email to BBs DD
Hi there
A tank requires several conditions to be met for the water to remain clear . This is especially so for a tank by the window. I have some by windows(with messy critters like crayfish ) and two tubs outside that get direct sunlight some months in the year, but don’t have the thick pea soup water you describe in yours
I do have some algae growing on walls but I like that and just work to keep the front glass clear by scraping it with anything resembling a credit card on the front wall . Never ever resort to those algae clear meds . they mess about with your tanks chemistry
http://geocities.com/wellesley/garden/7711/how_i_started.html
I have found through trial an error that the best is to keep the fish load low . I have a mental image that the fish you keep are some tetra like fish. They should be ok because they aren’t messy like crayfish in my humble opinion. A goldfish is very messy . Even ONE tiny goldfish in a 2 foot tank is a lot because the tank may be PHYSICALLY UNCROWDED but biologically overloaded .
There is something called the good bacteria in the filter that breaks down waste and each XXX load of bacteria can only handle so much waste. For a standard 2 ft tank 1 goldfish is a lot . 15 guppies is ok . about the same in tetras like neon tetras is ok .An apple snail is messy poo wise but contributes to housekeeping by picking up garbage . I overload sometimes but I have to keep up with water changes .20% once a week , or 30% every fortnight , adjusting as the week goes with so many feeds or so many fish . My tank by the window for eg has just 2 cories , 1 SAE , an apple snail and a betta ( fighting fish )
If you feed them a lot each day , that combined with sunlight is asking for trouble .
Right now because of health issues and that I can only do water changes every fortnight occasionally stretching to three weeks ( rare ) , I feed them only 2 or 3 times a week. They seem to be OK in fact healthier .
I guess many a fish keeper like myself have to learn that a good fish always gives you that Im hungry look .My turtles for eg eat only once a week .This was advised by someone from the reptile park . But I have had to learn not to cave in and feed them .They will get by just fine with three 5 minute feeds each week , and a 30% water change a fortnight . assuming again however that other conditions like a light fish load and all are met .
Im not a plant person but if you have live plants that too may help . But thats another issue and there are problems as well as pros associated with a planted tank
The type of food you give also counts . A pellet is messier than flake food . Do you know that some fish like guppies mollies and SAEs eat raw cucumber ? It took awhile long ago for my mollies to figure it was food but once they did haha … they swarmed about it .Id tell my kids see ??? the fish EAT their vegetables
Its going to take some trial and error to find a formula of feeds , fish load and water changes to meet your needs . Good luck
mei
