Cichlid Tank - never clean

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T

trogdor1980

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 14, 2005
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Hi,

I've got a 75g with an oscar, GT, sevrum, and a few small cichlids (small convict, parrot) and an yellow eel tail cat.

Using a gravel bottom, a 900 litre/hour canister filter, and a UV steriliser.

Even after a big gravel vac, and changing 60% of the water, I can never get rid of a greenish tinge. If I look from one end of the tank to the other (longways) it is difficult to see the other end.

The fish are all happy and active, but I would like a 'clearer' tank.

Any ideas? Would going bare bottom with the logs and rocks on the glass with no gravel help?

BTW, I'm getting a 240g to move these fish into in the next month, but would like to know what I'm doing wrong. Especially because I dont want a large 'murky' tank!

How do I get crystal clear water?

Thanks!
 
how many watts are your lights
my 20L has to much light on it and i gat the same ****
 
dude chill with the watter changes. cut the lights off for a couple days on the tank. Let it finish its cycle if you dont cut off the lights it will never stop . Same with the watter changes you feed the algea bloom thats growing in the watter every time you do a change on the tank. One of the causes could be direct sunlight on the tank. Or even to much light from your light strips. I dont no if it in front a window or what.

How long has it been set up and running
 
Thanks guys!

Its been up and running for about 8 months now.

The lights are actually only on for about 3-4 hours a day, in the evenings when we are home. Not sure how many watts they are.

I have noticed the one or two times I have changed the pads in the cannister, underneath the bottom most pad there is a few inches of green sludge - is that diluting back into the water and causing this?
 
listen
stuff your fish

then turn the lights off

cover the tank with dark towels,sheets etc. so no light gets in

3 days of no light, that should kill all the algea
 
It,s as simple as this you are doing WHY to big of water changes !!!!! Dure 10 to 20% about 2 to 3 times a month....your water is cloudy because you are taking out to much need bacteria....

Regards,
decoy
 
decoy said:
It,s as simple as this you are doing WHY to big of water changes !!!!! Dure 10 to 20% about 2 to 3 times a month....your water is cloudy because you are taking out to much need bacteria....

Regards,
decoy
Click to expand...


100% Incorrect.

10-20% is a waste of time. You should be doing 50% a week or more.

Unless your tapwater has high Nitrates and Phosphates there is no problem and the ONLY good way of curing this problem is doing massive water changes.

How lond has it been since you have changed the UV bulb?

Do you have a phosphate test kit? How about a nitrate Kit?


What is the temp of your water?

WHen you clean your filters, what do you do?

How often are you changing the water? How often are you gravelvacing?



BTW- Please disregaurd all the above posts. They are all incorrect, except for the recomendation to cover the tank up completely.
 
I know that you said you've done a 60% water change and that didn't work. My question is how many times a month do you change the water and how much of a percentage on average.

Cleaning your gravel or doing water changes should not really hurt the amount of bacteria in your tank, considering most of them reside in the media of the filter.

My guess: nitrAte problem, get your water tested so we can be sure
 
Hi all, thanks for all the advice & interest.

Well, I vacuum the gravel at least once a week. I can get fill a 20 - 30 liter bucket with black or very, very dark brown water from the entire gravel vac operation. So basically the gravel gets filthy every week, and I completely clean it every week (on weekend).

Aside from that, I take several more of these big buckets out after gravel vacuuming (usually half the tank worth - but if sometimes more if its really dirty). I would never go more than 60%ish as I leave the fish in there and they have to be able to swim on the bottom!

I keep the water at about 25 - 26 degrees celcius (no idea in F). I clean the filter out every three or so months. Basically disconnect it, pull out all the sponge type media and replace it, set aside the ceramic bacteria things so the bacteria doesnt get killed off, and pour out the copious amounts of dark green sludge trapped at the bottom. I have not done this for a few months. There is always so much sludge trapped under the bottom most filter pad.

The UV bulb is about 6 months old (how often do I need to change this?) I figured 12 months??

I dont have a test kit for nitrate or phosphorous. I'll buy one this weekend if you guys feel that it would help. Whats a good & bad reading?

BTW, can somebody explain how nitrate causes algae. Would one of those external sump things with plants in it help?

Thanks again! Your time & help is most appreciated :)
 
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