Newbie Here; Questions

[Mashiro]

Hi everyone, I have a 10 gallon planted betta tank.

As you can see from the pics, I have an algae problem. Any ideas on how I could cut that algae out of there?

Substrate: Eco-Complete
Lighting: 2x 10w 6500k bulbs
Inhabitants: 1 Betta, 15+ Ghost shrimp, 4 Mystery snails, 1 Nerite snail

Also, here's my betta, Maximus, flaring at the camera!

 

[98kshooter]

my first thought is a few Otos! The cut your light back to like 6-8 hours a day.

 

[Coursair]

my first thought is a few Otos! The cut your light back to like 6-8 hours a day.

And keep up on PWCs.
Don't overfeed.
Put lights on a timer.

 

[aqua_chem]

None of those suggestions are likely to help the situation at hand. This is a case a Cyanobacteria, aka BGA.


BGA is in fact a bacteria. The definitive treatment is a course of erythromycin, an antibiotic, though people are often understandably hesitant to dose their tanks with an antibiotic. The alternative is spot treating with hydrogen peroxide and a blackout, although I've only had minimal success with this method.


As far as prevention goes, BGA is caused by one or a number of the following: including high light, low nitrates, low oxygen, low flow, high organic content, poor tank maintenance, and occasionally just bad luck.

 

[jbueno]

Do you use tap water? If so what do you use to treat the water? I had this problem a few years ago in my 55 useing both api supplements stress coat and stress zyme which I later figured out that the zyme if used to frequently will cause growth like what u have...that's my guess