Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just wanted to run my new aquarium set up by everyone, and see if I am making any major mistakes that might bite me on the behind later on...

it's 32 gal
i use the filter it came with (can't remember the brand - superpet carried it before they were bought by petsmart)
I have lots of plants
my main concerns are
1 - i tend to notice quite a bit of algae buildup. im going to put the lights on a timer for 13 h/d (right now i "aim" for that), and i do 10-15% ish water changes weekly, i use cycle, waste control, and conditioner wiht each change - is algae on the glass normal, or is there something else I could be doing? I just added some more plants this week, and im hoping this will help
2 - i may have too many fish... 5 green tiger barb, 3 tiger barbs, 3 albino tiger barbs, 5 cherry barbs, a female betta and a chinese algae eater. im thinking this may be too many if going by the "inch per gallon" rule, but that is depending on the size this fish will end up in captivity.. any ideas? i read 2" for the cherry's and 3 for the tigers, but I just wanted some "experienced" imput on this issue
thanks for all of your help. I'm sure I will have more questions soon for you!!!

My rule of thumb has always been 1 fish per gallon of water. 32 gallons is a decently sized tank and it does not seem like over crowding is the problem. Algae build-up can happen if the tank is exposed to direct and sometimes too much indirect sunlight. Try moving the tank into a shadier part of your house or finding a way to cut back on the light exposure. I had bad algae problems in both of my first tank set ups and found that too much natural sunlight cause algae blooms. Also, using wipes that help slow down the build up of algae has proved effective in both my tanks. Also doing more water changes will keep the algae down. Try changing more water weekly and see what happens. Every ten days I do a 50% water change on my tank, as well as wipe it down for algae and siphon/net any poop or lose debris on the gravel.

It also sounds like maybe your bio filter is not doing it's job. Buy a better filter, one that is rated for your size tank and get some live bacteria to put into the tank. It jump starts the cycles and the filter which will help to remove chemicals that algae thrives on. Usually the filters that come with the tanks can not handle the load of the tank.

Hope this helps

thanks so much for the advice!!! im going to put something up on the side facing the patio (it's across the room, but hopefully this will shade any light coming in). I think im going to get a different filter soon too. I've been thinking of it because my bf hates how loud this one is (doesn't bother me), and now that I can say it will keep algae away I can half justify it!!! lol
thanks again

FYI: the 1" per gallon rule has been thrown out awhile ago. I use the minimum tank information from www.liveaquaria.com and do a little more research on the specific species I would like to house. I would always have less fish than my tank could hold, simply because I wouldn't want my fish to fight for space, food, or territory.
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Phishie

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

No problem at all. However, the filter itself is not going to keep the algae away completely, it just helps keep it under control. Wiping your tank with a glass scraper or the wipes I recommended needs to be done as well. Also remember that you need some algae in the tank for your Chinese Algae Eater, otherwise the poor fish will have nothing to eat

Good luck with your new tank and I wish nothing but health and happiness for your fish.

If you need to talk in real time look up my AIM on my profile in this forum. Just IM me saying you got my screen name from here and I will be glad to talk to you and answer any other questions quickly.

I have been cleaning the sides each water change and vaccuming about half the gravel with each change as well. It's probably not as bad as I think it is, but I tend to be a little on the obsessive side when learning a new hobby. I guess what I'm still wondering is: how much algae can I expect to see in a "normal" tank? Should I regularily need to give the walls a wipe (they don't get thickly coated, just faint marks of algae) weekly, or ideally should there be no algae at all? I'm sure this seems like a stupid question... I've just been having a difficult time finding a straight answer online. All of the articles talk about the types of algae and what causes major problems, but not what to normally expect.
Thanks again for all your help! I used to use the kingsnake chameleon forum back when I had one, and I think this is one of the best tools on the web!

I just recently found this place but I agree it is one of the best places on the web.

There is always going to be a little in your tank. Always. You want it this way so your algae eater has something to munch on, it also is part of the tank's ecosystem.

Vacuuming the gravel is destroying your Algae eater's food supply so unless it gets too out of hand, i.e. a carpet of Algae I would leave the gravel alone. As for the sides of the tank, using algae deterring wipes you can get at the pet store works for me. My algae grows on the glass, on the sub gravel filter towers, on the carbon cartridges, on the intake for my bio filter, literally everywhere. To keep that under control I use the wipes whenever I am changing water and doing routine maintenance. Unless the algae is tainting the water or obstructing your view of your fish I would leave it be until your next routine maintenance day. I know, from experience, it can be a patience test not to get into the tank everyday; but seriously you gotta leave it be and take care of it on a regular schedule. My rule of thumb is every 10 days I do a 50% water change, wipe the glass and everything down for algae, vacuum the gravel for poop and plant debris. Every 3 days or so I take my net and scoop the surface of the gravel for large debris careful not to disturb the gravel too much because of the helper bacteria in it. This has worked marvelous for me and my buddies I've got 3 green tiger barbs, 4 cherry barbs and one zebra danio and they are all doing really well. I use this same rule for my ten gallon that holds my three soon to be 6 dwarf frogs.

As for the one fish per gallon rule, around Chicago it's the rule of thumb and I was unaware things had been updated until I read through this site and it's references. I second doing more research on your species and finding out specifics about them and tending to those specifics. So sorry for the incorrect info there, I have more reading to do than I thought...
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I am angered by the phrase "they are just fish" No one says that about furry, feathered and fluffy friends; why are fish labeled "just fish"? They have faces, needs, and feelings too. There are a few things that make me extremeley happy in this world, one of the big ones is working on my fish tanks and watching my fish grow

Thanks again. I think my algae is "normal" from your description. I have read a lot about barbs, and know that they are best in schools etc, I just haven't read how many in a specific size of tank. I have been watching the ones I have, and htey havn't been fighting and no one seems "left out" or scared. I will definately keep an eye on them, but I think there is an ok number in there for now.

No problem at all. Good luck with your new buddies
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I am angered by the phrase "they are just fish" No one says that about furry, feathered and fluffy friends; why are fish labeled "just fish"? They have faces, needs, and feelings too. There are a few things that make me extremeley happy in this world, one of the big ones is working on my fish tanks and watching my fish grow