Didymo Rock Snot, About To Give Up

[swiss584]

hmmm "heres the algea that fell from the filter oh no its going to grow there" we heres a novel idea why not remove it rarther than watching it grow, take the plants out was them in old water

if it fell from the filter sounds like you have a very dirty filter and some mega maintenance is needed

i do take the plants out and clean them, im just saying everything gets taken over anyways, its futile seemingly. Im not overfeeding, 3 times a day, a small amt of flakes and like 4-5 little mini pellets on 1 or 2 of the feedings, and usually most of the food is gone, the pleco usually will vacuum up stuff falling too. I admit a long time ago, like 6+mos, i was over feeding them, sometimes 5 times a day in very small amts. But i noticed it was wasteful so i chilled out on so much feeding, they sure did get mighty big fast when i was doing that though
The filter is that bad because someone on this forum told me to stop messing with the filter, im killing my fully cycling good bacteria. But I rinsed them both today before checking this forum daily periodically throughout the day, just didnt clean rest of tank or inside of filter so theres enough bacteria left, but theres also enough of that algae inside filter to colonize fast again. I need new filter cartridges but that's happening Monday. I did a 50% water change today, did that 3 days ago too. But that was only one tank, the other tank I left to watch how fast the algae was coming back and overgrowing on stuff. But I added like 2 cups of fresh water to it from what was left over in bowl that i was using to fill other tank. I know that ain't a whole lot to make a difference but why not...and it would seem that the tank that wasnt water changed got taken over faster, obviously, figured that would happen, but them so does that mean this algae grows better in higher ammonia lvls or just because it wasnt as disturbed from water change and lessened in its parts per million in the water...

 

[swiss584]

on that log picture there is more leftover food on it but thats because its overgrown with the algae and the fish and pleco dont like that algae so they wont eat the food sitting on it that has fallen there shortly after a feeding, i should get a tank/gravel vacuum, that has been something i've been meaning to get since i started this project like 1 1/2+ yrs ago. I've been looking at them throughout the whole time, I'll break down and get one before or by christmas, I know i will. It would definately help in maitanance.

 

[coldcazzie]

Ok, you're still overfeeding. Cut back to one feed every 3 days, the small amount of flake or pellet that you're currently feeding. Don't panic that the fish will starve, they won't.

Also, up your water changes to 50% a day on both tanks. Do that for a week and see where you are. You might need to get some more concentrated dechlor so you're not wasting money cuz you'll go through a lot of it.

You said you're changing the bubbler from one tank to the other every 6 hours... are the tanks near each other? You could get a T or Y shaped piece to split the pipe so you have one going to each tank? However, if you have filtration that ripples the surface that should be adequate. In this case though I think you should leave it on cuz you need the help...

Also, algae will always grow better in higher ammonia concentrations, as ammonia is it's food source. Light + ammonia = algae. This is why daily water changes are needed, to remove as much ammonia as possible.

Finally, when you say you need to replace the cartridge, what do you mean? You should never need to replace media, except for activated carbon and floss which is only for mechanical filtration...

 

[fluttermoth]

You'd be far, far better off buying a gravel cleaner rather than new filter cartridges, which we've already told you don't need changing

 

[colleen0309]

I'd also say you are still over feeding. I feed my fish once a day, 5 days a week. All are happy, healthy, and growing like weeds.

 

[swiss584]

well i got my package today. I attached my thermometer and threw the nitraban easybalance and the water clarifier into my fish cupboard.

As for the almost $40 saltwater testing kit, it looks it will give me regular readings for everything except the ph, it says high lvl ph, but i already have a lower ph tester so i guess im good, im just skeptical on opening it if i can return it for a freshwater kit...i suppose i could contact and find out. But the kit looks like it gives my a PPM reading in nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia readings, and high range ph, but like i said, i got a low range ph tester aleady. So if it does Parts Per Million, i can just take the reading and go online and see where I should be at as oppose to what the directions say i should be at because its saltwater.

I know everyone said no salt but I got the API aquarium salt anyways. It says on the side of the box that it " provides essential electrolytes freshwater fish need to reach peak coloration and vitality, improves gill functions, reduces stress, facilitates osmoregulation, and promotes disease recovery. Freshwater fish actively maintain a natural balance of electrolytes in their bodily fluids. Electrolytes are essential for the uptake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide and ammonia through the gills. A lack of electrolytes may cause serious health problems. API aquarium salt, made from evaporated sea water, provides these essential electrolytes. " Well it says its for freshwater fish and the person I got my fish from said to use salt and the description of the product is everything i want so is everyone sure i shouldnt use salt, i really dont see why not. I can understand a products ability in trying to sell itself just like how local pet store workers will say whatever they can to make a sale.

