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Hey everyone. I've never really cleaned the inside of my five gallon tank, but I've only had it for about a month. I was watching the fish today and noticed that the inside of the tank has a thin film that makes it almost cloudy. It's very thin and wasn't too noticeable until I put my finger in and wiped clear a spot. It's very easily removable, but I was wondering what I should use to get rid of it. Just wipe it off (with what?), or is it a sign of poor water quality or something else wrong? It doesn't seem like a major problem, I'd just like to know what's up with it. Thanks.

Hi,
What you are noticing is completely normal. You could use
the edge of an old credit card, or a safety razor blade to
remove the film. It is bacteria and the detritus floating
in the water sticking to it that you are seeing. Once the
tank is established, the film will not be as noticeable.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Could also be a bit of brown algae. My tanks always got light layers of brown algae on the glass when I used the tap water or well water. You can get all sorts of algae magnets and scrapers at stores that sell aquarium supplies. For easy to remove particles I'd suggest something flat and smooth instead of something like a magfloat.

If it is a glass tank I would buy a glass cleaner pad which can be purchased from a local super market. I have been using these for years and they never scrath the glass. Just make sure it is for "Cleaning Glass"

As I discussed with you in Chat it is a problem that can be caused by over feeding. I think you will admit you are too kind to your fish as far as feeding is concerned.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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Yep. Get a little algae magnet cleaner. It'll come off very fast, and you don't even need to get your hands wet.



Or, you can use a clean paper towel in a pinch.

I have the same problem in my ten gallon; a more detailed explanation of what I have can be found on a thread (in water quality) called 'brown aglae?' I would simply post a link, but my um address bar seems to be missing (I am having some computer problems as of late) but if anyone needs me to copy and paste I will do ^_^. Anyways, I am kind of new to this hobby, and have no idea how to clean the gravel in a fish tank (so right now I just net out the gravel (they are more like marbles sorta) and clean it manually). So I was considering buying a battery powered gravel cleaning device? Any thoughts on how to better my fish keeping experience?

Fish are like potato chips. . .you can't have just one

Sorry forgot to mention that I have the 'brown algae' on my plants/decorations/marbly gravel stuff and was wondering how to get it off of that.

Fish are like potato chips. . .you can't have just one

I reckon to get some algae eating fishes like pleco.