What is it [HELP]

[WhiteAngel]

It is gross. But I have been wondering about it since I got back into fish keeping a while ago [1 1/2 months, or more].

There is a thin, sometimes thick, layer of mushy clear fungus or algae that covers the sides of my glass tank and the inside of the filter.

There is no filter padding inside because I happened to run out of them last night and am going out later to get one.

I have a feeling that it is due to over-feeding, but not that sure.

I have done TWO major water changes over the pass couple weeks, and always the stuff comes back.

Help????

pH: 7.0
ammonia: 0.5-1.0
nitrite: 0.5-1.0
Fish: five Bettas [2 males, 3 females]
Tank: 10 gallon
Temperature: 80-82 degrees
Food: bloodworms, Betta bites [2 to 3 times a day]

Is there something I can get, like a fish or snail or chemical. That would eliminate the stuff.

 

[Leopardess]

Um, do you know what cycling is? If so, you're tank hasn't. Or because you took out the filter media (which has bacteria on it that the tank needs) you're going into a cycle. Ammonia/nitrites are bad for fish. Read up on it, there's a lot of info here.

I asked in your other thread what a betta imbellius (sp?) is...I should go look again.

The slime could be algae or fungus or decaying food. Hard to tell.

Oh, and to avoid this in the future, I suggest not taking out the old filter cartridges unless you have another (used) one to take its place. Just give them a good rinse in your tank water (when you do a water change) to "clean" them off without harming the bacteria. And try to do at least a 25% water change once a week

 

[bortsamson]

another thing, You have 2 males in one tank? ANd one hasnt died yet?


edit: well I'm be a son of a b.....biscuit eater.
I just took a peek at the website on ur sig, and they are peaceful bettas, hehe, forget what I said, shoot first, ask questions later, arrrr

 

[Turin Turambar]

Nothing to be worried about. I had the same "problem". I had to clean the corners every 2 weeks with the cotton wool. Other than that, it's completely harmless. I still don't know what that was, but I had it for about 6 to 7 months.
It has nothing to do with the cycling... and I didn't change anything in the tank, not even the eating habits of my fish. But the slime just disappeared. I started the tank from the "scratch"... maybe that appears only on the newbie tanks?!

Just wondering, what is the colour of your silicone?

 

[dethjam316]

your tank has the dreaded fish plague of doom. the only solution is to give all your fish to hans. just kidding.

you should be doing a water change MINIMUM every other week of 20% anyway. i typically do 10-20% EVERY week. 5 bettas is a large bioload for a 10g tank, and those imbelli get a little larger than splendens, so you shouldn't add any other fish, and you should make sure you keep a regular water change regimen. with that alone, you should see a marked improvement in your tank.

furthermore, as leopardess indicated, your tank will continue to go through a series of mini-cycles if you completely remove your filter pads as you seem to have done. this is typically not a good idea. most of those can be used again and again (much longer than a month) if you simply rinse it out in tank water after a water change. this may be the reason you have an ammonia reading as you do, and that may or may not be part of the reason you have weird growth on your tank...but, regardless, it's not good for your fish.