brown stuff

Question
I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 goldfish and bottom feeder. I change it regularly once a month. (water)  Not totally but 20 percent a time.  Recently when changing the filter i noticed brown what looks like alge everywhere in the filter.  Now i notice it coming or forming around the gills.  WHat should i do?

Answer
Hi Jason;

It sounds like fish waste. Goldfish are very messy fish that need weekly water changes and gravel vacuuming to remove waste from the gravel too. If your fish are eating off the bottom they may be pushing the waste out through their gills as they "graze" the bottom. Every week, take out 25% of the water and vacuum the gravel at the same time. Your fish have probably been growing and when they grow they make more waste. Avoid overfeeding and it will help keep the waste down.

Your fish will need a bigger tank very soon too. Goldfish get to be over 6 inches long and need ten gallons just for one. Here is a good web page about them;

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins