Green all over

[ballpythonandragon]

Hello i have a 29 gallon tank and the rocks are green and the filter nozzle is green where the water enters it. Green all over the decorations and everything i have one upside down cat and 1 pluc. what am i doing wrong

[tmfleo1]

sounds like to much lighting which can cause algae

[ballpythonandragon]

ok i have the light on a timer 12 hrs on and 12 off should i cut it back? Also my upside down cat doe's nothing but hide should i by a couple more to go along with him or what? The tank is not by any windows or anything.

[LuvMyBoa]

Do you have a Pleco? They help with that. I have my 30gal cube near a sliding glass door w/blinds open a few hours per day, but my pleco keeps the tank nearly alge free, and I supplement his diet with an alge disc or two every few days.

As for the cat not coming out... there isn't much that can be done about that. They aren't really schooling fish, so adding more of the same kind won't do any good. I bought a catfish which in the store was active and interesting to watch, but as soon as I got him home, he became "Lazy Cat". That was 2 years ago and he still hides, except when he sees the shrimp pellets sinking to the floor.

If you re looking for a cat that is more active, try a Pictus catfish...they can still be shy, but are much more active than some catfish. Also, be sure to have sufficent hiding spots for cats.

[bigballin]

as far as getting a pleco, they are really messy and alot of people dont realize how big they can get. my pleco right now is about 12 inches and for a 29 gallon, thats way too big. what you can do is get a uv sterilizer. it costs alot but it will keep your tank in crystal clear condition. the lighting is what causes the algae growth even though it is not direct sunlight. ease back on the lighting. i leave my lights on for maybe 6 hours max throughout the day. what type of light do you use? that is also a factor of the algae.

[tmfleo1]

Cut back on the light for now

[Lfsabch]

cheapest- cut back on light
next cheapest- use peat moss in filter or algea killing tablets
"no more algae" is what the tabs are called, made by Jungle
but i usually try to avoid chemicals if i can

expensive but effective- UV sterilizer, also cuts down on parasites

also try to scrape the tank clean then let it settle and then do a gravel cleaning and suck out as much as you can (no more then 25% water change though)

upside down cats hide, its their nature if u add more it will just be more that will hide

a pleco is your best choice, if you dont want one that gets too big, look into the royal plecos, rubber nose pleco, bushy nose pleco, they dont get as big as regular type, and if you want really small then go for some ancistrus plecos

[JuliusSqueezer]

LOL at the comment about people that don't realize how big a pleco can get. Even people that realize how big they can get...DO NOT realize how big they can get. Some species get extremely large. I was at a hatchery in florida once and they had a pleco in a tank that looked like a freaking nurse shark. It was a monster! I commented on how big that thing was and the guy laughed at me and said "That's nothing! Come out here" We walked out to the ponds. He reached down and hefted one out by the spike. I don't know exactly how big it was but he was standing up straight and it's tail was still in the water. They have an amazing growth potential.

[bigballin]

yeah plecos are crazy in their growth. mine is 12 inches and in a 200g. i think that i soon have to find him a new home. my friend has a nice pond that i might stick him in.

i personally dont like using the algae tabs or chemicals. just my preference. much safer is the cutting back on light and maybe getting a uv sterilizer.

[telefrag]

Originally Posted by ballpythonandragon

Hello i have a 29 gallon tank and the rocks are green and the filter nozzle is green where the water enters it. Green all over the decorations and everything i have one upside down cat and 1 pluc. what am i doing wrong

Is this a long filimantous algae or a carpet like algae?

if its either of those, no catfish or pleco can help you.

those two are often caused by high levels of phosphates in the tank water.

do you have pics of it?

[ballpythonandragon]

actually a little of both but how do i keep down the Phocphates in the tank? Im also going to purchase some clown loaches how many would be good for a 29gallon?

[telefrag]

phosphates are usually present in tap water, using RO water or filtered water can help w/ that.
or they make commercial phosphate "removal" pellets(granules) that you can put in your filter.
But also high nitrates/nitrites can cause it sometimes too (really depends on algae type)
only way to reduce nitrates is a water change, which then can introduce more phosphates if you use tap water (catch 22 eh?)

clown loaches are schoolers by nature, at least when young. 3-5 would probably be a good group, since you only have a 29gal, i'd go w/ 3

[Lfsabch]

collect rain in barrels best water to use, just check PH first