Relitively New.....

[ALEXF]

Hello,

My name is Alex. I just found this site because i was looking for some awnsers. I currently have a ten gallon tank with 4 danios, a small Angel, and an african dwarf frog. I currently run a whisper 10 gallon filter, with a nano 3 gallon filter for addtional filtering. My first question is that the gravel have started to turn brown (originally black) and so have the fake plants. The rock ornament in the center is turning darker and has a green patch on it. I am assuming that this is all algae growth and would like to know how to clean it off because its not very attriactive looking??? Also i wanted to know what your thoughts were on the necessity of a bubbler? Do i need one? If someone could help me with these problems i have some more questions about the 55 gallon i am about to upgrade too. (i should have started bigger )

 

[xcharmanderx421]

Hello,

My name is Alex. I just found this site because i was looking for some awnsers. I currently have a ten gallon tank with 4 danios, a small Angel, and an african dwarf frog. I currently run a whisper 10 gallon filter, with a nano 3 gallon filter for addtional filtering. My first question is that the gravel have started to turn brown (originally black) and so have the fake plants. The rock ornament in the center is turning darker and has a green patch on it. I am assuming that this is all algae growth and would like to know how to clean it off because its not very attriactive looking??? Also i wanted to know what your thoughts were on the necessity of a bubbler? Do i need one? If someone could help me with these problems i have some more questions about the 55 gallon i am about to upgrade too. (i should have started bigger )

for practically all algae you scrub it off. there are some fish that eat algae like plecos, but they also make more mess in return. best thing to do is scrub away.

the rocks and fake plants are easy to scrub off, the gravel might take a bit more work, but mostly scrub scrub scrub. Or you can try one of those Algae killing chemicals which i'm sure someone else has a better idea of.

you don't need a bubbler but it does have some benefits like moving the water around more oxygenating it.

 

[ALEXF]

Hello,

My name is Alex. I just found this site because i was looking for some awnsers. I currently have a ten gallon tank with 4 danios, a small Angel, and an african dwarf frog. I currently run a whisper 10 gallon filter, with a nano 3 gallon filter for addtional filtering. My first question is that the gravel have started to turn brown (originally black) and so have the fake plants. The rock ornament in the center is turning darker and has a green patch on it. I am assuming that this is all algae growth and would like to know how to clean it off because its not very attriactive looking??? Also i wanted to know what your thoughts were on the necessity of a bubbler? Do i need one? If someone could help me with these problems i have some more questions about the 55 gallon i am about to upgrade too. (i should have started bigger )

for practically all algae you scrub it off. there are some fish that eat algae like plecos, but they also make more mess in return. best thing to do is scrub away.

the rocks and fake plants are easy to scrub off, the gravel might take a bit more work, but mostly scrub scrub scrub. Or you can try one of those Algae killing chemicals which i'm sure someone else has a better idea of.

you don't need a bubbler but it does have some benefits like moving the water around more oxygenating it.

ok but does what i am describing sound like algae? and also with 2 hob filters 10 gallon and 3 gallon ... those move the water so do i need it for my ten gallon tank?

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Yes it does sound like algae. Good old fashioned scrubbing is the best to get rid of it, and maybe invest in a gravel vac to help keep the gravel clean in the future. I'd maybe leave your stocking as it is for awhile and let your tank get settled. Deal with the algae, invest in a liquid test kit to see how your water stats are and make sure everything is cycled fully. That's the important thing to worry about right now. As for the airstone, your filters should move the water enough for the fish. Good luck!

 

[waterdrop]

Totally agree. Sounds like algae. Scrub or choose a different color gravel. Invest in a liquid test kit, test your water and read the beginner topics (yes lots of them) pinned at the top of this forum - will be the best thing you could do for your fish if you don't already know the info!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ALEXF]

thank you for the help. I went to petland and spoke to their aquarium specialist (actually is a specialist). and he said its either algae or the beginning of bacteria. he recommended adding aquarium salt to see if it would kill it off and to strengthen the fish as well as scrubbing the decor during my next water change. i do have a gravel vac and it actually picked up some of the brown stuff when i changed water. again thank you for your help.

 

[backtotropical]

I went to petland and spoke to their aquarium specialist (actually is a specialist). he recommended adding aquarium salt to see if it would kill it off and to strengthen the fish as well as scrubbing the decor during my next water change.

Sorry Alex, thats not the words of a specialist. Your fish won't appreciate you adding salt to the tank, and to my knowledge, salt will do nothing towards killing the algae, and it certainly doesn't strengthen your fish, in fact it may make them ill.

Unfortunately, bad advice like this is all too common from LFSs and i'd recommend that you should always check on here before following their advice.

Hope this helps you mate.

BTT

 

[ALEXF]

I went to petland and spoke to their aquarium specialist (actually is a specialist). he recommended adding aquarium salt to see if it would kill it off and to strengthen the fish as well as scrubbing the decor during my next water change.

Sorry Alex, thats not the words of a specialist. Your fish won't appreciate you adding salt to the tank, and to my knowledge, salt will do nothing towards killing the algae, and it certainly doesn't strengthen your fish, in fact it may make them ill.

Unfortunately, bad advice like this is all too common from LFSs and i'd recommend that you should always check on here before following their advice.

Hope this helps you mate.

BTT

then why do they sale aquarium salt?

 

[ALEXF]

http/www.aquariumfishwonders.com/aquariu...ater-aquariums/


http/www.aquariumfish.net/information/aquarium_salt.htm


http/www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/...er_Aquarium.htm


after reading different places it says some spieces are salt sensative where as others would benefit.

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

They sell salt because it is an easy sale to convince a newbie that their fish 'need' it. They don't for the most part, it should only be used in brackish aquariums or some will say as a tonic when treating sick fish (tho I have never done this, only read about it). Any which way you shake it they are only out to make money off you. Trust advice from the real experts, the people on here who raise fish as a hobby and have love for it. They might debate but they arn't going to make money off you.

 

[OldMan47]

If you do not have real plants, cut your lighting down to only when you are home to watch the fish. Normal room light is plenty for most fish to be happy but they can be hard to see without an aquarium light. You will get almost no algae unless there is excess light and exce3ss nutrients in the water. If cutting the light back doesn't slow it down much, try feeding the fish half of whatever you have been feeding. Chances are that part of the algae problem is overfeeding. The extra food will decompose in the tank and feed the algae.