my 10g

I have a 10g tank and it seems clean but foggy at the same time.... the filter is always on and this thick dark green coating covers random spots around the tank should i be concerned?

Jon,

There are a few outlets you can take but overall, i think you are fine. The cloudy water could be due to a number of things, however the most common reason for this is that there is too much ammonia in the water, i.e. from fish wastes, food, plant debris, etc.

It can be taken care of with an ammonia test kit and then if found positive you can by formula that neutralizes the toxic ammonia and converts it to "clean" ammonia (its not removed but makes it non-toxic).


Then you can also try using a water clearer, such as Accu-Clear.

Periodic water changes also help with this.

As for the green spots, that is probably algae. Algae also builds up on the sides when bacteria clump together. You can remove that by 1) getting an algae eater such as a Pleco, snails, etc 2) Algae Remover Medication (not expensive).

If you try this, you outta be be in the clear

I would personally not recommend going out and spending the money for the meds. I would definately buy a test kit, this is a hobby must.

20% daily water changes are the best thing. Just remember to use a chlorine remover... Amquel Plus or Chlor Out, something along those lines.

How many fish are in your tank? How old is the tank, as in when did you set it up? And is it a planted tank? If so... how many plants?

Binding the Ammonia is one option, with the medicine. There are 2 other easy options as well...

Adding a lot of plants... They'll convert the ammonia. Floating plants are really good as well... Hornwort, water sprite, duckweed, etc. They'll also help with the algae problem. More plants is better than less plants when it comes to algae.

Frequent water changes are the key to any healthy aquarium. 20-40% weekly is a great thing. Just don't forget the Chlorine remover. Please remember that in the wild... Our fish don't live in a glass box... They have usually a current... bringing new water and taking the old water away... Weekly water changes help from the water getting fouled by uneaten food and fish waste. Just think about it as if you kept going to the bathroom in the toilet for a week, and never flushed... Pretty nasty huh?

The algae could be caused by a variety of things... Too much sunlight, not enough light... Over feeding... lack of water changes... Tons of different things... Without knowing more about your aquarium, I really can't tell you yet... I've used Algae fix with some success in one of my tanks that I'm constantly battling algae in. What happens is you pour it in every 3 days, and the algae goes away... If you miss in your routine... the algae comes back... So, as it's a larger tank, and I don't really have the funds to buy the glass tops and larger lights that I need, I'm battling it naturally. I have purchased some Hi/Long fin Rosy Barbs and I'm going to heavily plant it. It'll still be expensive, but hopefully as not as much as the big lights... LOL!

Now... another thing that I would recommend if you don't already have,is a python type cleaning system... One of the larger diameter tubes on the end and the suction line out the end. There's cheaper versions that don't hook up to the sink, you can just empty into a bucket. This is probably fine for one or 2 aquariums. This is the key to being able to suck up that layer algae and doing water changes...

Good Luck and keep us posted!

I just did a 20% water change.do you think i'll be good if i do that every day for a week or so? also the tank has two lights like right over it in the cover as for sunlight it gets some but not direct.
in the tank i have.

2 bettas
(one male, one female.)
1 neon tetra

Also I had 2 guppies but they died. I think as a result of not cycling the tank first.

I think overfeeding is one of the main issues i do feed them a lot but they seem to eat everything. Or the filter throws it to the bottom. where can I get the pleco snails?

there's no live plants in it and I set it up like 2 weeks ago.

If the aquarium has been set up for only two weeks, it has not had time to go through the nitrogen cycle. Other posts on this website have detailed information about the nitrogen cycle. Until the nitrogen cycle is complete and working, water chemistry will be all over the place, and you'll have plenty of algae food.

With what John said...

Definately in a cycle... Try to hang in there... Read up on the Nitrogen cycle, there's a bunch of posts about it here on the forum, I think one's even in a blog.

Bettas have VERY small tummies. You really almost can't help but overfeed with the fish that you have. A tiny bit would be plenty.

I feed each of my bettas 3 betta bites every morning and every night. At night I give them a squirt of baby brine shrimp because I'm trying to condition them to breed.

Don't get anymore fish until the cycle is over. Water changes will help, but you'll just have to hang in there till you're cycled.

Good Luck!