My fishtank problem. [Archive] - The Michigan Sportsman Forums

deputy865

01-10-2006, 10:16 PM

Yes i still have all of the same fish ALIVE in my tanks..Every single one is living..But i have a problem..I never can see them..I have a lot of algea and it grows fast. Anyway i can prevent it from spreading? Anything i can put in the water that will stop it from growing that wont harm the fish? I seen some pool stuff but i kinda figured that would harm my gills so i didnt get it..I'm thinking of making a makeshift wiper to wipe some of it out..It will be something like a winsheild wiper but shorter and on a stick..If i make it i will post a picture of it and directions for the other fishtank guys out there with the same problem!:fish:

Any help would be appreciated. Oh yea i got my camera up and running so when i clean my tank i'll get some pics up.

Shane

kumma

01-10-2006, 11:05 PM

sounds like your overloaded on your aquarium carring capacity. how many fish and how large are each fish and whats the dimensions of your aquarium. My sunfish is the only thing in a 20 gallon tank. you should post a picture anyways.

go to a local pet store and ask for advice, if you use any pool chemicals you will kill your fish.

shadow7663

01-10-2006, 11:20 PM

Are you running a filter? In my aquariums I used to have more than 1 filter and sometimes up to 4 depending on the size tank. The more circulation you have in the tank the better off you are. I never had an algae problem. At your local aquarium shop they have a chemical designed to stop or slow the growth of algae. I also used this product in conjunction with the many filters.

You can also install a under gravel filter with a power head on each end on the tank and back filter on the top of the tank. This will help you tremendously.

beachrat9

01-10-2006, 11:21 PM

my friend had that problem. he put in a "bubble wall" and it cleared up the tank very quickly. maybe that will work

yellowbelly80

01-10-2006, 11:22 PM

algee is caused by too much light change your light cycle go to the fish store and buy a http://www.aquacon.com/magfloat.html its the best thing i ever bouught for my tank (http://www.aquacon.com/magfloat.html)

enfield

01-11-2006, 08:01 AM

Agree - green algae is caused by too much light, brown algae is caused by not enough light. If it's green, try turning the light off more, using a smaller light, or moving the aquarium out of the sunlight.

You'll probably still get algae, but the rate should be less. We still have to clean our tank every few months to get the algae out.

andy capp

01-11-2006, 08:07 AM

Turn off the lights, and leave them off all the time. The only time I turn mine on is when we feed or want to look. Also start doing water changes every other day.

deputy865

01-11-2006, 09:37 AM

andy capp

01-11-2006, 09:42 AM

..Yea i think i'll trun my light off..Its on 24/7. I am breaking the rules about how many fish should be in there...I have a regular 10 gallon tank with 5 gills the biggest is about 2 1/2", and i have 2 Gobys.One big one and a smaller one.

beachrat, what is a "bubble wall"?

I'll clean the algea off and take some pictures. I would like to get some more color in there here soon..I have real rocks in there a little house and a plant, and its dull and boring..

Thanks for the help

Shane

That is your problem turn the lights off. And get a bigger fish tank.

ih772

01-11-2006, 10:34 AM

Can a person legally have live gobies in their possession?

deputy865

01-11-2006, 04:39 PM

Can a person legally have live gobies in their possession?

??????Hope so, can anyone answer this question??????

Shane

bucketmouthhauler

01-11-2006, 06:07 PM

As a matter of fact I dont think you can legally have bluegill either.I could be wrong. Or maybe it is just gamefish you cant have like bass and pike?

MSUICEMAN

01-11-2006, 06:11 PM

no on the gobies.... i believe yes on the gills, but i could be wrong.

deputy865

01-11-2006, 08:57 PM

So what are you suggesting i do with the gobies..I like them, they do a good job at food clean up and there neat to watch....

Shane

bucketmouthhauler

01-11-2006, 09:13 PM

So what are you suggesting i do with the gobies..I like them, they do a good job at food clean up and there neat to watch....

Shane
maybe you can liquidate them? Sell them back to china or wherever they came from. It would surprise me though if china actually bought something from the US.

sweatyspartan

01-12-2006, 11:59 AM

A coupla tricks you can try:

The "Mag float" works well, but thats only treating the syptoms, not the problem.

