The biggest one I've ever had...

[fishmamma]

I've noticed tanks with that Tahitian moon sand you're using get it REALLY bad... Could be the sand, as another cause is excess silicates. You can use a product like Seachems Phos-ban to absorb it (goes in your filter) and see how that works.

What are you nitrates and what is your water change schedule?

I noticed some brown dusty looking stuff coming from the sand.. I vac it along with a WC about every week and a half .. I don't keep a scheduled WC day.. I'll check the nitrates here in a bit, I'm watching River Monsters...

 

[adellababe]

Very interesting info about the fluval m series actually being submersible. I went and found the cardboard info sheet that came with it to read it again. Loving number 6 in the warning section. "do not use in appliance for other than intended use" and they list "bathrooms" as a place of unintended use. Seriously? Bathroom?

 

[aclockworkorange]

I noticed some brown dusty looking stuff coming from the sand.. I vac it along with a WC about every week and a half .. I don't keep a scheduled WC day.. I'll check the nitrates here in a bit, I'm watching River Monsters...

Cleaning the sand during WCs will not reduce silicates.

Sounds like you're not doing enough WCs too!

 

[Pandamania]

I have noticed if I accidentally over-feed the fish, that happens too. I have cut back on the last feeding, at night, with less frozen foods (blood worms, brine shrimp, etc,) and that really solved the problem in my tanks.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I have noticed if I accidentally over-feed the fish, that happens too. I have cut back on the last feeding, at night, with less frozen foods (blood worms, brine shrimp, etc,) and that really solved the problem in my tanks.

Over-feeding can definitely contribute to it (along with all sorts of other issues like constipation and high nitrates)... And most fish keepers overfeed early in the hobby (and some much longer than that!).

 

[Bhack91]

Tank is looking good, I was going to paint on my background too but I decided I didn't want to mess with that. I ended up just getting getting the generic black aquarium background and tucked it under the upper rim on the tank, no water drips or anything after 2-3 months.

 

[fishmamma]

I lost my little card, but the nitrate test came out a really light orange.. shouldn't be more than 20ppm.. Yes, I agree with you I need to do WC little more frequently.. kids come into play when it comes to that..

 

[fishmamma]

Tank is looking good, I was going to paint on my background too but I decided I didn't want to mess with that. I ended up just getting getting the generic black aquarium background and tucked it under the upper rim on the tank, no water drips or anything after 2-3 months.

Thanks!!

But I think I will tackle painting it, although I'm sure I'll have many gripes after... but, it in a good way...

The only reason I don't like the aquarium backgrounds is because when taking pictures it makes a major glare if I happen to be using the flash...

 

[adellababe]

Thanks!!

But I think I will tackle painting it, although I'm sure I'll have many gripes after... but, it in a good way...

The only reason I don't like the aquarium backgrounds is because when taking pictures it makes a major glare if I happen to be using the flash...

have you considered wallpaper? There's some pretty interesting natural looking ones on lowes.com

 

[fishmamma]

have you considered wallpaper? There's some pretty interesting natural looking ones on lowes.com

No I hadn't, but I suppose that would be interesting... I'm pretty stuck on black though... Would you apply it with that sticky stuff you apply wallpaper with? if so, that would suck taking that off! Have you tried it?