Slimy Tank

[Nick16]

hi, i have a small 39l fry tank and it gets really slimy. like the sides and the airline hosing. its wierd. before i got the tank it had a reptile in it but i cleaned it several times and wiped it with a sponge and jet washed it with water! i have around 8 ramshorns in there and just moved my mts out this morn. i use a fluval 2+ filter in there so it well filtered! why does it get slimy? i have no plants in there as there is no substrate. its just a bare tank, (decoration wise) any help would be useful.

 

[Colin_T]

It is probably a biofilm caused by bacteria in the water. If the tank has lots of fish in and they are fed lots, this would encourage bacteria and their associated biofilms. Do more water changes and wipe the glass down once or twice a week.

 

[sonofdelboy]

hi, i have a small 39l fry tank and it gets really slimy. like the sides and the airline hosing. its wierd. before i got the tank it had a reptile in it but i cleaned it several times and wiped it with a sponge and jet washed it with water! i have around 8 ramshorns in there and just moved my mts out this morn. i use a fluval 2+ filter in there so it well filtered! why does it get slimy? i have no plants in there as there is no substrate. its just a bare tank, (decoration wise) any help would be useful.

hi nick i can help you cut dwn your tank lighting by a hour and do water changes every other day if this does not work you may need to get some green algee remover available at any fish shop costs about £8.50

 

[Nick16]

i have had no fish in it for 2 weeks now and there are only snails as i said, so the lights have only been on max 1 hour a day. thats y im soo confused. !! i want to put my fry int it tonight so i might see how it goes!

 

[Colin_T]

what colour is the glass, is it green or clear?

 

[Nick16]

clear

its just slimy to touch the glass. oh and i do have lots of green spots of algae in my other tank. its just little green dots on the glass. how can i get rid of it? will a bristlenose eat it?

 

[Mr Bliss]

In my experience anything that's been in a tank for a while gets a bit slimy (not visibly, but you can feel it with your hand). I'd be worried if they didn't.

If you're gonna put fry in the tank, I reckon the "slime" is a good thing. Infusoria feed off biofilms, fry eat infusoria, everyone is happy.

edit: snails will eat green spot algae. In my experience bristlenoses are too lazy to scrape it off as long as they have easier-to-eat food available.

 

[Nick16]

what about ottos? will they eat green spot? well the tank is empty decoration wise and has only been filled a month or so, so i am thinking it may be becuase its a newly set up tank.

 

[Colin_T]

The clear slime film that is on the inside of the tank is bacterial biofilm. Basically bacteria have covered the glass and are living all over it. Just use a sponge and wipe it off every few days or whenever you do a water change.

Otocinclus won't normally bother will green spots of algae and don't do well in new tanks. You would be better off trying ramshorn or apple/ mystery snails. These might also help with the biofilm.