Algae bloom :(

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hennaartist

Aquarium Advice Freak
Joined
Jan 2, 2014
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Location
Middle Tennessee
So last week I scraped and scrubbed nearly all the algae in my planted aquarium. (It wasn't really bad or anything though, since my Siamese Algae Eaters do a marvelous job.)
I was planning to do a vacuum and water change immediately after, but things came up. So the following day, I vacuumed the gravel and did my water change. The next day the water was slightly cloudy, then two days later it was even more cloudy. I thought I probably stirred up and moved too much around and was having a bacteria bloom. Well, it's been a week, it's not getting any better, and it's starting to turn green.

I've never had to deal with an algae bloom before. What is the best way to handle this?ImageUploadedByAquarium Advice1414375024.407201.jpg
 
Limit the amount of light the tank is getting, close blinds to stop daylight, dont turn the light on and if that doesnt help throw a towel or wrap the tank in dark paper for a few days. Your fish will be fine in the dark for a few days.

Wouldn't recommend using any sort of chemicals as more "algaecides" are very toxic to fish.

You could try a UV sterilizer also, not sure on them since I've never personally used them.
 
I do limit the light time to 10 hours (I know it should be 8 hrs though) the only window in the room has blinds and blackout curtains, so no light gets through.

I am going to get a UV sterilizer, I haven't already because I worry I'll have to start supplementing wafers for my SAEs.
 
So I've ordered a UV sterilizer, it should be here Thursday, and I bought a phosphate kit today (master kits don't include that). My phosphates are nearly off the chart. So, I added a little bit of zeolite to my filter.
 
Well, algae bloom won't hurt the fish. It's even a good nutrition to be honest! I myself let two of my outdoor tanks become green by this algae bloom. You really don't have to feed the fish.

Of course, it does cause that you won't be able to watch those fish very clearly. And yes, a UV sterilizer will help...

Zeolite is such a wonderful absorber of phosphates...
 
Overhere some pics of one of the outdoor tanks with algae bloom...
 

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