Algae Help!!

[Rhino]

My tank is being OVERRUN with algae. Please help guys it looks horrible. Lights are usually only on for about 10 hours. I bought some algae eating shrimp two days ago but it seems they have disappeared. I need something to power through the algae. I would like either a bristle nose pleco or some time of snail. I would prefer a couple of snails if I can get away with it. Now I also want to make sure that they will clean the algae off of my plants as well, Amazon Sword has a lot on it, but when they clean it I want something that won't eat the leaves as well. What do you guys think? I am also going to order some Flourish Excel, not only as a carbon source but also to get rid of the algae. Now I have heard rumors that Excel will melt Vals, which I have, is this true? Here are some pics so you can see what it looks like.

 

[Rhino]

Also, I don't know if it matters but here is the type of pfs that is used in the tank.

 

[Fishkeeper26]

I wouldn't add fish for the sole purpose of algae eating. Reduce the amount of time your lights are on, try a black out for a few days

 

[Mrc8858]

Have you checked your nitrAte level

 

[mfdrookie516]

What size tank and what kind/wattage fixture? 10 hours is really more than necessary. Some use 10 hour photoperiods to grow plants out, but 7-8 is sufficient. I'd cut back on lighting for sure.

 

[aqua_chem]

What kind of lights do you have on the tank? 10 hours is probably too long as well.

Getting a algae eater to fix YOUR algae problem is just plain irresponsible. If you have a lot of algae, it's very clear that YOU have a problem. Algae eaters, if ANYTHING, are good for maintaining the small but healthy levels of algae present in any well balanced ecosystem. They have various needs, nutritional or otherwise, that are often ignored by people that get them to clean up their tank. They are not a solution to a poorly balanced tank.

 

[Rhino]

40 gallon breeder tank, 78 watt Current USA Nova Extreme 2xT5HO

 

[Rhino]

Have you checked your nitrAte level

All levels are normal.

 

[aqua_chem]

Well that's your problem. You have T5HOs on a shallow tank, probably w/o CO2. Do you have proper ferts too?


You'll probably need CO2 with that light, or you'll be fighting algae forever. Even excel might not be to stem the tide of BBA.

 

[mfdrookie516]

2x39w on a 40b is quite a bit of light. I used to struggle with algae. Can you turn off one bulb? Reducing your photoperiod is going to be a good start. When you say the levels are 'normal'... there really is no such thing. What is the exact nitrate reading? Plants use nitrate, as does algae. If there is excess nitrate in the water, that may be fueling the algae. I believe your biggest issue is lighting, but it does need nutrients to grow.

Hmm... aqua chem beat me to it.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

You could get nirite snails, probably 6-10 and they won't eat the plants. BS pleco won't eat plants but if you have drift wood, it will be to distracted with the wood to eat algae, at least in me exp. Put the lights on a timer for 8 hours and that wil be enough for the plants. Get a few more plants too, there is too much nutrition and not enough plants to use it so algae grows on the plants. Ottos are very good cleaners too. As long as you don't have any fish that will eat them.

 

[Fishkeeper26]

You could get nirite snails, probably 6-10 and they won't eat the plants. BS pleco won't eat plants but if you have drift wood, it will be to distracted with the wood to eat algae, at least in me exp. Put the lights on a timer for 8 hours and that wil be enough for the plants. Get a few more plants too, there is too much nutrition and not enough plants to use it so algae grows on the plants. Ottos are very good cleaners too. As long as you don't have any fish that will eat them.

Plecos need wood for digestion.

Before you think about adding anything, try fixing it by reducing light.

 

[aqua_chem]

Nerites only eat some algae. With that kind of light, you're going to be getting BBA and other brush algae, or even green water, which nerites won't touch.

BN plecos don't eat a lot of wood. They need some to suck on, but I'm pretty sure it's definitely not a staple of their diet. They don't eat BBA or many other algaes either.

Otos will only really eat diatoms and soft green algae.

 

[Rhino]

Could it be my pfs? I had the same problem on my 36 gallon bowfront, a much deeper tank. I only used stock lighting on it and had same algae problem. So the light being to strong does not make much sense....

 

[aqua_chem]

Depends, what kind of algae do you have? Do you add any kind of ferts?

 

[Rhino]

Depends, what kind of algae do you have? Do you add any kind of ferts?

I have only been using Seachem root tabs with the Amazon Sword and that is it.

 

[aqua_chem]

Looking at your pictures, it looks like you have GDA or GSA.

But yea, the pictures definitely indicate too much light. You also don't look like you don't have much plant life in there, give the algae carte blanche to multiply, and all the light they need to do it.

 

[Rhino]

Some of it just looks like diatoms but I have no clue what the green stuff is on the sand.

 

[Rhino]

Looking at your pictures, it looks like you have GDA or GSA.

But yea, the pictures definitely indicate too much light. You also don't look like you don't have much plant life in there, give the algae carte blanche to multiply, and all the light they need to do it.

What is GDA and GSA?

 

[aqua_chem]

Green dust algae and green spot algae