I got a new tank about 3 weeks ago. It's 38 US Gallon. I have a Penguin 170 power filter. Two fluorecent bulbs, 25 watts each. Two Nutrafin CO2 systems. About 6 live plants. 1.5 inches of gravel with laterites at the bottom. My fish are: guppies x 5, platys x 4, cory cats x 2, danios x 5, tiny platy fries x 3. Water is set at 24 degrees Celsius.
The plants are growing awesome. When I bought them they were 1/3 of the height of the tank. Now they have all reached the full height of the tank and are also branching out a lot. And the fish seem to be very happy, they are eating a lot and growing. I feed them regular flakes twice a day, colour flakes and freeze dried blood worms occasionally. I am starting to feed algae tablets to the catfishs. I have not tested the water in the last couple of days, but pH is about 7-7.5, very little ammonia or nitrite/nitrate. Forgot what the exact water hardness is, but it is about medium.
My problem is recurrent tank cloudiness. Most of the cloudiness seems to be at the bottom part of the tank. There is also a slight brown/yellow tinge to the water. No funny smell.
My questions are:
1) Do I have too many fish ie. overstocked? If you don't think that I am overstocked, how many more fish can I accomodate ant what kinds?
2) Do I need to upgrade my filtering? Should I buy a second power filter or add a canister filter? Please give me some suggestions. I have heard that too much filtration is bad.
3) Am I having an algae bloom or a bacterial bloom?
4) Should I get some algae eaters? What kinds?
5) Should I use chemicals to get rid of the cloudiness? If yes, what kind?
6) How often should I fertilize my plants? Liquid or tablets?
7) Some of my fish are losing a bit of colour. The platys are getting some darker/black pigmentations in the dorsal area. Any dietary advices?
8)Some of the plants have darker leaves at the top, but only at the very top. The stuff is almost black and can be wiped off. Is it a kind of algae? Any solution?
9) How often should I change water and how much? Do you recommend using dechlorination chemical or should I just let the water sit for a couple of days?
10) Do algae tablets lead to tank cloudiness? I am worried that the cory cats are not eating enough so I give them a small tablet (size of a penny) every day. I don't know if they finish the food because I give it to them after I turn off the light and go to bed.
11) I bought some Start Zymes and some Cycle. Should I use them?
Please give me some suggestions.
Money is not a big consideration.
Please help and thanks in advance
The plants are growing awesome. When I bought them they were 1/3 of the height of the tank. Now they have all reached the full height of the tank and are also branching out a lot. And the fish seem to be very happy, they are eating a lot and growing. I feed them regular flakes twice a day, colour flakes and freeze dried blood worms occasionally. I am starting to feed algae tablets to the catfishs. I have not tested the water in the last couple of days, but pH is about 7-7.5, very little ammonia or nitrite/nitrate. Forgot what the exact water hardness is, but it is about medium.
My problem is recurrent tank cloudiness. Most of the cloudiness seems to be at the bottom part of the tank. There is also a slight brown/yellow tinge to the water. No funny smell.
My questions are:
1) Do I have too many fish ie. overstocked? If you don't think that I am overstocked, how many more fish can I accomodate ant what kinds?
2) Do I need to upgrade my filtering? Should I buy a second power filter or add a canister filter? Please give me some suggestions. I have heard that too much filtration is bad.
3) Am I having an algae bloom or a bacterial bloom?
4) Should I get some algae eaters? What kinds?
5) Should I use chemicals to get rid of the cloudiness? If yes, what kind?
6) How often should I fertilize my plants? Liquid or tablets?
7) Some of my fish are losing a bit of colour. The platys are getting some darker/black pigmentations in the dorsal area. Any dietary advices?
8)Some of the plants have darker leaves at the top, but only at the very top. The stuff is almost black and can be wiped off. Is it a kind of algae? Any solution?
9) How often should I change water and how much? Do you recommend using dechlorination chemical or should I just let the water sit for a couple of days?
10) Do algae tablets lead to tank cloudiness? I am worried that the cory cats are not eating enough so I give them a small tablet (size of a penny) every day. I don't know if they finish the food because I give it to them after I turn off the light and go to bed.
11) I bought some Start Zymes and some Cycle. Should I use them?
Please give me some suggestions.
Money is not a big consideration.
Please help and thanks in advance
& I haven't heard anything bad about dechlorinaters, I always use one.
