LarryK

Hello,

My tank has been running about 4 weeks. I added plants two weeks ago (Ludwiga Peruensis, Bacopa and Sword plants). This was all fine. On Saturday I added 9 Tetra. Since then I have noticed a furry growth on the Ludwiga and Sword plant leaves. I have cleaned this off a couple of times but it continues to grow back! Also, I have noticed some tiny snails in there. I have removed some, but they keep coming back.

Any ideas what is causing this to happen and how I can get rid of the snails and fur?

Maybe it will go away with cleaning as the tank continues it's cycle?

Thanks.

Beeker

Hello LarryK,

The snails are common when you add live plants to the tank. They won't harm anything, and I am quite sure that you will never see the end of them.
What color is the fur?
Is your aquarium info up to date?
If it is, you have a stocking problem. Not including the Pleco and the goldfish, just calculating the tetras and minnows, you have over 27 inches of fish in a 10 gallon tank.
The Pleco alone would need a 10 gallon tank and the goldfish alone would need a 20 gallon tank. With the fish you have, you need at least a 50 gallon tank.
Also, when the goldfish gets bigger, and it will or else it will die, it will make a small snack of your tetras and your minnows, and will destroy your plants. Goldfish can grow to be up to 2 feet long and can live up to 20 years, and are schooling fish. If you have one, you should get at least 3 friends for it. They are great fish, but are also a long term commitment.

Butterfly

Goldfish are cool water fish and not suitable to be in a tropical fish tank. sorry. When buying fish it's very important to research their needs before buying.
carol

LarryK

Sorry guys,

I've not updated my aqaurium info. I've re-housed the goldie, minnows and plec to a 30g and have also started a 30g tropical tank - in which I am having the fur problem. The fur is black Beeker.

Beeker

Thank you for the clarification.
That algae is nothing harmful. It could be from the tank cycling, or you don't have enough light. How many watts per gallon do you have? The snails will also take care of the algae. You most likely won't be able to get rid of all the snails, but they are good to have to clean up excess food and algae. I have lots in my planted tanks. To keep their population under control, just make sure you don't over feed. They are pretty cool to watch. You may like having snails as pets.
You still have a problem with that goldie being in a tropical tank. Goldfish prefer colder temps. If you can upgrade your tropical to a 50 gal and move all but the goldie to that, you can add one more goldie to the 30 gal and keep it as a cold water tank.
Goldfish need tankmates of their own kind to be happy. I have 6 goldfish in a 75 gallon tank. It is fully stocked. That is all that can fit. They also need to stay in temps below 70 to stay happy. If they don't they will get stressed and/or sick.
The rest of your fish need temps at 75 and above or else they will have a higher risk of getting stressed and/or sick.
It is unfortunate, but you have a compatibility problem with that goldfish. Currently, it doesn't fit into your fish family.

LarryK

Beeker,

Thanks for the info. The Goldie is in coldwater along with the minnows and plec, they were sold at the pet store as coldwater fish. They've been in coldwater over a year and seem fine. Do you think the minnows and plec would be able to adjust to a higher temp now? I'm considering finding someone with a bigger tank to house the goldie or maybe even someone with a pond Unfortunately, I haven't got room for another tank!

Beeker

They can adjust as long as you do it gradually.

Nate McFin

Black Beard algae is usually caused by low Co2 levels and too much light. DIY Co2 would likely fix that issue.
Welcome the snails as you will never see the end of them. LOL