) .

When I get fake (not plastic usualy but silk - they look more realistic and my pearls don't injure themselves on them), I rinse them in hot tap water and then put them in the tank. NEVER use soap to clean them but always rinse them off with plain tap water. I don't know how safe using hot water on plastic is though

 

[jerseyvtr]

yeah my tank is cycled and reading are spot on.

i think it might be the sunlight hitting it through the window so i am gonna move it and see

yeah i only buy silk plants

thanks for your help appreciate it

 

[Kerryk]

Algae also grows when you leave your tank light on for long periods of time. Don't leave your tank light on for more than 8 hours a day unless you have a planted tank, then it depends on how many plants you have Make sure the tank isn't receiving too much ambient light from a window.

As a general rule of thumb...if it's brown...not enough light, if it's green too much light, and if it's cloudy then it's water perameters

 

[kev_kb]

Brown algae is common on new tanks, or it can be a sign or over feeding. Buy yourself a trio of Otos if you have room for them.

 

[Fish Buddy]

Why not get a few otocinclus'? They stay small (around 1") and do an amazing job at cleaning algea. or you could try to reduce the nitrate levels in your tank by feeding less or doing water changes.


Edit: haha Kev, you had the same idea as me only i second earlier!!

 

[jerseyvtr]

i think i may be feeding two much as well

thanks all much help