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QuestionHow do I lower the ammonia levels in my fish tank?Marshall Stephens is an Aquarium Expert at Private Oceans Aquariums in West Palm Beach, Florida. Marshall has over 20 years of experience in the aquarium industry and focuses on captive-bred animals. They specialize in tropical and marine aquariums and are a contributor to the Loggerhead Marine life center in Jupiter Florida.Start by doing daily water changes. You can safely change about 20% of the water each day.
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QuestionWhen does a betta fish sleep?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.Fish go into a resting phase, most often at night. Though not perfectly analogous to our sleep, it is a resting phase that allows the animal to save energy and recoup.
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QuestionIs it okay if my brother would take out the fish every time he cleans the fish tanks?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.I would strongly recommend against it. If you are doing your water changes approximately, it's preferred to keep the fish in the tank undisturbed. This means maintaining a constant temperature, proper aeration, and salinity if applicable. If you are mixing specialized water, such as a marine mix, a hard water cichlid mix, or a soft water low pH mix, you should always prepare your water prior to starting your water change.
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QuestionWhat do I do if my goldfish has a bump on it's side? Is that a sickness?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.It is possibly some type of lesion indicating a pathogen of some type. It could be a secondary infection from a wound or a parasite of some type. If the skin appears to be broken, it is prudent to add aquarium salt to the water at a rate of 3-5 grams per liter to aid the fish's osmotic balance with the water as well as a possible prophylactic treatment. Salt can be effective against fungus and several types of bacteria at this concentration.
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QuestionI need someone to clean my tank. Who can do it?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.There are professional aquarium cleaning services. Check for professionals in your area.
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QuestionI have African cichlids. How do I clean their tank?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.The same as any other freshwater aquarium. If you are keeping Rift Lake cichlids (Malawi, Tanganyika, Victoria), you should pay special concern to the pH and alkalinity of your aquarium. Keep the pH well into the alkaline range by maintaining an adequately high alkalinity. Keep the aquarium clean and do regular water changes to ensure the pH doesn't drop as a result of the acids created by the nitrogen cycle.
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QuestionDo I have to clean live plants from algae as well as normal decorations?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.If your plants get covered with nuisance algae, it is possible to lightly scrub certain plants to remove the algae. In this situation, you should investigate your nutrient (nitrate and phosphate) levels, and look to mitigate any issues you have in that department. You can also consider a few algae eaters that are suitable for the planted aquaria such as dwarf bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus), Otocinclus sp., or Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata or Caridina japonica).
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QuestionMy son cleaned the tank while I was away. He got everything out and cleaned the inside with bleach, and it's still soaking with bleach. What should I do?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.Rinse thoroughly, then soak using a chlorine remover (de-chlor) treatment. If you are working with porous materials such as stone or wood (or some synthetics) allow it to dry thoroughly before adding to the aquarium. Be conscious of ammonia/nitrite levels for a few weeks, as your bacterial colony may be impaired.
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QuestionHow long should I wait after putting the water conditioner before returning my fish?Charlie BrayCommunity AnswerFish don't need to be removed from the tank unless you are doing a huge water change, it can be more beneficial if they stay in the tank so they acclimatize to the new (correct temperature/treated) water. The tap safe water conditioners are pretty much instant in the correct dose.
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QuestionHow do I know if it's fresh water or salt water?Community AnswerIf you're asking about your fish, you can look up your fish and their environment to find out which water type they prefer. If you're talking about acquired water, then you can get fresh water from regular household sources like the faucet.
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QuestionIs it safe to take all of the water out of the tank while the fish are still in it?Community AnswerNo. Your fish could die or get sick. It's best if you take out the fish first.
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QuestionWhat is the black, ashy residue that forms in my fish tank?Community AnswerIt is cyanobacteria, which can turn into a bubbly slime all over the tank if it is not abated.
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QuestionHow can I get rid of the algae that has taken over my tank even after I added a water treatment?Community AnswerGet rid of most sunlight. Sunlight is the main cause of algae.
