Is the petstore worker right?

[munoza]

Hi,

I recently had gone to a local aquarium store and I am questioning a statement he stated to me. I have a 5.5 gallon glass tank it measures aprx. 16Lx8Wx10H. I had a small green dot algea problem before it got bad. I was thinking about getting some plants ect. I decided not to make that move yet, and that I was not ready for that; I am some what newer to the aquarium world 4 months experience. I asked him about algea ect. He asked how often I clean the tank, I replied "1 to 2 times a week" he said that that was my problem and that " I was only supposed to clean it like once a month. well I like my tank to look nice. My ammonia level is 0 my nitrates are round 20 ppl I believeph 7 dont know know the nitrite level. My fish are all healthy and happy. The small amount of algea I had had was not bad, but I wanted the main front view cleared of algea. Was the the pet store worker right, am I doing this wrong, I've just been taking suggestion from some folks on here. Please I need some feedback from well expiernced aquarum addicts.

 

[thebritishbloke]

If you clean the tank 1-2 times a week and not the filter, then you're perfectly fine. You can clean your tank as often as you like so long as you don't clean the filter too often.

 

[Cactuspixie]

The most important thing is the health of your water- and according to your test results yours is healthy
You can clean your glass hourly if it takes your fancy to do so. You can change your water daily if you so choose. What you shouldn't over-clean, is your filter. Don't let it get gunked up, and keep the flow clear, but you don't want to disturb the bacteria unnecessarily. Especially if you are like me, and turn a simple filter clean into a flood, an electrical hazard, and in the ensuing chaos accidentally put the biomedia in untreated tap water

I get the green dot algae where sunlight hits the glass. I have a loofah-type glove I put on when doing a water change and rub the algae off with that. Other than that I don't clean my glass, because I like to watch my bristlenose doing that

 

[Cactuspixie]

I do water changes including gravel vacs twice a weeks whenever I haven't been able to stick to that schedule I have issues arise.

 

[thebritishbloke]

I do water changes including gravel vacs twice a weeks whenever is haven't been able to stick to that schedule I have issues arise.

I clean my turtle's tank once a month, mainly because I'm only home once a month to do so. The biggest problem I ever have is hair algae, thank god for overfiltration.

 

[munoza]

I'm glad I am getting good feed back. Why did the guy at the store say that, I am confused; was there a reasoning he said that? Or was he trying to say somthing else. And also my dwarf bristlenose hangs out everywhere except the spot that the algea just happened to grow.

 

[thebritishbloke]

Sometimes people hear things and take it as truth, he could have been told not to clean tanks too often (although if he's running the pet store, surely he'd want his tanks to be clean for customers?)

 

[aquandrew]

your algae problem is being caused by excessive nitrate buildup in such a small tank. bristlenose plecos are pooping machines and should not be in a 5 gallon. what are your other fish?

 

[munoza]

I have 1 Dwarf Bristlenose Pleco, 1 Male Betta, 2 African Dwarf Frogs and 2 Snails.

 

[Cactuspixie]

For the record, there is no such thing as a 'dwarf bristlenose'. He will become stunted in a 5 gal but that doesn't make him a 'dwarf' species.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

I have a 5 gallon as well with a betta In it, I don't think that ADF should go in a 5 gallon, that's why mine will be stocked with shrimp, betta, snails, and 2 Otos later on
What I do is that I take out 50% of the water out on Wednesdays and Sundays, but I change the filter media every June and December

 

[aquandrew]

two african dwarf frogs can be kept in a 5 gallon, but that would be fully stocked. may i ask what you feed? do you see the frogs eat? i suggest getting a 29 or larger aquarium and keeping the frogs in the 5 gallon. then you can add a few more fish, and give the frogs a proper diet

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

So they can go in a 5 gallon then?

 

[aquandrew]

african dwarf frogs, yes. you don't want them in a tank over 12 inches high, long term, or it will put stress on the frog from swimming up to the surface so much and can shorten its lifespan. they are a very cool species of frog and easy/cheap to keep compared to most frogs imo. african clawed frogs on the other hand, are a completely different story. the main reason why i don't advise people keeping frogs in a community, is because they feed flake food.(unless you are willing to spot feed the frog) flake food can cause intestinal blockage in african dwarf frogs, so their best diet consists of pellets made specifically for them and frozen foods a few times a week.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

I have a 5 gallon as well with a betta In it, I don't think that ADF should go in a 5 gallon, that's why mine will be stocked with shrimp, betta, snails, and 2 Otos later on
What I do is that I take out 50% of the water out on Wednesdays and Sundays, but I change the filter media every June and December

You don't need to replace the media, unless it is falling part. Just rinse it off. When you change the media you will have spikes in ammonia.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

The pet store worker isn't wrong, if you have a lightly stocked tank, and a lot of filtration. But weekly 50% water change are usually just right.

 

[absolutangel04]

So, one thing you will soon find out about aquarium keeping: not all aquarists agree. There is a lot of differing information out there. You know about water chemistry, so that is good. In the past days of aquarium keeping, it seems that it was more the norm for people to clean less and just let the tank run its course. That doesn't mean it was ever really giving the fish the best situation possible, but that is how many people did it. That is still how many people do it. You will still see all sorts of people with grungy, disgusting tanks and living fish. The advice people here have given you is solid. You need to do pwc to keep the water from turning toxic. Keep up the good work.
Let's please try to not pull this thread too far off topic, but I do also want to chime in and add that a bnp is a rather large fish for your tank size. Unfortunately, you are hindered by the petite size of the tank. I suggest going with a nerite snail instead of the bnp. I know it is not necessarily as fun to watch snails, but even my partially grown bnp would be pretty cramped such a small tank. Get a bnp someday when you have a larger tank (unless of course you are planning to upgrade sometime soonish).

 

[Rivercats]

Another added note is nerite snails are the only algae eaters that can actually scrape off and eat green spot algae.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

You don't need to replace the media, unless it is falling part. Just rinse it off. When you change the media you will have spikes in ammonia.

Oh really? That's good, I thought you had to actually get rid of the whole thing

 

[munoza]

african dwarf frogs, yes. you don't want them in a tank over 12 inches high, long term, or it will put stress on the frog from swimming up to the surface so much and can shorten its lifespan. they are a very cool species of frog and easy/cheap to keep compared to most frogs imo. african clawed frogs on the other hand, are a completely different story. the main reason why i don't advise people keeping frogs in a community, is because they feed flake food.(unless you are willing to spot feed the frog) flake food can cause intestinal blockage in african dwarf frogs, so their best diet consists of pellets made specifically for them and frozen foods a few times a week.

Thanks I just learned why one of my frogs seems bloated and the other seems healthy. I will make the proper changes when I can.