Expert: Richard Hight - 7/29/2009

Question
I have 2 purple parrots in a community 75 gallon tank and also a large ship at the bottom that they can get in an dhide. Lately they have been staying in there together and now one is acting like a guard , darting out at silver dollars or whatever passes by... I have no idea what to expect next?
About the algae problem... Running the large emporer filter also large whisper filter. In the extra media slot I have mixture of carbon and ammonia neutralizing crystals, do water change every week and have brown algae so bad It has been so cloudy I would have to use Kent pro clear to clear it . what is the best, easiest way to handle this.
Glenda


Answer
Hi Glenda

It sounds like your Parrots have laid eggs. You'll not find another fish that makes a better parent than a Cichlid. Unfortunately though, Parrot eggs are usually infertile and will not hatch. There have been cases of successful fry but the breeding in these cases were with a non hybrid fish. Infertile eggs will turn white and usually get eaten by the parents.

As for the algae, the first thing to do is reduce your tank lights to 10-12 hours a day, and make sure the tank is not getting direct sunlight. Brown algae needs light and a food source to survive. The only way to get rid of it is to take away it's light and food source. It feeds on nitrates. Change the carbon in your filters every 2 weeks as recommended and increase your water changes to 30% weekly. Vacuum your gravel thoroughly to remove excess wastes and food particles. In some of my larger tanks, I break up my weekly water changes to 20% on the weekend, and 10% about mid week. I've never had brown algae clouding the water, I do get it occasionally settling on decorations and the glass of the tanks and I use a scrubber to clean it.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Richard