Algae problem - Aquarium Advice

Keeper · 03-05-2004, 06:52 AM

hey there. This is my first post so just bear with me. I have a 5.5gal freshwater tank with 2 guppies and 3 tetras. I also have 3 live plants in the tank. I have developed algae on the plants itself and on the gravel. Any ideas on how the fix this? Thanks

**QTOFFER** · 03-05-2004, 03:29 PM

How long has the tank been set up and cycled?
What kind of lighting do you have and how long is it on per day?
Is the tank in a location where it receives direct or indirect sunlight?
What color is the algae?

ferret · 03-05-2004, 03:33 PM

Not sure what would do well in that small a tank for algae. I have an algae problem in my small 3 gallon, but its hair algae that I just physical pull out once a week. I have a nice population of little pond snails that keep all the other algae down. (Some are over a quarter inch! :P)

Beacious · 03-05-2004, 03:40 PM

How many snails? And what kind of snails? And how many and kind of snails would be good for a 10 [acronym:bd2ad166e6="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:bd2ad166e6]?

Thanks, Beacious.

Menagerie · 03-05-2004, 03:59 PM

[center:9fb8ce36d6]

Keeper, Welcome to AA!!!

[/center:9fb8ce36d6]

There are fish that like algae, but the bio load on that tank seems to be at capacity ([acronym:9fb8ce36d6="In My Honest Opinion"]IMHO[/acronym:9fb8ce36d6]). You may be able to put an oto in there, but that would be it.
If you were to upgrade to a larger size tank, a rubber-lipped pleco could be added as well as other cleaners. Is your tank located in direct sunlight? None of my five tanks are in direct sunlight and I have at least one algae eater per tank. The tanks and decor are always clean--I should go hug my plecos and butterfly loaches right now!

Beacious · 03-05-2004, 04:09 PM

So far I haven't had any algae problems but if I do does anyone what I should do?

Thanks, Beacious.

ferret · 03-05-2004, 04:10 PM

Pond snails are one of the various hitchhikers you get. They're small, multiply like rabbits, and devastate algae. I probably have at least 40 healthy snails in that 3 gallon. There's really no good way for me to remove them, and they keep all algae but the hair algae nonexistant.

Beacious · 03-05-2004, 04:16 PM

There is a pond withen walking distance of my house. Would it be okay to take a few from the pond?

Keeper · 03-06-2004, 02:17 AM

the tank has been set-up for about 2 weeks. there are 2 flourescent bulbs that i run for about 8hrs a day. the tank does not get alot of direct sunlight. The algae is a dark green in color.

Beacious · 03-09-2004, 05:54 PM

I recomend Apple Snails. I have 2 and no algae problems

.

Thanks, Beacious

03-05-2004, 06:52 AM	#1
Keeper Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere in the tank Posts: 464	Algae problem hey there. This is my first post so just bear with me. I have a 5.5gal freshwater tank with 2 guppies and 3 tetras. I also have 3 live plants in the tank. I have developed algae on the plants itself and on the gravel. Any ideas on how the fix this? Thanks

03-05-2004, 03:33 PM	#3
ferret Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,377	Not sure what would do well in that small a tank for algae. I have an algae problem in my small 3 gallon, but its hair algae that I just physical pull out once a week. I have a nice population of little pond snails that keep all the other algae down. (Some are over a quarter inch! :P) __________________ Gamer? Like Counter-strike, World of Warcraft, or just games in general? Visit http://www.gamehavoc.com/

03-05-2004, 04:10 PM	#7
ferret Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,377	Pond snails are one of the various hitchhikers you get. They're small, multiply like rabbits, and devastate algae. I probably have at least 40 healthy snails in that 3 gallon. There's really no good way for me to remove them, and they keep all algae but the hair algae nonexistant. __________________ Gamer? Like Counter-strike, World of Warcraft, or just games in general? Visit http://www.gamehavoc.com/

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03-05-2004, 03:29 PM	#2
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,701 Images: 30	How long has the tank been set up and cycled? What kind of lighting do you have and how long is it on per day? Is the tank in a location where it receives direct or indirect sunlight? What color is the algae?

03-05-2004, 03:40 PM	#4
Beacious Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 196 Images: 3	How many snails? And what kind of snails? And how many and kind of snails would be good for a 10 [acronym:bd2ad166e6="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:bd2ad166e6]? Thanks, Beacious.

03-05-2004, 03:59 PM	#5
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,266 Images: 77	[center:9fb8ce36d6] Keeper, Welcome to AA!!! [/center:9fb8ce36d6] There are fish that like algae, but the bio load on that tank seems to be at capacity ([acronym:9fb8ce36d6="In My Honest Opinion"]IMHO[/acronym:9fb8ce36d6]). You may be able to put an oto in there, but that would be it. If you were to upgrade to a larger size tank, a rubber-lipped pleco could be added as well as other cleaners. Is your tank located in direct sunlight? None of my five tanks are in direct sunlight and I have at least one algae eater per tank. The tanks and decor are always clean--I should go hug my plecos and butterfly loaches right now!

03-05-2004, 04:09 PM	#6
Beacious Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 196 Images: 3	So far I haven't had any algae problems but if I do does anyone what I should do? Thanks, Beacious.

03-05-2004, 04:16 PM	#8
Beacious Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 196 Images: 3	There is a pond withen walking distance of my house. Would it be okay to take a few from the pond?

03-06-2004, 02:17 AM	#9
Keeper Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere in the tank Posts: 464	the tank has been set-up for about 2 weeks. there are 2 flourescent bulbs that i run for about 8hrs a day. the tank does not get alot of direct sunlight. The algae is a dark green in color.

03-09-2004, 05:54 PM	#10
Beacious Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 196 Images: 3	I recomend Apple Snails. I have 2 and no algae problems . Thanks, Beacious