I purchased a 20 gal tank at a large pet retailer store about 5 months ago. Water was great for a month. I haven’t had it clear ever since. I’ve changed water, did algae treatments, replaced structures. I’ve even downsized fish population. Currently I have a dwarf gourami, spotted gourami (each about 2.5 inches) and 4 glo fish. Two of the glo fish are tiny. I’ve even waited as long as 5 weeks for the algae to settle and balance out after a cleaning and water change. No luck at all. It’ll be clear for a day but that’s it. Now, I’m starting to get bad smell. I’ve change water many times and left it alone for weeks, but nothing is changing.
Do I need to try a better filtration system? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I understand that my water level is a little low and that’s due to removing a large structure to see if it helps. That was a week ago.
Posted by edwduncan
11 Comments
Your water may have large amounts of phosphate or some other substance that encourages algae growth. You don’t get too much light? I would try additives for the filter to remove phosphates. I use a good UV light attached to my outtake tube on the canister filter. That helps but they are expensive now.
If you have a HOB, get a UV light and put it in HOB
I used https://a.co/d/ejFAInL and it worked really well when I had algae
Turn the dang light off. It’s algae bloom. Reduce feeding and do a 50% water change. Keep the light off at least a week
You’re dealing with an algae bloom. To help control it, reduce the amount of light your aquarium gets. Turn off the aquarium light for a few days (if you can), and try to block out any sunlight or other light sources from windows or nearby lamps. Additionally, do a 50% water change as soon as possible, but only once to help control the algae bloom.
If you have live plants or invertebrates in the tank, avoid using any anti-algae chemicals—they can harm or kill them. Also, if your aquarium has fish or other livestock, cut back on feeding to just 3–4 days a week, and only give small amounts each time, once or twice a day.
You need nutrient export systems or do more water changes!
A hang on back filter loaded up with media is great cause it only needs to be cleaned about once a month. Also sponge filters are the king of filters they are just kinda ugly and take up more space. #1 problem has to be your light. That’s what happens when you have the light on for a very long time. You’re gonna have to do at least 70% water change probably more. And don’t have the light for more than 6 hours. And when you’re not home don’t have it on at all.
Stop doing algae treatments. Your tank is unbalanced, and overcorrecting with chemicals is just like overcorrecting when you’re unbalanced on a tightrope.
Give the fish to someone else if you can, in case things get worse. A bad smell is a bad sign.
Lower the light period by half.
Most importantly, *test the water* – You’re aiming for zero ammonia, zero nitrites, and low nitrates.
Do a 50% water change every day, after a test each day.
Once your test numbers are close to zero, you are at square one. Continue to cycle the tank completely and thoroughly with regular small water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites in check. If you don’t know how, [now you do](https://www.apifishcare.co.uk/post/how-to-cycle-a-new-tank).
Add some simple floating plants or fast growing plants like guppy grass or hornwort, to help suck up any excess nitrates. You can remove these later if you want.
Then you can stock it up a little more, turn up the light period, etc.
Hulk piss
1) do a 50% waterchange.
2) Turn off all lights completely for a week.
3) Cover the sides of the tank with cardboard or towel so that no light can get inside.
4) Cover the top with a lid or something light proof.
5) if fish are present – feed a small amount 1x a day or every other day opening the lid just long enough to put food inside.
If it’s not clear at the end of a week, continue for a second week.
Have you replaced and cleaned filter media
Bad smell means you are feeding more than your fish are eating, and its not being removed. I’d test your water change water and see if that has high nitrates to begin with. Then I’d do what is one of the biggest “secrets” to a successful aquarium … water changes, water changes, water changes. Once you’ve figured out if your replacement water is fine, I’d do 5-10 gallons a day until it clears up. Literally give your fish 6 flakes of food a day for a week. They ain’t gonna starve. Between making sure your replacement water is good, doing regular daily water changes, and cutting down on feeding your fish your issue should go away.