Algae that won't go away

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

machotaco

Aquarium Advice Freak
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
354
Location
Canada
ImageUploadedByAquarium Advice1425800513.313504.jpgImageUploadedByAquarium Advice1425800534.182095.jpg
Just some small areas, but it's literally everywhere but the glass.


So I've been battling this algae for about 2 months now. So far I've shortened my photoperiod, split my photoperiod, and cut off all contaminated leaves.

Stock
6 brochis splendens
1 Ancistrus sp.
3 melanotaenia splendida splendida


45 gallons
50% weekly water changes
Params not checked yet

Questions
1. What algae are these (I see BBA but what else)?
2. How do I get rid of them?
3. How do I keep them gone (not quick fix but long term)?
4. Is a SAE a good idea?

Thanks

When life throws you lemons make orange juice and leave the world wondering how you did it.
 
Hello, just need a little more info:

How tall is your tank?
What sort of lighting do you have?
How long is your photoperiod?
Any natural sunlight?
What do your nitrates test at?
Any ferts/co2/Excel?
Lightly planted, heavily planted, in between?


Sent from my iPad using science
 
Hello, just need a little more info:

How tall is your tank?
What sort of lighting do you have?
How long is your photoperiod?
Any natural sunlight?
What do your nitrates test at?
Any ferts/co2/Excel?
Lightly planted, heavily planted, in between?


Sent from my iPad using science


24" tall but with 4" of substrate
T8 25 watts fluorecents 36"
Photoperiod 4 hours on 4 hours off 4 hours on
Very little natural sunlight as I always close my blinds
I still need to test my nitrates
No ferts but the tank is dirted and occasional seachem flourish
Moderate to heavily planted


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
 
Welcome to the world of planted tanks and algae.
How many t8 bulbs are you using?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
 
2 bulbs. My dad just asked if I was growing a dog in there it looked so hairy. Wanna fix it up extra bad now to rub it in his face! :p


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
 
Lights+water+fish=algae
It's a struggle keeping algae under control, it's not a bad thing but it's ugly and could even be a food source for some fish.
Cut down on the lights to one bulb and or cut back on light time.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
 
You should get a big school of otocinclus they would have a great food source.
 
Lights+water+fish=algae
It's a struggle keeping algae under control, it's not a bad thing but it's ugly and could even be a food source for some fish.
Cut down on the lights to one bulb and or cut back on light time.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice


I completely agree, I see the rainbows munching on that stuff a lot.


You should get a big school of otocinclus they would have a great food source.


How many otos do you recommend? I'm going to the fish store this week so I might pick a few up.

Update coming tomorrow, just gonna get all the Params together and give a proper update.




Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
 
I completely agree, I see the rainbows munching on that stuff a lot.





How many otos do you recommend? I'm going to the fish store this week so I might pick a few up.

Update coming tomorrow, just gonna get all the Params together and give a proper update.




Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice


At least a school of 6. Make sure you keep your parameters in check they are sensitive to poor conditions.


Caleb

Sent via TARDIS
 
Don't get Otos (or any other fish) unless you actually want Otos for reasons other than algae control. They don't necessarily eat all types of algae.
If algae control is your only reason, you may end up with fish you didn't really want that aren't doing what you expected them to do.

My guess is that the plants in your tank aren't getting enough carbon. Without a carbon source, the plants stop taking in as much nutrients, which leaves excess nutrients available for the algae.
Are you dosing liquid carbon (Excel, Metricide 14, etc) or using some sort of CO2 injection?

I'm no expert though. Every time I make an adjustment and think I have it under control, it slowly appears again a month or so later. ?



Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
 
Back
Top Bottom