2006-09-26 00:20:24 · 19 answers · asked by david g 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
You may be changing too much water, or changing it too often. Stick with no more then 25% once a week. You can try reducing the amount of light and replacing your bulb (old bulbs produce too much lower spectrum light. You can also switch to bottled spring water in case your own water has phosphates which algae thrives on. Try putting in a hardy plant to out-compete the algae for nutrients. Don't feed your tank for a few days, the fish will digest some of the floating algae.
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2006-09-26 04:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I noticed that everyone was saying light. I disagree. Light can be one source of algae growth. Since it is happening 2 days AFTER you change your water I suspect it is one of two things. 1. You are changing too much water at once and your tank is stabilizing itself by the algae bloom. Or 2. You are cleaning your tank too much and again it is stabilizing itself.
Not to get to technical on you but there are bacterias called Nitrosoma and Nitrobacter that breaks down the ammonia (fish urine) produced in your tank. When you clean your tank and do a water change you are removing lots of this bacteria. So the ammonia builds up and your tank stabilizes itself by getting an algae bloom. Shutting off the light will work. But your best bet in my opinion would be to change 20% of the water once a month and then change the filters once a month. The best timing on these two things is 2 weeks apart. First of the month the water, the 3rd week the filter. This will help keep the tank stable.
But for an accurate answer, take a water sample to your local pet store and get it tested for ammonia, nitrite, Nitrate, and PH.
Good luck.
2006-09-26 14:19:16 · answer #2 · answered by beester15 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
do you have adequate filtration in there? Sounds like a lack of oxygen to me I had this problem when I had a plastic tank since then I've gone for a glass tank with filtration and do regular water changes(10% per fortnight) you need to use a water condtioner eg: Aquasafe that declorinates the water and makes it safe for your fish.It's taken me a while to suss out how to keep the water clear but get a decent tank do regular maintenance and you should sort it, you'll get some good answers on here i've learn't lots on here by asking questions and it's really helped now my fish are happy clean and healthy.
2006-09-27 12:35:00 · answer #3 · answered by jlb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are so many reasons you really need to go on to one of the dedicated fish sites I highly recommend thinkfish.com It is great for beginners and even has a section called creator so you really dont make too many mistakes. As you dont say how big your tank is I'd steer clear of plecs unless you can be sure it's a dwarf. My common plec is in a five foot tank and is over 20cms and still growing. I often hear people recommend them even in fish shops but nobody ever says how big they grow. You could also buy green-away which is a treatment for algea bloom
2006-09-26 17:57:39 · answer #4 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a tropical tank and it is set up properly with real plants and the correct amount of fish, including loaches and fish that clean up then you shouldnt change water at all only top up when necessary. Keep out of sunlight and get an aquatic frog.
2006-09-28 18:24:51 · answer #5 · answered by Janmac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tank in sunlight promotes algae. Also if you feed the fish too much then that can cause it too.
Buy a Stone Loach, they feed on it so are great. Just be careful to feed then algae tablets until it builds up naturally.
2006-09-26 07:31:57 · answer #6 · answered by Valiant 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is Algae bloom. Never change all the water and you should try some live plants in your tank. It will help balance the healthy bacteria. There are chemicals to adjust healthy bacteria quickly. Try covering the tank where the sun hits, it will give some relief also.
2006-09-26 08:43:46 · answer #7 · answered by Bird J 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are using the wrong fish food after you clean the tank.
Wait several hours, have a party, get drunk - hey presto crisp crumbs and vodka and coke left overs so your fish can join in the party too!!!
Works a treat if you can place the tank on top of the speakers - Watch em dance baby!
2006-09-26 07:42:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Two things come to mind.
1. Do you you have a light in your tank, check what type of a light it is. It may be one of those photo(something or other) lights. They promote plant growth and could be causing the algae to grow.
or
2. Is your tank in direct sunlight. The sun promotes the growth of the algae.
2006-09-26 07:30:17 · answer #9 · answered by MissBehave 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's because it is hit by the sun.. and that makes the growth of algae faster..
you should give it a roof to cover the sun's heat..
2006-09-26 12:53:43 · answer #10 · answered by matt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