White Spots And Green Film?

[BlossomsOfGreen]

Hello everyone.

Tank size: 5 Gallon
pH: 7
ammonia: ? Not included in test pack
nitrite: 0
nitrate: About 5-10
kH: 120
gH: 60
tank temp: 80 (Its usaully lower but today is a hot day)

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Their are four neon tetras. They are acting the same, only different signs seem to be a white colouration of spots/blotches on the belly and tail of one and white spots/blotches on the tail other another, that also seems to be a bit slimmer then the others.

I have noticed a white hard sort of material behinde the filter that i cannot get off and white specks on the heater. Their is also a green film on the top of the tank that whenever i scoop away seems to come back the next day.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Once every 4 weeks a 50% water change.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: I add nutrafin biological aquarium supplement when i perform water changes and add a dechlorinator.

Tank inhabitants: Just 4 Neon Tetras. Was going to add two more until i noticed changes.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): No

Exposure to chemicals: None.

 

[Baccus]

The patches of white on the tetras could be neon tetra disease, if it is unfortunately there is no definitive cure. If you can get some pictures of the different things you are seeing it would really help us

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The white things you can see on the filter and heater could be a natural type of fungi that normally will grow on new tank timber.

The green film on the surface of the tank sounds like an algea bloom, which could be caused from excessive nitrogen in the water and or excessive light.

How long as the tank been set up? Was it cycled in other words did you provide an ammonia source to enable the filter bacteria to develop and grow prior to adding fish. Was there other fish in the tank prior to adding the tetras, or where they the first and only fish? Also a 50% water change every four weeks is a long time between changes and can allow huge spikes in various water conditions. If the tank is not heavily stocked you can get away with a 25% water change weekly, ensuring to add dechlorinator each time you add new water. For a more heavily stocked tank then I would suggest 50% water changes again weekly.

 

[BlossomsOfGreen]

Thanks so much for your help. I would show you pictures but my camera has been playing up. If it does get fixed though i'll come and put up some pics.

Talking about light, i think i have been having it on for too long about 8 hours.

The tank has been set up since the begging of this year. I did cycle it for a week and a bit when i first got it. I had six neotetras at the start. Also i will try to do more regular water changes.

 

[Baccus]

Ok, sadly cycling a tank takes longer than a week or two, here is a pinned thread on cycling and general tank set up

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

Neon tetras really do need a mature cycled tank other wise they tend to drop dead for a mulititude of reasons, stress being the first which then allows other illnesses to take hold. Much like humans, if we are stressed then our immune system is supressed and we will be more likely to catch every cold and flu going around.

Glad you came here for help with your tank, and hopefully the link I posted will help you a lot. Just remember don't feel bad about making early mistakes in fish keeping... we all have at some point

.

 

[BlossomsOfGreen]

I appreciate yout help alot. Thank you I will go and have a look throught the link. Wil that also tell me how to get rid if the algea bloom?

 

[novicefishkeeper1987]

Also I notice you have said the ammonia test is not included in your test kit, what test kit are you using? You should really be testing for ammonia.

 

[BlossomsOfGreen]

Im using API 5 in 1 test strips. My pet shop didnt have any ammonia ones in stock when i whent to buy the kit, so i just had to make do. I live in the country so we dont always have everything.

 

[novicefishkeeper1987]

I would suggest you use a liquid test kit. I'm very new to this myself and am in the process of setting up a new aquarium (need to start my fish less cycle) but have been doing lots of reading and have read that test strips are very inaccurate.