An t-iasg
Aquarium Advice Addict
I just read some other posts in this forum about algae, and I think I may have cyano in my tanks.
I noticed my betta eating the algae (a light, greenish coating -- looks greenish under water) on the suction cups. It didn't seem to hurt him. But I started doing some research on algae. It is greenish and slimy, but it's only on the suction cups of the heater and filter. The silk plants are slimy too, but they look ok. I read that cyano is often between the substate and the sides of the tank, but this isn't the case for me. When I wipe off the suction cups with a paper towel (removing them from the tank first) the paper towel is brownish-yellow.
So, is this cyano? It didn't hurt the betta when he ate it. I've been wiping off the suction cups at every cleanning now. When I do this, it has a terrible odor.
I looked at a link that Allivymar posted in one of the other algae topics. My algae doesn't look like any of the hair, beard, brown, etc. pictures. The main problem is that it's so smelly. It doesn't smell unless I lift the lid, but then, yuck! My poor betta has to live in this. Well, since I did the last water change and wiped everything off, last Friday, the water hasn't smelled again until today.
I have a sponge filter. I could turn it up a little, but in general, it isn't going to create a current in the water. I do have bright lights, and I have been turning them off sooner at the end of the day. I don't think they are too bright for the bettas, though. They are under-counter halogen lights, so I can't change them. I have been using Novaqua and Amquel, 5 or 6 drops per gallon. I know Novaqua has phosphate in it, but I thought as long as I don't put too much in, I'm ok. I don't know what the nitrates are. My test kit always says 20ppm, even after a water change (I use half tap water and half RO water).
So, any suggestions? I'm worried about my betta in this stinky water. I was thinking about getting a live plant, maybe next month. Will that help? If it might, I'll get it sooner. Thanks!
I noticed my betta eating the algae (a light, greenish coating -- looks greenish under water) on the suction cups. It didn't seem to hurt him. But I started doing some research on algae. It is greenish and slimy, but it's only on the suction cups of the heater and filter. The silk plants are slimy too, but they look ok. I read that cyano is often between the substate and the sides of the tank, but this isn't the case for me. When I wipe off the suction cups with a paper towel (removing them from the tank first) the paper towel is brownish-yellow.
So, is this cyano? It didn't hurt the betta when he ate it. I've been wiping off the suction cups at every cleanning now. When I do this, it has a terrible odor.
I looked at a link that Allivymar posted in one of the other algae topics. My algae doesn't look like any of the hair, beard, brown, etc. pictures. The main problem is that it's so smelly. It doesn't smell unless I lift the lid, but then, yuck! My poor betta has to live in this. Well, since I did the last water change and wiped everything off, last Friday, the water hasn't smelled again until today.
I have a sponge filter. I could turn it up a little, but in general, it isn't going to create a current in the water. I do have bright lights, and I have been turning them off sooner at the end of the day. I don't think they are too bright for the bettas, though. They are under-counter halogen lights, so I can't change them. I have been using Novaqua and Amquel, 5 or 6 drops per gallon. I know Novaqua has phosphate in it, but I thought as long as I don't put too much in, I'm ok. I don't know what the nitrates are. My test kit always says 20ppm, even after a water change (I use half tap water and half RO water).
So, any suggestions? I'm worried about my betta in this stinky water. I was thinking about getting a live plant, maybe next month. Will that help? If it might, I'll get it sooner. Thanks!