Algae Build Up

[chea313]

Hey everyone. So my tank is already fully cycled... Been set up for 3 months or so now. I have algae building up all over my artificial plants. My snails don't seem to be doing their job. I have 2 adult mystery snails and 8-10 baby snails. My question is should I just leave the algae or should I clean off the plants? And if I should clean the plants, how would I go about doing that?

Also, the last picture attached is of my filter. There is an excessive amount of green goop, which I'm thinking is also algae. Should I leave that there? It's on the lip of the filter where the water pours back into the tank.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Caliban07]

Usually your lighting is the cause of algae. What type of lighting do you have and how long do you leave your lights on?

 

[chea313]

I have a fluorescent light, and it's on from 2pm-10pm roughly.

 

[Caliban07]

Try cutting that back to say 5-6 hours a day first. Most of the algae should disappear. I have my lights on for 5 hours a day. Recently bought some shrimp and Otos so will leave lights on longer to build algae to feed them. Obviously using algae wafers too.

 

[chea313]

Ok, I'll try that out! Thank you for your help.

 

[Caliban07]

No probe. Might take a week or so to go. Keep us updated please

 

[pip walters]

Algae needs nutrients as well as light... what are your nitrate and phosphate readings?