 

[swiss584]

You'd be far, far better off buying a gravel cleaner rather than new filter cartridges, which we've already told you don't need changing

one particular cartridge in question, is 3 mos. old. Well technically, one filter cartridge is almost a year old but wasnt in use until i re setup the babies tank recently, the other is 3 mos old in constant use, permanant nasty brown and slimy even after rinsing, the cotton bag has to be refolded and tucked under the green plastic flaps on top of cartridge and with a little plastic black clip, its clipped in place in middle, plus that was the cartridge i dipped in bleach water for like 3-5 seconds tops then power rinsed right away while everything else i had put in bleach water sat in it for over an hour. So i really do think i need to replace my filters, at least at this moment, then i'll leave them be. I still do plan on buying the gravel vaccuum though

 

[Louiseness]

API aquarium salt, made from evaporated sea water,

None of your fish would live in the sea in the wild. Why do they need sea salt?

 

[swiss584]

I'd also say you are still over feeding. I feed my fish once a day, 5 days a week. All are happy, healthy, and growing like weeds.

what kind of fish do u have though, and how big are they? Online it suggests it more depends on size of fish and what they can eat in a couple minutes, because what falls is naturally waste. To encourage breeding in convict cichlids, it suggests feeding 3-4 times a day, i'm feeding 2-3, so i suppose i could bring the feedings down to one...i just feel bad like they're starving, especially when they can handle 4, and its a small tank with not much decor, what else is there to do, poor fish...i know they're not like dogs that need to be played with and cuddled, they're there for looks mostly but i wish i had like a 55 gal tank, i would soooo make the coolest rock/reef type atmosphere, seen lots of pictures and got lots of ideas, just no cash...and mild lack of experience. They suggest moving stuff in tank around once in awhile if fish appear bored. But what can i do, except move the plastic/cloth plants around a handful of inches in a rinky dink 10 gal tank, sooooo much change (rolls eyes)...."oh look, the log moved from facing left...*gasp* to right!". My friend has 2 tanks as well but his are like a 22 gal and like a 50+gal tank, so he's got a bunch of flat rocks stacked all every which way along the back of tank but enough room to still swim behind, and the fish swim all around, in and out, look so happy...*jealous*

 

[swiss584]

API aquarium salt, made from evaporated sea water,

None of your fish would live in the sea in the wild. Why do they need sea salt?

well i googled and wiki-d that and it says they're fresh water....so i guess i dont need salt, its not that i dont want to take everyones word for it, its just that if the person i got them from said to and his fish all seem super healthy and the carton of salt says for freshwater fish...

 

[colleen0309]

I understand the feeling that you are doing something wrong. And I understand you wanting to take the word of the person who sold you the fish. I have been breeding short bodied pink convicts for 2 years, and regular convicts for 10 years. I feed once a day, as I said before. When I want to encourage breeding, I do a partial water change and feed them some frozen blood worms. I never add salt to their water and mine are very healthy. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.Click on the pic to see all the fry!

 

[Louiseness]

well i googled and wiki-d that and it says they're fresh water....so i guess i dont need salt, its not that i dont want to take everyones word for it, its just that if the person i got them from said to and his fish all seem super healthy and the carton of salt says for freshwater fish...

Salt can be used as a medical treatment, that's why the packet says it's suitable. But your fish really don't need it, plus it is DEFINITELY harmful to fish like your pleco. As for the person who recommended you use salt, there are plenty of members on here whose fish are perfectly healthy who DON'T use salt, it's plain to see if you look at any pics or whatever posted on the boards. Look, in the end, it's up to you whether you take our advice or not. But everyone here AND your own internet research says that these fish don't need salt, versus one person who said otherwise...?

 

[fidjet2]

Salt can be used as a medical treatment, that's why the packet says it's suitable. But your fish really don't need it, plus it is DEFINITELY harmful to fish like your pleco. As for the person who recommended you use salt, there are plenty of members on here whose fish are perfectly healthy who DON'T use salt, it's plain to see if you look at any pics or whatever posted on the boards. Look, in the end, it's up to you whether you take our advice or not. But everyone here AND your own internet research says that these fish don't need salt, versus one person who said otherwise...?

+1 !