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QuestionI have a 10 gallon tank and when changing the water do I have to let the chemicals in the new water I'm pouring into the tank sit for a week or do I just stir in the chemicals right away and pour the water into the tank?Community AnswerA typical water change should be about 25 to 30 percent (2.5 - 3 gal.). If you let your water sit out for a week, you really do not need to add chemicals to the water, as long as the water stays clean. Most chemicals, like AquaSafe, work instantly if ratioed correctly. It is recommended you mix your chemicals with your replacement water, get the new water to the same temperature as your tank water, then add the new water into the tank. This can also be done without having to remove your fish from the tank as well.
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QuestionIs it okay to feed him while cleaning his tank?Community AnswerNo, this is a stressful time for the fish; best to clean the tank first and feed afterwards.
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QuestionHow can I clean all marks off the glass?Community AnswerIf the marks are on the outside, use surface cleaner and a towel and wipe them off. If the marks are on the inside, use a clean sponge soaked in hot water and wipe it clean.
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QuestionMy son has added iodine salt to our goldfish tank, what should I do?Community AnswerGet the fish out and clean the tank immediately, they could be killed if left in the water for too long.
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QuestionIs it okay if I change the full tank of water every two weeks, each time taking out my fish to put in a cup of bottled water while I clean it?Community AnswerNo, this can kill your fish. The chlorine in the bottled and tap water is toxic to fish. Only change half the water, leaving the fish in the tank. Make sure the water is a similar temperature to that of the water in the tank as temperature changes of more than a few degrees can shock a fish, causing it to get sick. Changing more than 50% of the water kills the good bacteria of your tank allowing bad bacteria to thrive.
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QuestionI just have goldfish, so do I have to take out my 3 fish before changing and cleaning the tank?Community AnswerIt's not necessary.
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QuestionHow do I clean a fish tank that has some heavy-duty build-up?Community AnswerScrub it down with water and a sponge, then a towel it off. If it is still dirty, get a used toothbrush and scrub away. Then test the tank by filling it with water (preferably outside so it is easy to dump out with a siphon) and looking at the tank. If there are splotches on the outside, rub them off with a clean paper towel.
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QuestionWhat do I do if I have to leave my betta fish for a week?Community AnswerConsider buying an automatic fish food feeder that can feed your fish daily.
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QuestionHow can I clean a small aquarium?Community AnswerYou can clean it the same way as shown above.
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QuestionHow do I clean a fish tank that has scratches on it?Community AnswerYou can clean a tank that has scratches on it by buffing the glass with sandpaper, and then using some non-toxic polish (only on The outside). If the scratches are inside, do the same but no polish because it can harm and kill your fish.
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QuestionWhat do I do if I cleaned the tank and the water is still foggy?Community AnswerYou may have to clean it again, as it may not be sufficiently clean.
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QuestionWhy is my tank turning brown from the bottom up?Community AnswerThis is brown algae. Scrub the sides of the tank and siphon 50% of your water, adding back the remainder after. I would also suggest buying a freshwater test strip, or kit, to test for anything off. Also, I would keep your lights on for 8 hours a day and away from sunlight if possible. The light may keep it pretty, but it will definitely grow some algae if left on.
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QuestionCan I keep six neon tetras with a beta in a nine liter tank?Community AnswerNo, that tank is way too small even for one beta.
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QuestionMy fish is dull looking. How can I restore its bright color?Community AnswerSometimes dullness is caused by an improper diet. You might want to look at the food you are feeding and see if it is the best one for your type of fish.
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QuestionMy fish tank water is cloudy, and when I test the water, it's blue. What else can I do to get the proper water in the fish tank?Community AnswerGet the water tested at the local pet store. Many, such as Petsmart and Petco, will test a sample of the water for free.
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QuestionHow do I take a fish out of a tank when cleaning a fish tank?OctupusHedgehogCommunity AnswerAs long as you are being gentle with the gravel vaccuum, you can clean the tank with the fish in it.
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