saki@MATH.UCLA.EDU (05/10/88)
I'm somewhat reluctant to answer Scott Alexander's question since there are innumerable experts on this net (I've been reading them in awe over the last couple weeks), but I've been keeping goldfish (or vice versa) for awhile so perhaps I can offer some help. I'm willing to bet you have chocolate *orandas*, not orgamis. Sounds as though you had a normal algal bloom at the right point for a new setup, but something is out of whack. I have a small (compared to real aquaria fanatics) tank, 15 gal., and no more than 4 medium orandas at any one time. I always leave algae on the back of the tank for the fish to nibble, but scrape it off the sides and front (doing so has not created the opaque mess you describe in your tank). I do *NOT* use real plants, after unfortunate experiences with past goldfish who could not control their appetites. I have a small exterior filter, not the box filter you have. Even when I'm lazy and don't replace water weekly as I'm supposed to, the tank has clear water. The trick, I think, is balance among algae (the presence of which can work to your benefit), good bacteria in the gravel, number of fish, amount and frequency of food, and filtration. Your tank is awfully small--you may be overloading it with accessories (though two fish sounds about right). You can continue to change water gradually, but each water change upsets the natural balance, and essentially you're starting over again with the semi-fresh tank. Are the fish OK? Can you wait a few weeks with green water to see if it balances? -------- "Sorry we hurt your field, Mister." saki/d.l. maclaughlan
reid@decwrl.dec.com (Brian Reid) (05/11/88)
If you have too much algae in a freshwater tank and you are sure you are not overfeeding your fish, then you have too much light. Cut down the number of hours per day that your fluorescent hood is lit. After years of tinkering I now have my goldfish tank's fluorescent light turned on for 11.5 hours per day.