Lots of Algae!! Please Help!!!!!

[mistergreen]

ummm. you can set it so the airstone doesn't actually touch the sand?

I know you're new to this but please listen to shari2 unless you want dead fish. Do research on setting up a tank. Read the link provided.

[newshound]

you seem to know nothing about fish keeping and don't want to hear what people who know say.
Do some research.

[Buzzy4p]

Ok guys geez,
im just makeing sure that is the easiest way.

[crazy loaches]

No one has mentioned yet that clowns also need to be in a larger group. They are a schooling species, and 2 fish doesnt equal a school. I can say that the behavior of my group changed even from a group of three going to a group of 6. Its ok to have baby clowns in a small tank if you plan on upgrading soon. A 29g will probably start stunting the fish in under a year though. I know its tough to here things that you dont want... I started out with a 40g (appropriate by Petsmarts species description - but thier description is completely wrong) and was told that wouldnt last for long (no biggie, was already preparing a 75g). But the difficult part was hearing that a 75g was too small. The minimum recomended size for the minium recomended group of clowns (5) would be 6'x2'x2' (180g). It seems like you really like your fish, looking at your sig, so you do really need to consider thier well-being. If you dont see yourself setting up a big tank in a couple years, I would really think about a smaller loach species instead. I ended up buying a 240G for my clowns, since the tank was only $50 more than a 180. But do realize how costly these can be to setup. Just the hardware (tank, lighting, filtration, heaters, stand, canopy, etc.) is going to run over $1500 and substate and co2 system for my plants will add about $700 to that. You could always get used stuff cheaper and go with a more low tech setup that isnt as costly. If you cannot upgrade from the 29G then a species like botia straita (my avatar) is perfect for that size tank (a small group of 5 of course).

I know its tough getting attached to fish and then folks saying you need to get rid of them. But it ultimately is everyones own responsibility to know what there getting before they buy. Unfortunately fish store employees are often not telling you correct info, so species profiles online are a must, and you couldnt have come to a better place for loach info than here at LOL.

As for cycling your tank - I would think amonia by this point should be zero, your nitrites are probably what would be high. The cycle varies with different setups though, just wanted to make sure if your getting test kits to get nitrite. BTW if you have a petsmart locally they will pricematch thier own website. Go to thier website, find thier freshwater master test kit, print it out and take it into the store. Its like half the price that way.

The algea you describe could be diatom algea. This is also common in newly setup tanks and often diminishes once the tank is mature. You reall should break up some of your questions/polls into different threads, just a bit much to put all together.

[shari2]

Its like half the price that way.

Yes, it is. Isn't it funny how retailers provide inaccurate information in their stores, price items on site higher than mail order via internet and have staff that sometimes seem to see fish as more of a 'product' than a living creature? Can you imagine one of the big chains telling a customer buying a cat or dog, "Sorry it's sick. Try this." "Oh, that didn't work? Try that." "Oh, your puppy died? Well, check back in on Tuesday, we have a new order coming in then..." Sheesh!

Always double check the information that a pet store provides (unless you're in Emma's store ) and avoid impulse buying as much as possible. Always quarantine new fish--though we have all likely been guilty of buying that unique and rarely available fish that was an unexpected find.

And yes, I've also suffered from adding new fish too soon without using a qtank because it wasn't up for some reason...and my fish (and me!) paid for it.

im just makeing sure that is the easiest way.

Yanno, Buzzy...if you really do want to let your loaches 'live on' you should consider changing your mindset from what's 'easiest' to what is best.

You don't have to listen to me or anyone else. I am not an 'expert' nor a scientist and do not have all the answers. Neither does anyone else. But there are a lot of experienced people here, and sometimes other's personal experience is worth evaluating. Your attitude, your fish, and your tank are ultimately your decision and you will have to do what works 'best' for you and your fish. You have that right. But to be seeking the 'easiest' way may not help much in the long term. . .

And crazy loaches is right. At this point in time your tank may be in the nitrIte stage, which is not as toxic as an ammonia spike, but can do significant long term damage to fish if not lessened.

Get a test kit (you can use the 5 in 1 Wardel test strips, even). Do small waterchanges when you see elevated nitrite or ammonia levels. They should both be 0. Once you begin to see nitrAte on your test strips your cycle is beginning to be complete. It will continue to 'mature' over time.

