Brakish tank algae and green water

[Pufferpunk]

I think you're over reading this. I never said you need to do 100-200%. DISCUS breeders to that. I was responding to the other poster that said changing too much water will stress a fish. As long as you keep that tank lightly stocked, 30% weekly is good but only after you get your tank cleared up.

 

[Laticauda]

As PP said, 30% per week, may be good, but only once your nitrAtes are at a manageable level.

Obviously your tank is not "ok" otherwise you wouldn't have this algae problem. The algae is due to lack of maintenance, and in order to get your levels to a reasonable level, you will need to do multiple water changes more frequently, due to the fact that nitrAtes continue to rise.

For instance, if your nitrAtes are at 200 (which they probably are) and you do a 30% water change, then you are still left with well over 100 nitrAtes in your water, and "ok" levels are nothing over 40. Ideally, nothing over 20.

Why do you say you can't afford to do that many water changes? (not 100% or 200%, but 50% 2-3 days in a row) Perhaps if you can't afford to properly keep these animals that you are the only one to care for them, then maybe you need to reconsider your stocking options.

 

[Shadow Chaos]

@PufferPunk oh my bad, Thanks for the advice.


@Laticauda so only you rich people can keep fish? I have been keeping them for 10 years now using my "poor mans" methods, and when I can afford it I get better equipment and such. mhy fosh are not dead yet so I must be doing something right, I use ph,water, and salinity test and watch the nitrate and nitrite levels so they stay in balance. I have some fish that are several years old (I have a chiclid that is almost 8 years old)

 

[Laticauda]

HA! I am by no means rich. I buy the cheapest salt bucket and that lasts me a while, and I do water changes every week. I mix my own saltwater, instead of buying it from the store. I just don't see what is so difficult about that.

If you can't afford to take care of the brackish fish, then maybe it's in THEIR best interest (not yours) to sell/give them away, and keep taking care of your "years old cichild." When you buy fish, you take on the responsibility to take care of them, and if you can't make it happen (due to money, time, etc.) then you have to man-up and do the right/responsible thing, and not let your ego get in the way.

 

[Shadow Chaos]

I love my brackish fish though.. I mix salt water myself and by salt in boxes. I'll keep all my fish thanks,
and without my ego.. I would be no one!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the problem.

 

[KailaJune]

I agree, NO chemical fixes. In fact, the catfish usually cannot tolerate any such solutions (including ones for ick). Please, once you have gotten the nitrates under control, buy your Columbian a companion. They are hardy fish in terms of being killed by negligence, however they are difficult to keep happy. I don't know much about the Goby's you have, but I do know that in nature the catfish are migratory fish, thus they NEED a strong flow of water & for it to be CLEAN. As Laticauda said they also produce a lot of waste in addition to their high maintenance thriving standards. My tank is not a lot bigger than yours (75 gallons) & I have to change it more frequently with larger portions (usually 40%) than any other tank I've had in order to keep my catfish from becoming lethargic & basically -in my opinion- miserable. In addition to that I doubt their other tank mates appreciate the waste they contribute to the living space ; ) As I'm sure your Goby's are affected by as well.
Brackish water tanks have so many intriguing possibilities...I absolutely love mine, but fully admit it is more work than others. If you don't get the algae - nitrates under control it will be a never ending battle. You might accept algae in the tank at some point, but not on the walls & certainly not muddling the water.
Also, buying the salt in bulk (I don't know how big the boxes you buy are...nor how much they cost?) is usually cheaper & obviously practical. Money is a difficult one...I know I'd go a couple of days without eating in order to take care of my fishes well (& my dog...& my cat). I would venture to say Laticauda was making a similar point when it comes to responsibilities... If your fish are for sheer entertainment/enjoyment then they are simply transient objects in your life that you will eventually be without. I'd suggest transcending that ego you're holding on to so dearly & try connecting with your fishes... Maybe inflicting uncomfortable living measures (now knowingly) isn't really the way you want to go. & since you have had many long living fish as you have asserted I am guessing none of the negative ideals I mentioned are actually going on... Anyhow - Love to you & yours
I'd be ecstatic to read updates. Everything is going well, your stress is less also, & even perhaps news of a new Columbian! ; )

-Kaila June

 

[Pufferpunk]

If your fish are for sheer entertainment/enjoyment then they are simply transient objects in your life that you will eventually be without. I'd suggest transcending that ego you're holding on to so dearly & try connecting with your fishes... Maybe inflicting uncomfortable living measures (now knowingly) isn't really the way you want to go.

We need more comments like this at this forum!

 

[spitz006]

This is not the case at all. Frequent water changes prevents the pH from deteriorating, causing a swing when you do a water change.

More clean water, the better. The best way to get clean water into your tank, is to do water changes. Doing water changes often (1-2 times per week) will decrease the stress caused by infrequent water changes, because the tank water is still very similar/identical to your new, clean water.

There are dissolved gases in tap water that will kill your fish if you do too large of a water change. If you are using water that has been sitting overnight, that's another story.

Personally I advocate for maximum 33% water changes especially as advice to beginners because I would rather see more frequent water changes, changing small amounts of water, compared to huge water changes less frequently.

Of course, I don't always follow that rule myself, but it's a good rule of thumb. Fish die all the time because of someone changing too much of the water.

 

[Laticauda]

There are dissolved gases in tap water that will kill your fish if you do too large of a water change. If you are using water that has been sitting overnight, that's another story.

Personally I advocate for maximum 33% water changes especially as advice to beginners because I would rather see more frequent water changes, changing small amounts of water, compared to huge water changes less frequently.

Of course, I don't always follow that rule myself, but it's a good rule of thumb. Fish die all the time because of someone changing too much of the water.

This is not the case at all. First of all, you are supposed to pre-mix salt water before adding it to your tank, as adding the salt straight to the tank causes fluctuations in salinity, as well as the solid salts causing burns to the fish if they come in contact. Also, the different salts dissolve at different rates, so pre-mixing is the only way to go for brackish/saltwater applications.

Also, there's no such thing as changing too much water. In the winter, it is true that water holds more gases, but clean water is always better than dirty water BY FAR. 50% water changes and greater are the only way to rid yourself of high nitrAtes, since nitrAtes continue to climb and doing 33% water changes will just allow the nitrAte levels to rise and rise and rise, while never really controlling the problem at all.

 

[spitz006]

daily 33% water changes will take care of the nitrates. If you take fish that are living in crappy high-nitrate water and put them in pure water it's just as bad as doing nothing at all. You have to slowly acclimate them down to the level they need to be at.