Newbie....help.

[MJS]

We have had a fish aquarium for a few years. After construction on the house, we have just set up our 20 gallon tank again. Of course we have the same old problems...
No matter what we do, we can't get our water crystal clear like the pictures posted here, or like any we see. Also, now we have green algea everywhere. The water tests fine. Today, I did a water change on 20 percent of the tank. I swished around the gravel and found ALOT of uneaten food....that is one obvious problem.
By reading this board I am finding out that we leave our tank light on WAY too much. Is that causing the algea?? I have swords, mollies and guppys. Total there are 6 babies that are large enough to be in the tank. Will this tank EVER be clear?? It is frustrating. I am new to these boards so fogive me if these are the same old questions. What is cycling?? Is this the beginning time of a new tank??? Should we have had it set up for awhile before putting any fish in?? For the first 3 weeks we had trouble with fish dying...maybe that is why?? We use a Penguin filter for our size tank.
Thanks for ANY help...
MJ

 

[smb]

Welcome.

You have to re-cycle your tank when you break it down and move. To what extent, depends on a couple things. How much water was left in it when you moved it and how wet did you keep the filter sponges and how long did it take to set back up?

Nitrifying bacteria can last for about 24 hours if left damp.

If not, then you have to go through the whole cycling process again.

What is cycling?? Is this the beginning time of a new tank???

Yes. let me give you a couple links for a way to cycle a fishless tank and what it means ---


Fishless Cycling 1

fishless cycling 2

For the first 3 weeks we had trouble with fish dying...maybe that is why??

Quite possibly. Please post back and let all of us try to get you back on track. Maybe we can get you smooth sailing again in no time.

 

[MJS]

First I hope I am replying to the correct post....I am so new here. I really should have said this before. I live in the USA and am VERY happy to have found this forum. Already I have found a ton of GREAT info. that will be of help. All of the replys are so nice and helpful.
I should have made clear, that when we took the tank down just before construction, we emptied it and put it away for about 6 weeks. At that point something was wrong and all of the fish were dying off. I remember that the water had a blue tint to it, pretty but I am sure deadly. We then got the tank back out so it was basically like starting new.
I am going to read all of your advice and also the links. I don't think we realized how much there was to learn.
Thanks for answering.....
MJ

 

[MJS]

Also...the water is no longer blue...just cloudy.
Another question....Would a Pleco help keep the algea in check and would it be friendly to my guppies and mollies?
Thanks Again...
MJ

 

[smb]

Also...the water is no longer blue...just cloudy.
Another question....Would a Pleco help keep the algea in check and would it be friendly to my guppies and mollies?
Thanks Again...
MJ

Also...the water is no longer blue...just cloudy.

Blue? Did you just use some Ich medication or something? I'm confused as to why you have blue water.

Another question....Would a Pleco help keep the algea in check and would it be friendly to my guppies and mollies?

Yes, a pleco would be perfectly fine to the rest of your fish and they do a good to great job on algea. You need to feed them spilurina tablets and cucumbers tho.
I wouldn't "count" on a pleco taking care of all your algea. Sometimes they don't. A 2 minute a week brush job works great too.