There are green moldy looking patches, but i don't know where they came from. and i think it probably effects my fishes, and i really need help on how to get rid of it
2006-07-02 22:05:40 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
it's algae, you haven't kept your tank clean
2006-07-02 22:08:51 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa D 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's probably algae, and harmless to your fish (unless of course your water turns totally green like pea soup - then it's dangerous.) Get an algae pad from a fish shop and wipe it carefully off the glass- and you'll probably need to do this often in hot weather. If you keep tropical fish I wouldn't recommend changing all the water like some answers say - that could upset your water balance and stress the fish a lot more than a bit of algae!
A 10% to 30% water change every week doesn't hurt though.
Is your tank in sunlight? This will make algae growth worse.
You can get chemical stuff in fish shops that you add to the water to get rid of algae - but make sure this isn't harmful to any of your fish first!
Getting fish that eat the algae is a good idea, but don't get a Plec as they get lazy once they grow and create more mess than they clean up! Your local fish centre should know whats the best type of algae eater for your tank if you ask someone there.
I had a big problem with a hairy black algae all over everything in my tropical tank, though ever since I put Golden Apple Snails in there they have polished off the lot.
Wouldn't recommend these snails if you DONT have any of the following: mature tank water between 19 Centigrade to 26 centigrade, good filtration or a decent size tank (they create a bit of mess! XD)
And they need a lot of supplement food too besides algae - I've got a troop of 8 and they eat A LOT of algae pellets! XD
2006-07-03 00:42:38 · answer #2 · answered by badgerbadger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ignore others who say clean the water unless its a cold water fish tank... If its tropical fish all you need to do is clean the glass, you can get a glass cleaner that has a magent either side which cleans the glass or just scrape it off. To keep algae at bay just get a pleco (name of a cat fish) They clean the glass by sucking it which removes algae. Algae is caused by the amount of time the light for the tank is left on, also is your tank in direct sunlight?? if so, move it cos its not good for the tank or the fish ie, temperature changes and algae
2006-07-03 03:28:49 · answer #3 · answered by rachel c 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Algae. Reduce the amount of time per day that lights are on, buy an algae pad from a pet ship and get scrubbing! Change 30% of the water after you have scrubbed. The algae will come back, but it will take a while. Light makes it grow faster. Also, get some algae eaters in the tank. Avoid plecostomus unless you have a massive tank, but ancistrus catfish or smiliar suckermouths will help keep on top of it.
2006-07-02 22:18:48 · answer #4 · answered by big_fat_goth 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi
This green stuff sounds like algae. This is common in most fish tanks. I once had this we went to the local fish store and they said to put a either a speicial type of fish that actually eat the algae or by a water snail that sticks to the side of the tank and moves arounnd while doing so it eats the algae of the side. we also once got this speical pump that is not electric but if you start pumping it manualy then it starts to go by itself anyway if you put the end pointing to the algae it sucks it straight of.
Luke P.S i like the question mostly because i an answer it easily but i still like the question
2006-07-05 05:27:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it may be algae. You can actually buy fish that feed off this algae. THe best fish are probably a type of Catfish (or suckerfish). However this only works if you have a trpoical aquarium as opposed to a fresh water tank.
2006-07-02 22:08:24 · answer #6 · answered by Bob 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I scrape the front pane clear of algae, but leave the rest. Green algae east nitrogen that the fish excretes and helps to oxygenate the water, think of it as an aquatic plant. Plus my goldfish eats it and it is live food, healthier than just a plain dried diet.
Brown algae is different and you'd want to scrape that off straight away.
2006-07-03 01:29:11 · answer #7 · answered by sarah c 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've tried putting a suckerfish into the tank but the worst thing that happent was that it suck off a few of my Golden fish's eyes... sound horrible but its true... There are a few things you can do now.. 1st... try to avoid sun light as algae only grows under sunlight... 2nd wash your fish tank once a week, so that the water would be clean.. but... dont wash the tank to often.. otherwise the fishes cant adapt to the water and die....
2006-07-02 22:18:17 · answer #8 · answered by Day WanDer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its Algae. You can buy a cheap Glass Scraper from an Aquatic Shop to get rid of it - scrape as required! The Algae is worse if your tank is in Sunlight
2006-07-02 22:08:24 · answer #9 · answered by Ian L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it looks like mould it probably is...and yes if you have delicate tropical fish it will affect them.
The best thing to do is take a picture of the spot (if you have a camera phone that will be easy) and show it to your local fish store guy - he will probably be able to identify what it is and suggest a treatment that you can add to the water without too much disruption to your fish.
2006-07-02 22:13:03 · answer #10 · answered by K. N 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Algae - the water in the tank needs changing and the algae removed.
2006-07-02 22:11:35 · answer #11 · answered by Boris 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