Tank Problems

[Len90]

Okay, I have had a 10 gallon tank for a little over two years now. Recently, I have experienced an algae problem where there is a little white on the gravel. I have also had some problems with my nitrate level. Finally, my tank has been experiencing death, which I think could be caused by this.
My levels are:
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: between 0 - .5 ppm
Nitrate: was 200ppm now it is going between 80 - 160 ppm
pH: 6.3

I currently have 3 mollies, a lampeye/redeye tetra, and a female Platty. I treat my tank with Stress Coat, Stress Zyme, Cycle, and Aqua Plus weekly as per directions on the bottles. I also have the aquarium salt which I do as directed.

I have already done a complete vaccuming of my tank, a seperate water change, and purchased Easy Balance.

Is there anything else I can do to lower my nitrates and eliminate my alge growth. Secondly, would a fix of this end my problem of death in the tank?

Thanks in advance,
Len

 

[diademhill]

I currently have 3 mollies, a lampeye/redeye tetra, and a female Platty. I treat my tank with Stress Coat, Stress Zyme, Cycle, and Aqua Plus weekly as per directions on the bottles. I also have the aquarium salt which I do as directed.

I have already done a complete vaccuming of my tank, a seperate water change, and purchased Easy Balance.

You are adding two dechlorinators & two lots of "bacterial help (waste of money IMO)" each week and not doing enough water changes.
Don't do anything sudden & DON'T use the easybalance.

Instead start doing 1 gallon changes every other day & only add EITHER aquaplus OR stresscoat at the dose for one gallon to the new water. Repeat this every other day for two weeks. Don't add any more salt.
From then on change 1.5 gallons per week, using a gravel cleaner to siphon, again just using the dechlorinator dose for the new water.

 

[GuppiesRGr8]

COOL NICE FISH


JIMMY

 

[Len90]

I currently have 3 mollies, a lampeye/redeye tetra, and a female Platty. I treat my tank with Stress Coat, Stress Zyme, Cycle, and Aqua Plus weekly as per directions on the bottles. I also have the aquarium salt which I do as directed.

I have already done a complete vaccuming of my tank, a seperate water change, and purchased Easy Balance.

You are adding two dechlorinators & two lots of "bacterial help (waste of money IMO)" each week and not doing enough water changes.
Don't do anything sudden & DON'T use the easybalance.

Instead start doing 1 gallon changes every other day & only add EITHER aquaplus OR stresscoat at the dose for one gallon to the new water. Repeat this every other day for two weeks. Don't add any more salt.
From then on change 1.5 gallons per week, using a gravel cleaner to siphon, again just using the dechlorinator dose for the new water.

Thanks so much for the help. I will return the Easy Balance immediately. It is scary to see how the pet store misleads you.

 

[Torrean]

Kinda repeating what's been said but the stress zyme and the cycle should not be needed. Your tank should be well cycled. Just do weekly 10% or biweekly 20% water changes adding the appropriate dose of dechlorinator and your tank should be fine =).

You said you had white on your gravel and that you thought this was algae? I think that it's just the coloration coming off of the gravel. Pull out a piece of gravel and see if you can rub the white off. If the white stays then it's just loss of coloration due to cheapo multi colored aquarium gravel... nothing to worry about just a bit of an eye sore. I doubt it's algae as I haven't heard of a white algae but who knows...

 

[Len90]

Kinda repeating what's been said but the stress zyme and the cycle should not be needed. Your tank should be well cycled. Just do weekly 10% or biweekly 20% water changes adding the appropriate dose of dechlorinator and your tank should be fine =).

You said you had white on your gravel and that you thought this was algae? I think that it's just the coloration coming off of the gravel. Pull out a piece of gravel and see if you can rub the white off. If the white stays then it's just loss of coloration due to cheapo multi colored aquarium gravel... nothing to worry about just a bit of an eye sore. I doubt it's algae as I haven't heard of a white algae but who knows...

Thanks for the advice. As for the white, let me show what I mean. I found some in a plant. I don't think this could be from the gravel. However, I did find that enough of it is fading which I really couldn't care about. This I do though.

 

[GuppiesRGr8]

sorry everyone for using capitles

 

[mark.w.jones]

Not sure about your white algae. I would highly recommend getting some fast growing real plants to help deal with your nitrate and algae problems. Things like hornwort, thai onion plants and straight vallis are all quick growing and relatively hardy. Just note that the latin name for straight vallis is (Vallisneria spiralis) but that the less hardy spiral / twisted vallis has the latin name (Vallisneria tortifolia). Be carful not to muddle up when ordering. There is also a link in my sig. to beginners plants. Don't be scared of putting them in. Experiment a bit. The only cost a few quid and make a huge positive difference to the look as well at the water quality of your tank.

 

[Len90]

Not sure about your white algae. I would highly recommend getting some fast growing real plants to help deal with your nitrate and algae problems. Things like hornwort, thai onion plants and straight vallis are all quick growing and relatively hardy. Just note that the latin name for straight vallis is (Vallisneria spiralis) but that the less hardy spiral / twisted vallis has the latin name (Vallisneria tortifolia). Be carful not to muddle up when ordering. There is also a link in my sig. to beginners plants. Don't be scared of putting them in. Experiment a bit. The only cost a few quid and make a huge positive difference to the look as well at the water quality of your tank.

I was at the store today to pick up some pH up by API, and I did look into some live plants. The person at the store claimed they were messy and clouded the water. Is this true, or was i told false information?

 

[Torrean]

PH up is not good. It's better to have a stable PH than a PH that jumps around all the time. Most fish are ok in the 6-8 PH range but it's far better to pick fish that are well suited to your water than to change your water for your fish.

Live plants are a bit messy but I think they are worth the extra effort. Trimming leaves adding fertilizers changing lighting and adding a co2 thing

 

[mark.w.jones]

The main problems you get are with plants are with ones like Cambomba species with very fine, thin, grass like leaves. These are prone to falling apart easily and clogging your filter, especially if the conditions are not good. As far as clouding up your water, what a load of rubbish. As long as you have broad leaved easy to grow plants like the ones in my signature you won't get any problems at all. They will just need a trim every so often to stop them blocking off light to your tank.