WATCH your fish for signs of stress like rapid breathing, red gills, or gasping at the surface. And watch out for ick. Clowns especially are prone to break out in it when stressed. Poor water quality (for which elevated ammonia and nitrite/nitrate levels qualify) is often a cause.

We were all new at this once. And we all made mistakes and still do. It's a constant learning process but gets easier over time.

Good luck. I hope you have many years of learning and enjoyment from your fish.

[Beowulf]

If you had a bigger tank I would say get true SAE as they do a great job on algea or a bushy nose pleco but you are pretty much max stocked as is.

[Buzzy4p]

Thanks for your help every 1. I have been doing water changes on this tank once a week, and i have also been watching out for stress signs like sharri2 said. I Noticed that crazyloachs said that i need do upgrade my tank, and he is right. The prob with my house is that space is limited. The most space that i can get for my house is a 180g. Would that be enough space to support 2 clown loaches. I understand these fish do better in schools, but i just dont have the room. I would like to have 5 loaches, i understand that is best for the loaches, but it is not an option. I also have to consider if i want to do an all loach tank. I really would like too have a few anglefish also. I do not want to harm these fish at all, but the most i would be ablge to get in a 180g is 3. Am i right. I would like 2 have 3-4 Angle fish also in the tank. If i can put 3 loaches in a 180g tank that would be awsome and it would make me very happy. I am new to the fish hobby, so with the anmonia you want to have as little as possiable. Do i need to keep an eye on the ph? I have tested the ph in the tap water and it is about netural, so i figured i would have no problem with the p.h. Also what would be a good fish, that would eat the brown alge in my tank???
Thanks for the time,
Buzzy4p

[shari2]

180g will give plenty of space for clowns and angels. Do you mean 'angelfish' or what is an 'anglefish'?

Angelfish are some of my favorite fish.



You want your ammonia levels to be ZERO. Any ammonia in a tank is a problem.

Neutral pH is fine.

[Buzzy4p]

i meant the fish u have in the pic. Could i go any lover than a 180g tank???

[tosto]

Algae growth requires light, so if you have a piece of glass or plexi under your light source, you can lightly spray paint it black to block out some light.

I have a florescent fixture, so a lower wattage bulb wasn't an option. Spraying the glass allows you to adjust the amount of light going into the tank (start with a light coat. you can always put more on). Also, put the sprayed side up to prevent paint chips from falling into the tank.

That took care of brown algae for me. Hope that helps.

[Beowulf]

i meant the fish u have in the pic. Could i go any lover than a 180g tank???

Depending on how many clowns and angels you are going with you could get a 125g which is nice a long. But size = more room = potential for more fish in the future!!!

[Buzzy4p]

Hi Guys thanks for the help. How many watts is considered as a highly lite tank? I have 2 20w flora glow bulbs for my live plants. tosto said i culd spray the plexi glass black?? Isint brown algae caused by too low of leavales of light? Also i have been running them 10 hours a day. Is that enough for clown loaches???

[Buzzy4p]

any ideas on the last post from me?? is that true?

[crazy loaches]

40W worth of Flora-Glo lighting over a 29g tank is on the low side already. If it had individual polished paraobolic reflectors I might say medium. I am not the expert on algea, especially in a low tech tank. In a high tech tank with hi lighting you need co2 supplimentation and also ferts added usually daily. Low tech is a bit different. Something you may want to consider is Flourish Excel which is a liquid carbon suppliment. It also has the benefit of helping to diminish certain algeas, but I am uncertain which yours is. Like I said already, being a new setup it may be diatom, do a google search and look at the descriptions and see if it sounds like yours. If your tank isnt even cycled yet though I wouldnt worry about the algea. Before your tank stabalizes there are going to be all sorts of things that could happen. Thats one reason that loaches which are more sensative arent recommended until the tank is established.

Once your tank is cycled, no ammonia or nitrite, a complete removal by hand of all algea, and after a couple weeks of regular water changes, if you still have algea problems then is the time to ask.

180g is concidered a good size for clowns, as per http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus if you still havent read thier profile there than do so please before making another post on the forum. It would have already answered alot of your questions and concerns. If you get 180G there is no reason not to meet the recomended minimum requirment of 5-6 clowns. And you should be fine to add other fish as well, even a few larger ones atleast for mid/upper level fish.

[Buzzy4p]

Yep i just read over the form. I was just trying to make sure that is the absloute right info.

Buzzy4p