EdnJean

Hi all,

I did a filter clean 3 days ago, and since then, i have noticed a build up of "something" inside my filter hoses, both intake and output. The hoses are green, and the deposits inside look brown, but its hard to tell given I am looking through green.


The positioning of the tank and filter is such that the some parts of the hoses and tank get about 2 hours of direct sunlight in the morning, not ideal, but it is the only spot for the tank as my new apartment is small and I am yet to invest in some curtains.

Is this likely to be algae?

Is this something to worry about?

Also, I have read that fish require about 8 hours of light per day. True?

They currently get about two hours sunlight in the morning, then the apartment is quite dim. I get home at about 6pm and turn on the Fluoro, and switch it off at about 11pm when I go to bed. Is this Ok?

If not, I am contemplating the following: Buy curtains, Buy wooden cover for tank - hence minimal light will enter tank except for the Flouro. Next, invest in a timer switch, and have it set to turn on at say, 3pm, and switch off at 11pm.

Your thoughts?

Thanks

Ed

fishlover78

I like the idea of the timer, that's what I had on my tank, you said the algae was brown? have you recently replaced any filter media? don't worry I;m just asking these questions to help me diagnose your brown algae, if you have over cleaned the tank you could have throw it into a mini cycle because you removed too much bacteria. because usually the brown algae is diatoms which show up at the end of a cycle, they are harmless. I know its kinda hard to see through the green intake tubes on you eihm (spelling?) filter! Hmm, what are your parameters?

Shawnie

you can also throw a towel or something to that effect over the hoses during the sunlight hours...I wouldnt worry about it and covering it should kill most of the green algae...the brown as fishlover said is probably diatoms and will go away in time....goodluck!

fishlover78

my filter tubes and intakes always looked like crud, after all they are what all the junk goes up! an aquarium filter is a dirty yet vital thing!

capekate

I agree with fishlover
The intake tubes of the filters end up with gunk in them all the time. Its just part of the filtering of the tank. You can take them off and clean them out when you do a water change. I roll up a paper towel and stuff it in to wipe the insides of the tubes or use a long skewer wrapped in paper towel if needed and then rinse in the tank water that Ive kept in the bucket after a water change. Put the tube back on the filter and its good to go til the next cleaning day!
IMO the dim lights of the room til you come home from work is fine for fish. turning on the lights at six and then off before you go to bed should not bother your fish or your tank unless you have life plants in there that need more light.

fishlover78

CapeKate, I love the paper towel Idea

capekate

thanks
It does work! After going through my utensil drawers I found the skewer worked great wrapped in paper towels but most times especially on the larger filter that has joining sections of tubing I am able to reach with just the rolled up paper towel.