Green algae
- Thread starter bmarine
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
jhawk__
Aquarium Advice Addict
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- Jan 12, 2013
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- 1,121
A little mag float from Petco could get the job done 
The pleco could eat it easily but obviously doesn't want to eat it. A magnetic algae float will indeed work. How long are you running your lights for daily? When having an algae problem reducing your lighting down to 6 hours daily will help a lot.
I do have a mag float but that isn't working either. I'm scraping it with a razorblade/algae scraper every 2 weeks. And I will try that. My LFS also said that apparently the algae is too hard or something that the pleco can't eat it, but I'm not so sure.
Then it must be something along the lines of green spot algae but bigger. Only nerite snails are able to scrape that off and eat it. I'd still only run lights 6 hours daily. Do you know what your nitrate reading is?
Darkseid76
Aquarium Advice FINatic
That stuff grows on my rock decor in my tank. My RCS love picking at it all day. I don't mind it though.
On my glass I get brown algae which I just scrape of with a razor. But like River said just try reducing lighting.
On my glass I get brown algae which I just scrape of with a razor. But like River said just try reducing lighting.
Nitrates are at 10. Here is the rest of my parameters if it helps:
Nitrite- 0
GH-150
KH-80
PH-6.8
Ammonia-0
Yeah, its an african cichlid tank so I can't really do that though :/. But lighting makes sense. I have the lights on around 10 hours a day.
gravereaper0
Aquarium Advice Freak
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- Nov 16, 2012
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- 380
What about a UV sterilizer?
Would that work?
gravereaper0
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2012
- Messages
- 380
Won't it kill the algae in the water column? Might not completely get rid of it but it should help. But I can't see the pics he put up so not sure what kind of algae he's got.
You need to do some research on all the various types of algae. As said a UV will only kill green algae bloom which is green water. It has nothing at all to do with algae found on the glass, plants, and decorations. Those algae's which include what the OP has is not in the water column therefore a UV will do nothing for them. I already suggested what is the best way to start addressing the algae problem the OP has, which is for starters only running the tank lights 6 hours max until the problem causing the algae is fixed. A UV would be a total waste of money in this situation.
Ok. So the lighting is pretty much the only thing i can do?
It's the only thing right now I can suggest since I still don't think you posted your nitrate readings. Also how often do you do WC's and how much do you change when you do them. A tank gets algae because the balance between lights-ferts-CO2 is off. Is the tank planted? I need a lot more info in order to see if there is something else possible aiding in the problem.
Oh i posted my nitrates yesterday. They read at 10. And i do water changes every week and at least 30% a week. Not planted. Have some slate stuff as my rock. Kept at about 81 degrees. Emperor 400 and Aquaclear 50 for filtration. Any of that help?
Okay your nitrates are good. I do 50% WC's weekly but if you have a low bio-load of fish 30% would be okay. You have to make a call on that one. I would turn the heat down to around 78, not that it has anything to do with your algae but your tank doesn't need to be that warm unless your keeping fish like Rams. What I'm seeing is that your other parameters are good so your lighting is your problem. Try running it for 6 hours daily or some people find running their lights for 4 hours with a 2 hour siesta then on for another 4 hours keeps algae from having enough light time to grow. Also I would consider looking into getting a couple nerite snails as they are great to have in tanks to help keep it spotless. I keep them in all my tanks and like them because they are the only algae eater capable of scraping off hard algae such as green spot algae.
Ohhh ok. And yeah I keep my tank around 81 for my africans, i read it should be between 78-82, and in the winter, it always drops a bit and stays around 79 or 80. And ok, but will my africans eat those? And will they be messy? And yeah i do at least 30% aweek, most likely about 40-45%.
I can't imagine if you get the large nerites, tigers, zebras, or one of those that the would bother them. Nerites are true trapdoor snails so they don't come very far out of their shells or have long waving antenna like many snails so I think they would be pretty safe. Mind you I've never put them with Africans but I think they would work.
