How do i get a dirty tank to look clean without

[grayshark]

HI

How do i get a dirty tank to look clean without taking all the things out of it?

I know how it has got like it ,its because it is nere my bedroom window but it cant go any where eles so how do I stop it?
I put a towle over the front of the tank to stop the sunlight getting to the water.

please help me A.S.A.P

Thanks Alex

I do like pepsi

 

[Nisha]

When you say it's dirty do you mean it's covered with algae or has cloudy water?

Regular water changes and a gravel clean should help without having to move too many things around. Also make sure you're not overfeeding your fish and remove any extra food left over.

The tank shouldn't be getting too much sunlight so try to limit it to 8-10 hours in a day to reduce algae.

Cloudy water could imply an imbalance of your water chemistry so you should test the water for Ammonia, nitrItes and nitrAtes.

 

[fraservet]

if there is excess algae get some otocinclus.

 

[grayshark]

yes it is cloudy i dont have a sypon but i do have a galss scarper and i do over feed my fish alittle bit I have a plecostomus but it wont clean my galss?? he likes cleaning my 3 picese of wood.

 

[grayshark]

nisha I do like your tank

 

[smithrc]

if there is excess algae get some otocinclus.

or (as this person is doing) you can try actually solving the problem!

there are different things that can cause algae. it may actually be made worse by more water changes if the tap water is high in phosphates and nitrAtes. you might want to test the tap water too.

 

[clutterydrawer]

and i do over feed my fish alittle bit

why?

 

[fraservet]

if there is excess algae get some otocinclus.

or (as this person is doing) you can try actually solving the problem!

there are different things that can cause algae. it may actually be made worse by more water changes if the tap water is high in phosphates and nitrAtes. you might want to test the tap water too.

fair enough

but of course a tank will normally have algal growth even if there are no "problems" - unless there is no light at all!

Grayshark - if you are over feeding and know you are then you should definately stop.

Putting a towel over your tank will certainly stop algae, but you won't be able to see your fish!

In this situation, some otos, combined with good maintenance, will keep your tank looking good.


if you are overfeeding your fish, your plec will not be as hungry and won't need to eat so much algae.

 

[corrosive]

You dont have a hose pipe or something to siphon with? How do you do water changes then ?

 

[babyfish]

Well the first thing you should do is invest in a gravel cleaner, these are either air-powered or take the dirt out with a water change. The gravel cleaner is designed to be pushed into the gravel to remove all the fish poo(with a plec there will be loads of fish poo), decomposing food and bits of dead plant(if you have real ones). A gravel cleaner costs about a £5 for a simple one.

A build up of dirt in your gravel will add to the algae problem.

Over feeding, this is a common problem, after all who can resist those little fish begging at the front glass, BUT you have to resist, remember a fish's stomach is only as big as it's eye. A wild fish spends most of it's life looking for enough to eat, we keep ours in the equivalent of the fish ritz hotel with room service.

The sunlight problem can be cured by buying a very long length of net curtain, the more ruffles you have to put in it to make it fit the window the better, it will cut down the light a lot, also try only opening the curtains halfway.

 

[grayshark]

Thanks for all your help I am a bad fish keeper in away because I dont have a test kit ortablets I just feed then tropiccal flake food