Please help!

[CHYDOLL]

I've had my 20 gallon tank set up for about 6 months now and I have yet to go a full week with clear water. I currently have 3 fish in the tank. An opaline gourami (who I've had for 5 months), a sunburst gourami (who I've had for a few weeks) and a baby guppy who's been in there since the beginning. I have a couple decorations and natural stone gravel. I have the tetra power filter 40 on it but it will not stay clear. I've tried acurel, crystal clear and I also use stress zyme and stress coat during water changes. Right now the water is currently yellow and this is a few days after doing about a 25% water change. I don't know what else to do. So please help

 

[cgthebeast]

Why are your parms, any driftwood. I use Aquaon and it work great. It makes particles stick togther an filter out easier

 

[CHYDOLL]

No driftwood just my 3 fish who seem very happy. Right now my ammonia is .25 and my ph is 7.4. I have used tons of products and none have helped. I have a small amount of algae that grows on the glass but nothing out of control.

 

[CHYDOLL]

Right now the water is yellow.

 

[cgthebeast]

Pic please, hmm, did you rinse the substrate? Could have dust off it in there

 

[CHYDOLL]

About 2 weeks ago I changed the gravel completely thinking that was the cause. And I made sure to rinse it very well before adding it in.



This is my disaster of a tank.

 

[CHYDOLL]

When I get home I plan to do a bigger water change and go from there but I need some advice as to what to do.

 

[bob mccoy]

ohhhhh you have a big algae bloom going on. get a pleco and some snails. clean filter keep the light off as much as posible keep tank out of sun

 

[CHYDOLL]

Should I do the water change as planned?

 

[cgthebeast]

ohhhhh you have a big algae bloom going on. get a pleco and some snails. clean filter keep the light off as much as posible keep tank out of sun

Plecos really don't touch algae, I vote Otos

 

[cgthebeast]

Should I do the water change as planned?

I would, also cut your light time down and pick up some otos

 

[bob mccoy]

yes definitely keep doing them

 

[CHYDOLL]

Good to know because right now my light is on about 10-12 hours a day. I used to have a pleco but I brought him back to my job (I work in a pet store) because he was too big. We small algae eaters and otto cats so maybe I'll get a couple.

 

[cgthebeast]

Good to know because right now my light is on about 10-12 hours a day. I used to have a pleco but I brought him back to my job (I work in a pet store) because he was too big. We small algae eaters and otto cats so maybe I'll get a couple.

That's way to much light, 8 hours is the most they should run

 

[cgthebeast]

That's way too much, 6-8 hours is the best to run

 

[aquandrew]

Good to know because right now my light is on about 10-12 hours a day. I used to have a pleco but I brought him back to my job (I work in a pet store) because he was too big. We small algae eaters and otto cats so maybe I'll get a couple.

make sure your ammonia is back down to 0 before adding an otoinculus catfish, those chemicals you used likely hurt your beneficial bacteria and they can be quite sensitive

 

[cgthebeast]

Otos are pretty picky and sensitive, I would do a 25% WC before you get them

 

[CHYDOLL]

Thank you. I'll do the water change as planned and keep the light off. It's not in any sunlight so I don't have to worry about that. I appreciate the help because I've been having issues for so long and I just want a clear tank

 

[CHYDOLL]

Should I add any more chemicals to it or just simply the water change?

 

[cgthebeast]

I would just wait an see before adding more chems