CluelessInNY
Aquarium Advice Activist
20 gallon tank / Nitrite 0.2 / Nitrate 10 (low end) / Ammonia .25 / Alkalinity normal / Spec Gravity 1.023 / 80 degrees. 30 days into my cycling...
I have a brown stuff and now what looks like bright green algae on the sand. It's growing in patches all over the sand...ICK! It doesn't move with a swipe, you have to actually shift the snad for it to move. The Damselfish seems quite normal. Also, the glass is starting to get brown stuff on it.
1) is this growing mess normal?
2) should I change the water?...move the sand around?
3) I still haven't seen a nitrite spike, but the nitrate is up from 2.5 to 10.
4) I am getting collections of uneaten food at the bottom of the tank (despite my removal of as much of the food as the fish leaves uneaten when he's done feeding) Should I vacuum hat out or does it help cycle the tank?
Sorry for the dumb questions. Total newbie and happy to listen to your advice
I have a brown stuff and now what looks like bright green algae on the sand. It's growing in patches all over the sand...ICK! It doesn't move with a swipe, you have to actually shift the snad for it to move. The Damselfish seems quite normal. Also, the glass is starting to get brown stuff on it.
1) is this growing mess normal?
2) should I change the water?...move the sand around?
3) I still haven't seen a nitrite spike, but the nitrate is up from 2.5 to 10.
4) I am getting collections of uneaten food at the bottom of the tank (despite my removal of as much of the food as the fish leaves uneaten when he's done feeding) Should I vacuum hat out or does it help cycle the tank?
Sorry for the dumb questions. Total newbie and happy to listen to your advice