Water conditions.....

[AmandaLyne]

okay so here is the scoop we have a 79gallon LONG tank we have 4 adult axis in there. Tonz of hiding spots plants and sand as a bottom. My problem is i am finding i am having to do alot of water changes because my filters are crappy. Is there a type of filter i can get here in canada that would handle the amount of waste and tank size better then the internal Fluval and external aquatech 30-0 filters?>>>?? Water is nasty and alge is becomming a problem. I have cut back the feeding to once a week to see if that helps but nothing yet.

 

[Darkmaverick]

HI Amandalyn,

Does your tank receive any direct light such as from a window or lamp? The light would contribute to algae bloom. If so, try reducing the amount of light source (curtains and shades etc.)

I agree that once you manage your water quality, it would also help with the algae issue. It is alright however to leave the algae although you might like to remove those causing an aesthetic problem. http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Tank_critters.shtml

The filters you mentioned are not too bad. I personally think that external canister filters are the best for management of large tanks. You would also have to consider the working capacity of the filter to make sure the particular model works most efficiency for your tank volume.
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/filters.shtml

As with all filters however, it would also require you to maintain it well. Unclog the filters and replenish the chemical filtration media (Activated carbon/zeolite) regularly. Regular 20% water changes and siphoning up of detritus and uneaten food will also contribute substantially to the water quality of the tank.

Cheers.

 

[AmandaLyne]

Hey we went out and bought a flauval 305 canasiter filter for the tank it is working amazing. Still i cant seem to get the alge off the glass..any suggestions? Can i put a plecco in the tank if he is 3 times the size of my axis or it that a big no no. i have tired the scrubbers but it justcomes back. the tank is not in light and i only turn the lights on to feed and take pictures.

 

[Darkmaverick]

HI Amandalyn,

The algae on surfaces has to be rid off manually. The filter won't get to them. I suggest leaving the algae around discrete hidden surfaces as they are. For aesthetic reasons, you can scrub away algae on tank glass surfaces using a long handle 'sponge' wiper, a tank magnet glass scraper, even a piece of paper towel. There will always be a certain level of algae in your tank (just a matter of more or less really) so it would have to be an ongoing process.

What are your nitrate levels? High nitrate levels can contribute to algae bloom. Regular water changes should fix that.

Plecos are not recommended to be added to the tank regardless of size. They can harm the axie and vice versa.

Cheers

 

[blueberlin]

Hi AmandaLyne,

Algae grow when there is an excess of light and nutrients. If your tank is new and planted with live plants, the higher plants will eventually take the nutrients out of the water, starving the algae. Until then, you will just need to keep scrubbing the glass. You can also add coldwater snails, which help with the algae and provide the occasional snack for your axolotl.

More info on algae can be found here.

What puzzles me a bit is that you say the tank does not receive light. Forgive the question, but are you sure what you have is algae - it is a visible brown scum on the glass? Or is it just a film you can feel but not see? The latter would be bacteria, which is a good thing and should be left. Is it a white film? This could be limescale cause by the evaporation of hard water, and just has to be scrubbed off during water changes.

Hope this helps,

-Eva