You do have to many fish for the size of the tank according to most "experts"

Don't change the water everyday or even everyother day. This will throw off the PH levels in your tank and also could introduce new chemicals from your tap water (Chlorine for example)

Regulate how much you turn the lights on. Try getting one of those timers you can plug into.

Get a "cleaning crew". By that I mean maybe a couple snails, but especially some Plecos. They are very hardy fish that would survive in that tank

MGV

01-12-2006, 12:58 PM

Yes i am running a filter a farly big one to..Yea i think i'll trun my light off..Its on 24/7. I am breaking the rules about how many fish should be in there...I have a regular 10 gallon tank with 5 gills the biggest is about 2 1/2", and i have 2 Gobys.One big one and a smaller one.

beachrat, what is a "bubble wall"?

I'll clean the algea off and take some pictures. I would like to get some more color in there here soon..I have real rocks in there a little house and a plant, and its dull and boring..

Thanks for the help

Shane

Way overloaded tank. Bluegills are a dirty fish for a aquarium. You should be able to put a Pleco in there and not have to worry about it harming your other fish. A big enough Pleco will keep your tank in check. You can always have two of them in the tank at one time. I have one that is pushing 18" right now in a 75 gallon at home. It does a wonderful job with the Algae. About time to sell him and go to two small ones to grow. Another thing that will help your tank is get some water movement. A bubble wall will do that also. You can go to Thatpetplace.com. They carry them for under $5. Anything else PM me or reply on this thread.

jd_7655

01-12-2006, 01:37 PM

Algea is caused by either to much light, to much fish waste (food or poop), or both cut your lights back to 8 hours and clean your gravel with a syphen hose. Feed the fish no more then they can eat in 3 minutes 3 times daily. Also thier are algea eating fish (Pleco's or simeese algea eater) Beware of any pleco over $10 not all are algea eaters. Many plecos grow large and out grow your tank. Also once they eat all the algea you have to feed them algea waffers or they'll starve and die. It is illeagal to keep any native or invasive fish in captivity. Although I've seen 3 inch muskie and sturgon for sale at pet shops and people do it all the time. I think the law is mostly aimed to keep people from selling native fish to petshops and reduse supply and demand. I questioned the shop owner about the muskie witch was being sold as a silver pike. He addmited it was a muskie but non native "came from a different state" go figure.

kumma

01-12-2006, 02:30 PM

It is illeagal to keep any native or invasive fish in captivity.

Dont spread untruths. Any fish that doesnt have a size limit and closed season is legal to keep in a home aquarium. This includes perch, sunfish, bullheads, gar, etc.. Call the DNR and check for yourself if you still have doubts.

andy capp

01-12-2006, 02:57 PM

Feed the fish no more then they can eat in 3 minutes 3 times daily.

I feed my fish 1 time a day, 3 is too much.

And keep the lights off until you get the algae problem in check. Nothing worse than getting it semi cleaned up and turning on the lights and getting an algae explosion.

There is nothing wrong with water changes with tap water, just use start right and you will be fine. I have a minnow tank in my garage and do partial water changes every other day. You forget to put chemical in the water to take out the chlorine and watch the minnows go belly up in less than 10 minutes. Use start right and the fish will be fine.

jd_7655

01-12-2006, 05:42 PM

Dont spread untruths. Any fish that doesnt have a size limit and closed season is legal to keep in a home aquarium. This includes perch, sunfish, bullheads, gar, etc.. Call the DNR and check for yourself if you still have doubts.Your Right I called the DNR. But talk to any pet shop and theyll tell you other wise. I've been keeping aquarium fish for about 17 years and was told in the shops it was illeagal to sell or posses native species without a permit. I called 4 petshops while waiting for a call back from the DNR. and thats what I was told. Sorry for my misinformation.

schaaed1

01-12-2006, 06:53 PM

neil duffey

01-13-2006, 02:01 AM

Page #5 of the Fishing Regs clearly states that it is unlawful to possess or transport live Gobies.

I thought (don't have the time to look through to find it) that it was also unlawful to return them (live) to the lake from whish they came. I could be wrong on the last point ... but we always make sure they are DEAD.
they used to have a bounty on gobies. something to the tune of .05c for each dead one u brought in. if u catch a gobey the dnr personaly told me to a kill it on spot and b do not return the carcas to the water. distructive little devils. shane kill em and burn em. go w/ pleco's snails reproduce FAST! and over run the tank. trust me.

shotgun12

01-13-2006, 02:06 AM

keep them in the tank and say nothing.

deputy865

01-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Yea i really dont want to kill them, but if i absolutly (sp?) have to i will...there neat looking...So i'm safe with the gills right? i did catch them in season:p .
Okay and i'll look for plecos...

