Aquariums - Page 2

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 05:32 AM

Mike,

I cleaned my tank yesterday and it was so murky and full of floating crud that I couldn't even see the waterwheel in the bottom. But once I finished and turned the pumps back on, in about 25 minutes it was crystal clear. I have to use a brush to get the green algae off the sides and this mineral in our water really fills up the filters fast.

Ron

Sharroll Celby · #2 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 03:07 PM

There are snails that eat the algae off the glass.

Roscoe · #3 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 04:10 PM

Get a Pleko. They are more interesting than snails.

J. T. Toad · #4 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 04:21 PM

Have you ever seen the zebra form of 'pleko' .... way

http://tropical-fish-pictures.com/ze...ecostomus.html

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 05:23 AM

JT,

It says in your link that they are not really an algae eater and also the mineral in our water would really be bad for them if those readings are correct. I have had algae eaters before, they cost quite a bit, and none of them lived very long. The guy at the pet store where I get my supplies tested the water and said the minerals were to high for them but ok for regular gold fish and other types.

Ron

bomelia · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 01:17 PM

Update. I bought some Nutra Fin (Pet Smart brand) Bio Clear. At first I only added 10-15 ml at a time. It would get clearer. But not much. Last night I threw caution to the wind and put in 30 ml. The water cleared up completely in one hour! It is so clear that I am certain the fish get vertigo when they go to the surface and look down.

I read about Bio Clear on some aquarium forum.

Mike

vegasmike · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 02:24 PM

Bio Clear locks up organics so your mechanical filter can take them out. Most cloudiness is just too many organics, so feed every other day, not every day. In my opinion, an easier freshwater tank to maintain will have both an UG filter and external filter. Change the carbon insert on the external once a month. Make sure it is rated twice your actual water volume.

I recently had to take down my 450 gallon SW reef tank and I am missing the hobby already. I got my 12 yr old a 5 gallon fresh water and he loves the thing, just too boring for me. I like the SW fish, live corals and clams.

Good luck with it and beware. I started with a 2 goldfish in a 1 gallon bowm that my mother bought me oldest son when he was three. The progressed to a ten gallon fresh, 90 gallon salt, 180 gallon salt, 180 and 150 gallon salt and finally to the 450.

Have fun.