So when you do a black out, do you totally block all light? If so, does that freak out the fish? Should I allow some indirect light so the fish can find food and not swim into things?
Black Out
- Thread starter mtber
- Start date
100% block out all light.
Use a trash bag etc to cover it up 100%.
Fish are fine.
Fish liove in very turbid waters very often and can barely see is many cases.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Use a trash bag etc to cover it up 100%.
Fish are fine.
Fish liove in very turbid waters very often and can barely see is many cases.
Regards,
Tom Barr
In addition to Tom's thoughts, As a general rule I don't reccomend feeding during Blackout period, the fish can go a week easily without food, and with all of the dieing algea, extra food just adds to the possibility of bio problems. Just forego the feeding while the tank is darkened. And as Tom Said 100% devoid of light. I used posterboard, trash bags and blankets work well also.
dave
Purley being nosey here, but why are you doing a black out??
When I treated for ich, I was told to black out the tank (don't know why?), so I covered it w/ beach towels (folded in 1/2, 1 on each side, 2 in the front, back of the tank is already covered w/ black posterboard). Never even thought of a black trashbag though... good idea!
~Tara
When I treated for ich, I was told to black out the tank (don't know why?), so I covered it w/ beach towels (folded in 1/2, 1 on each side, 2 in the front, back of the tank is already covered w/ black posterboard). Never even thought of a black trashbag though... good idea!
~Tara
Most likely for algae. Algae (being lower plant form) cannot store nutrients and if it cannot make them (due to lack of light for instance) it dies. Higher plants do store nutrients and can go awhile without light. So a "blackout" can be a tool (not a solution) to combating algae.
HTH
HTH
mtber if you didn't pick up on that beviking was pointing to a greater cause. If you don't fix the cause of the issue you will continue to have algae trouble.
Are you over-feeding? Too much light? Do you know why you developed algae in the first place?
Are you over-feeding? Too much light? Do you know why you developed algae in the first place?
The fish will be fine. Raise your spray bars if applicable. Turn off CO2 if you use it. You can't make it too black in there.
IMO, one layer of plastic trash bags let in too much light.
If you're going to do it, do it for 2 full days.......uncover and do a large water change and immediately re-cover for 2 more days, followed by another large water change. Re-dose and start CO2.
Resist the urge to feed while doing the first water change.
Again, the fish will be fine.
To reiterate......figure out the problem(imbalance,over-feeding etc.) or the problem will re-occur.
Len
IMO, one layer of plastic trash bags let in too much light.
If you're going to do it, do it for 2 full days.......uncover and do a large water change and immediately re-cover for 2 more days, followed by another large water change. Re-dose and start CO2.
Resist the urge to feed while doing the first water change.
Again, the fish will be fine.
To reiterate......figure out the problem(imbalance,over-feeding etc.) or the problem will re-occur.
Len
Purpose is to kill algae.
Working on root cause per previous post. (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31494)
Continued to have new and prolific forms of algae. Too impatient, so wanted to jump start process with eliminating current algae infestation.
Working on root cause per previous post. (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31494)
Continued to have new and prolific forms of algae. Too impatient, so wanted to jump start process with eliminating current algae infestation.
There's an old saying in aquaria (i think from the marine side, but it still applies) "Only bad things happen fast."
These aquarium gardens you see people posting on the net don't come easy. It takes a lot of hard work & patience.
These aquarium gardens you see people posting on the net don't come easy. It takes a lot of hard work & patience.