Help please.

[Colin_T]

I got him little pellets for bottom feeders. Is that what I should be doing. I’m basically adding 2 types of food 2 times a day, for them all to eat.

In a newly set up tank that is doing a fish in cycle, you only want to feed them 2-3 times a week and do a 75% water change and gravel clean 4-8 hours after feeding. The fish should eat all the food in 30 seconds and don't add any more after that. The bottom feeder can have a couple of pellets and leave them in the tank for about 30 minutes before removing them.

Don't worry about the fish starving, they will be fine for a few weeks. Once the tank has cycled (in about 4-6 weeks), you can feed them every day and do a water change and gravel clean once a week.

 

[Tenaj]

In a newly set up tank that is doing a fish in cycle, you only want to feed them 2-3 times a week and do a 75% water change and gravel clean 4-8 hours after feeding. The fish should eat all the food in 30 seconds and don't add any more after that. The bottom feeder can have a couple of pellets and leave them in the tank for about 30 minutes before removing them.

Don't worry about the fish starving, they will be fine for a few weeks. Once the tank has cycled (in about 4-6 weeks), you can feed them every day and do a water change and gravel clean once a week.

Thanks. Algae is on the only live plant and decorations. Looks brown to me.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Thanks. Algae is on the only live plant and decorations. Looks brown to me.

What's your lighting schedule?

 

[Tenaj]

What's your lighting schedule?

About 12 hours a day . Learning on this forum that I am not supposed to have on that long.

 

[Slaphppy7]

About 12 hours a day . Learning on this forum that I am not supposed to have on that long.

No worries, we were ALL beginners, at some point...cut that back to around 6 hours a day (you could do 2 three-hour shifts), and see if it helps with the algae issue....more live plants would help, as well

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

About 12 hours a day . Learning on this forum that I am not supposed to have on that long.

Not really.
Remember that we usually use the lighting to allow ourselves to view our carefully crafted tanks and to enjoy seeing our fish.
Whilst fish do need some light, they don't need any of the artificial light we apply.
Obviously, plants do need that artificial light in order to grow and thrive, but this has to be managed...or else the plant that grows quickest and on the least resources, ie algae, will thrive.

 

[Tenaj]

One day I will have mastered this. So much fun to learn it all!!

 

[Brendanpat]

You'll get there .I'm just about 1 and a half years at it now . Learned so much from these guys and still learning. But I have my tank in fairly good shape at the minute. Very little maintenance now ,about 1 hour a week . So dont be put off by all the work now,that wont be forever .

 

[Tenaj]

In a newly set up tank that is doing a fish in cycle, you only want to feed them 2-3 times a week and do a 75% water change and gravel clean 4-8 hours after feeding. The fish should eat all the food in 30 seconds and don't add any more after that. The bottom feeder can have a couple of pellets and leave them in the tank for about 30 minutes before removing them.

Don't worry about the fish starving, they will be fine for a few weeks. Once the tank has cycled (in about 4-6 weeks), you can feed them every day and do a water change and gravel clean once a week.

Ok I had petsmart test water too. This was a few minutes ago. Before I do water change. Posted picture.

 

[Tenaj]

Get one of these ASAP: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255NCI/?tag=ff0d01-20

Test "strips" can be unreliable and inaccurate

You also need a good quality water conditioner, such as Seachem Prime or API Tap Water Conditioner...I'd get one of those two soon, as well

After you get the liquid test kit, run tests for ammonia, nitrAte, and nitrIte, and post those results here

Hello. This was just done before water change. Posted picture

 

[Tenaj]

If you can post some pictures of the algae we can confirm the type.

Algae grows anywhere there is light and water. If there are live plants in the water, they use the light and nutrients and reduce or stop algae from growing. If there are no live plants, then algae will grow instead.

If you don't have live plants in the aquarium, then only have the light on for a few hours in the afternoon/ evening.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Hello. This was just done before water change. Posted picture

I have no idea what I'm looking at, sorry....get the API liquid test kit ass soon as you can

 

[Tenaj]

I have no idea what I'm looking at, sorry....get the API liquid test kit ass soon as you can

What is the liquid test going to test?

 

[Tenaj]

I have no idea what I'm looking at, sorry....get the API liquid test kit ass soon as you can

What will the liquid tea be testing? I just had ammonia and everything else tested. That’s what the paper is. Shows all levels were good. I bought 2 other things they recommended. I’ll post in pictures. I am doing a water change now and will be adding another live plant so that I’ll have 2 in there. Cleaned all the decorations with warm water.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, and ph....accurately