Once i clean the tank i'll have pics..

Shane

MGV

01-16-2006, 06:02 AM

Did a water change on my tank this weekend. I had Algae growing on the glass tops. I took them and slid them in the tank for the Pleco to clean. I don't think you could of seen a happier fish. His belly was bloated nicely of Algae.

One note, Don't think that pleco will solve the problem instantly. They are more of a night time fish. You might have to clean stuff yourself until he can handle the load in the tank.

fishindude

01-16-2006, 04:36 PM

Instead of a snail what do you guys think of a couple zebra mussles? I don't know if they fall under the illegal to posses deal but they would clean the algea up really quick. Do you think they would get into the filter system? This would be the only downside i see to the mussles.

deputy865

01-16-2006, 05:10 PM

Yea i think i'm gonna get one of those Pleco's..is it alright if they stay in the tank with the other fish?

They look pretty sweet to..

Shane

CubanFisherman

01-16-2006, 05:26 PM

Shane.

Is there a body of water near Fenton that even contains gobies? From where did you get them?

The reason I ask is that often times gobies are confused with sculpin, which are a native, non harmful species. If you got them from a local body of water, chances are that they are sculpin.

Sculpin:http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/biology/Fish_key/Cottidae/sculpin_air_Gray.jpg

MGV

01-17-2006, 06:26 AM

Never seen one of them before. Can you give a link on them for some more pictures?

deputy865

01-17-2006, 03:58 PM

I got mine from the shiawasse (sp) river. Its werid of the 2 one is always a different color. usually the bigger one..I think that may be what i have cuse' that looks just like my bigger one...

Shane

CubanFisherman

01-17-2006, 06:58 PM

It can be difficult to distinguish between round gobies and sculpins, but the goby's fused pelvic fin is the best way to tell them apart.
http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/Graphics/gobyfin.gif

http://www.nanfa.org/NANFAregions/oh/Ohio0802/sculpin1.jpg

deputy865

01-18-2006, 07:42 AM

the one above looks just like mine..Size and color and all...Even that "i'll kill you look"..:lol:

Shane

CubanFisherman

01-18-2006, 10:06 AM

l...Even that "i'll kill you look"..:lol:
Hahahaha...

I probably would too if I were swimming in my own fecal excrement.

Lt.Dan

01-19-2006, 09:33 AM

Ive Had 3 Fish Tanks For The Last 10 Yrs 180,129 And A 30 I Had The Same Problem With The 30 Gal.to Much Light Was The Answer.i Changed The Water Every 2 Weeks.as They Said And It Cleared It Up For A While But Came Right Back.i Was Getting The Light From My Big Bay Window In The Family Room.after Closing The Shades For A While Every Day The Problem Went Away.try Moving Your Tank If It Is Not So Big You Can Try This See If It Helps.

I ALSO SAW A SHOW WITH THE DNR ON TV LAST MONTH AND THEY SAID IF YOU CATCH A GOBY IN THE LAKE TO KILL IT AND NOT TO THROUGH IT BACK.THE ARTICLE WAS ON LAKE ERIE

MIfishinGuy

01-21-2006, 01:11 AM

i have a 29 gallon tank and had regular aquarium fish and after they were done, (2yrs) i put a little sunnie in there, he was cool for a while, but then i returned him to the water. (that damn billy bass song was playing over and over in my head...Take me to the river, drop me in the water) lol.

yes algae is b/c of too much light. and even if your tank lights are off, be aware if your tank is by a window, light from that can be a problem too.

there is a magnetic algae cleaner on the market, i think they are around 6 bucks at meijer, and they come in different sizes if you go to a pet/fish store. they are 2 pieces, one is a scaper that goes in the tank, and one is a handle that magnets to the outside, and you just slide it around and it cleans it so you don't get your hands wet. i would just always leave it attached at the corner or w/e. plecos are cool, but idk if you want to put anymore fish in there!!! but its your tank, to each his own.

MIfishinGuy

01-21-2006, 01:17 AM

here's some,
now here's the question of the decade,
is it
a. pet smart
or
b. pet's mart

i can't figure it out!!!

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 1397&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030125&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1137824091986