Author Topic: Newbie!!! (Read 38575 times) 132 replies

apache6467 · « **Reply #80 on:** March 16, 2016, 02:49:19 PM »

well, if the sunlight is shining on one side of the tank, then block one side... thats what i did. also, what about your crab?

Sue · « **Reply #81 on:** March 16, 2016, 02:51:54 PM »

Well remembered, apache. I had totally forgotten about the crab

Whether or not the crab is implicated in the cloudy water, I would still remove it somewhere....

Silver633 · « **Reply #82 on:** March 16, 2016, 03:04:49 PM »

On sunny mornings the whole tank is in direct sunlight.

The crab isn't a cause of the cloudy water as he was in the tank before when it was ok. We don't have another tank to put him in. Would he not survive the 3 days? how is the crab a problem? Again sorry for any ignorance lol xxx

Sue · « **Reply #83 on:** March 16, 2016, 03:10:24 PM »

It is only a problem in the sense they are not a good idea in fish tanks. If it is bigger than the newly available micro-crabs, sooner or later it will have a go at a fish.

And you don't know what species it is. Some need an area of dry land, some are salt water. If it is one of those species, it may not live long and decomposing crab will mess the water badly. Have you seen it recently?

Edit - google fiddler crabs and see if that's what you have. Remebber that females don't have that huge claw.

Silver633 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 16, 2016, 03:26:02 PM »

Yes he comes out a few times a day. He's my 3 year olds favourite. Fondly named mr crab. Original I know lol.

I wish I could post pics on here. I have a good pic of the crab. I don't think it looks like a fiddler one? He's a small red thing lol.

So can I go ahead with the 3 day lockdown? Or shouldn't I? Lol xxx

Sue · « **Reply #85 on:** March 16, 2016, 04:52:39 PM »

The blackout won't affect the crab, go ahead and see if it solves the cloudiness. If it doesn't we'll have to think of something else

How small is small? Less than an inch? 1 to 2 inches?

The Thai micro-crab is actually a spider, very small but grey with brown legs. True freshwater and fully aquatic.
Then there's red claw crabs, 1 to 2 inches, which need slightly salty water and access to dry land.

Silver633 · « **Reply #86 on:** March 16, 2016, 04:59:47 PM »

I would say about an inch? We do find him on top of the filter sometimes but not very often. Is there a way I can send you a pic of him? Could I email it to you privately? He's a little red thing that was apparently living for months in the tank before we inherited it.

Yes will go ahead and eliminate the algae over the next 3 days. So after 3 days, if it is algae, will the water be perfectly clear again? I can't believe that could happen lol xxx

Sue · « **Reply #87 on:** March 16, 2016, 05:09:05 PM »

The trouble with these blooms, both algal and bacterial, is that the organisms can reproduce faster that you can remove them with water changes, so you have to something else. With algae, all you have to do is deprive them of light. But if the conditions that caused the bloom remain, it'll come back.

What kind of device do you access the internet on, computer, tablet, phone? I know how to post photos from a computer but not the others.

Silver633 · « **Reply #88 on:** March 16, 2016, 05:13:04 PM »

Yes i know what you mean but at least I will know the problem. At the minute I'm clueless lol.

I'm on an iPhone. I tried posting a pic of my tank earlier and it said it wasn't in the right format. I'm on an iPhone xxx

fcmf · « **Reply #89 on:** March 16, 2016, 06:28:44 PM »

Does Mr Crab look like this? http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/red-clawed-crab.html

Sue · « **Reply #90 on:** March 16, 2016, 06:53:07 PM »

I think that's it. See attached photo of Silver's crab.

fcmf · « **Reply #91 on:** March 16, 2016, 07:08:57 PM »

That's a good pic indeed. Yes, Mr Crab definitely looks like a red-clawed crab, although I have a very untrained eye.

Sue · « **Reply #92 on:** March 16, 2016, 07:09:30 PM »

Since it does seem to be a red clawed crab, and a male from looking at fcmf's link, I'm afraid your tank isn't the best place for it. It is a species that needs an area of dry land and slightly salty water, which your fish wouldn't appreciate.

From what I can gather in a quick google, it should be OK in a smallish tank of about 30 to 40 litres, if you could manage to squeeze one in somehow. With sand on the bottom, a rock or something like that for it to climb onto and some salt in the water - not table salt, the kind used by marine fishkeepers.

I have also found comment by people who have these crabs in fish tanks about them eating fish during the night, especially bottom dwelling fish $:-\$

Sue · « **Reply #93 on:** March 16, 2016, 07:30:54 PM »

And photos of Silver's tank showing the cloudiness.

Extreme_One · « **Reply #94 on:** March 16, 2016, 07:37:48 PM »

It is difficult to tell from photos, not that they're bad photos actually, but I feel that is probably an algal bloom rather than bacterial. What do others think?

I think Sue's earlier suggestion of a 3 day blackout is the best way of telling for certain.

Sue · « **Reply #95 on:** March 16, 2016, 07:41:55 PM »

I think a blackout is the best first step. It is not difficult and it doesn't involve adding anything to the tank. And it will either confirm an algal bloom if it's gone when the blackout is removed, or it will eliminate it if the cloudiness is still there.

Sorry it took so long to add the tank photos after the crab, I had to resize them to get all three to fit in the same post.

Silver633 · « **Reply #96 on:** March 16, 2016, 08:34:50 PM »

Wow thanks everyone!!! Just trying to convince my hubby that the 3 day black out is the way forward. He was thinking as long as the levels were reading ok (ammonia, nitrite etc) to try leaving the tank alone for a week or so because we have done big water changes and he thought the tank needs to balance itself out. I'm convinced we need to do a black out so I'll keep on at him lol xxx

Sue · « **Reply #97 on:** March 16, 2016, 08:45:59 PM »

A blackout is the least harmful thing. There are chemicals which kill algae but I don't like adding anything unless it is absolutely necessary.

Silver633 · « **Reply #98 on:** March 16, 2016, 09:27:50 PM »

I know I'm jumping the gun but if it is algae and sunlight, once we have rid of it all, would just covering the tank when the sun is shining in be enough to stop the problem? Xxx

Paddyc · « **Reply #99 on:** March 16, 2016, 09:33:31 PM »

Quote from: Silver633 on March 16, 2016, 09:27:50 PM

I know I'm jumping the gun but if it is algae and sunlight, once we have rid of it all, would just covering the tank when the sun is shining in be enough to stop the problem? Xxx

It would definitely help. What is the possibility of relocating the tank? Obviously we are aware that would require serious thought and would be extremely heavy even with a big water removal and stressful for the fish (and you).

I feel maybe you have already discussed this with hubby or at the least thought about it yourself??

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Author Topic: Newbie!!! (Read 38575 times) 132 replies

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