I have some green scum like material growing on the walls of my freshwater aquairum. Does anyone know the reasons as to why this is happening and what it may be?
2007-05-16 15:12:51 · 12 answers · asked by Mark L 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
It could be algae, but it could also be cyanobacteria - see photo: http://www.aquamax.de/Shop/Artikelbilder/Zusatzbilder/Algen%20im%20Aquarium_Blaualgen%20-%20Cyanobacteria_STUG_cyano1.jpg
As the name implies, this is bacteria, not an algae. You can control both by physical removal (scraping and siphoning out the scrapings immediatly after - don't leave it in the tank to reproduce!) and controlling the nutrients in the tank. The nitrates from fish food and wastes and phosphate (which may be added by your water company if you're on a public source) act as a fertilizer, so partial water changes should be done to keep these as low as possible. If you have plants in the tank, don't add any liquid or tablet fertilizers.
Light can also be a control, by turning these off. Both use photosynthesis, so if you remove the light, they can't live. If what you have is cyanobacteria, you can add aquarium plants and increase the time your light are on. The aquarium plants will compete with the cyanobacteria for food and starve it.
You can also try algae eating fish, snails, or shrimp if this is an algae, but if it's cyanobacteria, not much will eat it.
2007-05-16 18:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honestly, my first suggestion would be to get at least a 20 gallon tank if you can afford it. A 10 gallon tank is very limiting in terms of what fish you can keep in it, and it's more difficult to maintain than a larger tank because the water quality can change faster. Most of the fish you see in pet stores are too big to keep in a 10 gallon tank if you buy them in the recommended numbers for proper school size. Don't ask me why, but many pet stores don't carry aquariums larger than 55 gallons, yet they sell fish that would require a larger aquarium than that. Almost every store I've seen carries oscars which need a minimum of 75 gallons. Anyway, if you have your heart set on a 10 gallon tank, pay attention to catx, especially her article about stocking a 10 gallon tank. She knows what she's talking about. Above all, don't even think about putting goldfish in a tank that small. Those "cute little goldfish" you see in stores will be a foot long as adults and need 20 gallons of water per fish.
2016-05-20 15:59:03 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Algae is your answer, it requires 3 things to survive
Light, Food, Oxygen. Deprive it of any of those and it becomes less of a problem.
Light, most fish tanks will have about 9/12hrs of artificial light by putting in an hours break in the middle it helps lower the amount of algae.
Food, if you plant the tank those plants will compete for the same food again reducing algae.
Oxygen, an airstone or a filter disturbing the surface tension can also cause too much algae.
Depending what your after, however i like to have a good growth of algae on the back glass of my aquarium but tend to stock my tanks with grazers Like platies, Siamese algae eaters, bristle nose cats.
2007-05-16 15:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by andyjh_uk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's algae - no big mystery. If the tank is near a window or if you leave your light on more than 8 hours a day this is the cause. High nitrates or phosphates can also cause algae blooms.
Algae is normal and green is the color that is desirable. Snails will eat algae so will plecos however be wary because the common pleco can get 2 or 3 feet easy. You can also just get an algae scrubber and get it off yourself. Your choice! :)
2007-05-16 15:19:42 · answer #4 · answered by Sage M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the nitrate levels are too high and/or the tank is in direct sunlight. my advice: fix your water and tank situation, or get one of those magnetic glass cleaners. When you do a water change, only change about 10-20%. Also could be normal algae, which can be taken care of by having an algae eater like a pleco, or chinese algae eater. I would suggest the magnetic cleaner for a quick fix. Hope this helps
2007-05-16 17:56:01 · answer #5 · answered by duro 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the starting of algae, you probably keep your lights on too long., you should wipe down the inside of walls periodically, especially if you have no algae eaters in your tank. The warmth of the water, as well as the lights being on too long, also slow circulation along with the other info is probably the problem..Once it starts, and the algae is not cleaned , the growth rate is extremely fast. So first sign of it, get rid of it. Too much will kill your fish.
2007-05-18 17:46:49 · answer #6 · answered by debbie p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have green algae growing and most likely are feeding the fish too much. You will need to get algae eaters and cut back on your feeding.
2007-05-20 04:54:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like algae. Go to your nearest pet store and purchase some bottom feeders - they will eat the algae. Try to reduce the amount of sunlight as well.
2007-05-16 15:25:52 · answer #8 · answered by keli3351 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that's algae and is caused by the light u should avoid having your hood light for more than 8-9 hours. If you want to get rid off algae the best fish are "oto" or "placo"
2007-05-16 15:21:15 · answer #9 · answered by PUFFER MAN 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
is there a light on it if so just keep on the light for 8 to 9 hours and if its still a problem all you need to do is get a algea magnet they work reallly welll
2007-05-16 15:16:54 · answer #10 · answered by ryanderhino 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