Why Is My Tank Getting So Dirty?

[Oscar Betta]

I got a new betta a few weeks ago, the tank is filtered and heating, I do 25% water changes every week, but my tank has been looking real dirty lately. There has been brown stuff getting on my fake plants, gravel, and some on the side of my tank. Not a whole lot but enough to annoy me. Also, at the top the water looks kind of milky and slimy. What do you think I should do? I have been wiping the stuff off the side, but there is usually more back by the next day. Btw my tank is 5 gallons.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

What lighting do you use? You could try cleaning out your filter, is it algae on the plants? Is the tank in sunlight? How long do you run your lights?

 

[Oscar Betta]

I usually have my light on most of the day and then off at night.. I'm not sure what lighting I'm using, the light was already in the tank when I got it but I may be able to find it out. It looks like just brown stuff on my plants, not algae. And no, the tank is not in direct sunlight.

 

[Fishy friend2]

the situation that is occurring at the moment sounds like a result of over lighting and an excess amount of nutrients within the tank. It is most likely a form of algae called brown algae. It would be helpful to know your lighting and how long its on, I cured algae in my tank by moderately planting it with hardy, nutrient "mop" plants like java moss, hornwort, and anacharis.
The slimy, and milky stuff is usually caused by little flow, and sometimes bacterial blooms in new tanks. To fix this problem you should ideally increase the flow, do a slight water change, and set a paper towel on the surface of the water to remove it
EDIT-Just saw your new post
All day long to have any type of light on is bit too long as the algae will thrive with it on that long, the recommended time period would be around 8 hours to prevent algae from forming and progressing in large quantities resulting in an unsightly tank

 

[Oscar Betta]

the situation that is occurring at the moment sounds like a result of over lighting and an excess amount of nutrients within the tank. It is most likely a form of algae called brown algae. It would be helpful to know your lighting and how long its on, I cured algae in my tank by moderately planting it with hardy, nutrient "mop" plants like java moss, hornwort, and anacharis.
The slimy, and milky stuff is usually caused by little flow, and sometimes bacterial blooms in new tanks. To fix this problem you should ideally increase the flow, do a slight water change, and set a paper towel on the surface of the water to remove it
EDIT-Just saw your new post
All day long to have any type of light on is bit too long as the algae will thrive with it on that long, the recommended time period would be around 8 hours to prevent algae from forming and progressing in large quantities resulting in an unsightly tank

Ok, yeah I have been leaving my light on too long. And I just noticed that the crud on the side is algae, it's green.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Just keep the light on for 8 hours at the most and a large amount of the algae should go away.
good luck!

 

[Oscar Betta]

Just did a water change and removed most of the algae and washed off the plants. Also did the paper towel thing so hopefully that took care of the slimy stuff. What are some good ways to remove algae off the side? I have one of these but it's not the best- http/www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=algae+scrubber&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=10960330121579253216&sa=X&ei=HRhdT_iuEI2btweDmcCFDA&ved=0CJoBEPICMAw#ps-sellers

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Just a new kitchen sponge with a tough scrubber side.

You can do up to 50% water changes if it helps