Maybe I've Been Doing Things Wrong?

[DeathStalker]

Yeah, they are more of a reddish color. But I get thick build ups of algae sludge on them and on the trays themselves.

You'd think with a 20" gold spotted pleco I wouldn't have an issue with algae

 

[krichardson]

I doubt that that's algae growing inside of the darkness of the filter unless there are large amounts of it freely floating around in the tank for the filter to suck in.If you have lots of algae on different surfaces then try shortening the period of time when the lights are on.

 

[DeathStalker]

Well, it's definitely green sludge - I also get a lot of small "leafy" green particulate matter coming out of the sponges.

 

[krichardson]

Yeah I misread and posted too quickly but with all that algae going on it sounds as if excess lighting might be the problem.

 

[DeathStalker]

Well, I can try limiting the lighting - it's usually on ~12hrs a day, and then the night lighting (Marineland LED).

 

[krichardson]

Unless you have live plants or salt water corals there is no need for that much light.The fish definitely don't need it.

 

[ragin_cajun]

You have a 20 inch fish in a 90 gallon tank, and one canister filter....and prolly some other fish in the tank with the pleco? I can see why you're constantly cleaning the can. I think it's time to upgrade something. Perhaps move the fish to a bigger tank, go to a sump/filter socks/wet dry type setup. Maybe add a bigger canister to the 90.

the light cycle is over the top. I don't turn on lights in my tanks unless I want to look at fish. The fish don't need lights, they just need to know if it's day or night. A little ambient light from the room is plenty for them to see in the tank--they can probably see in the dark if they're pleco's.

 

[celebrist]

A 90 is only 18 inches wide (at least mine is) so you have a fish that can't turn around without trouble. The good news is that means upgrade time!

 

[DeathStalker]

My 90 is 24" deep - the pleco has NO trouble whatsoever in moving around.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I have an fx6 but same design essentially, takes me around 15 minutes to fully clean it. 30 if I grease up the O-rings. my suggestion is add two HOB filters of your choosing on the tank, preferably something that can handle no less than a 75 gallon tank, but 2 AC 110's would be ideal. You'll notice a huuuuge difference in the debris and coloration in that tank, I'd put money on it.