How do I get ride of green slimy alage?

Question

I was having a problem with green slimy alage, I would get rid of it, but then it would grow back so fast. Because it was mainly living on my white coral sand, I took it all out. Is the alage gone now? Or will it just continue to grow again? What should I do from here? My tank is infront of a window, and my light bulb is more than 3 years old...does this create a problem to?

Answer 1

There is never a single causal component to algae affecting an aquarium. Rather, it is a combination of factors. These include water quality (phosphates, nitrates & ammonias), accumulation of detritus, lighting, and supplements.
Phosphates: Any measurable level of phosphate can cause algae problems, as it is a primary food source for the algae. Levels of phosphate should be kept as low as possible.
Nitrate: Is another food source for algae.
Ammonia: Algae can take up ammonia directly from the water.
Detritus build up: Pockets of sediment are often the first place algae get footholds. Hair algae specifically seem to 'trap' detritus and then utilize this for further growth.
Lighting: Bright lights with a long photoperiod will help algae grow. Additionally old lights shift to the red end of the light spectrum as they age, encouraging algal growth.
Supplements: Only use supplements if you are sure that they will benefit your aquarium inhabitants.
A combination of the above is the likely cause of your algae problems.
Check to see if you can reduce the food you are adding to the tank. Eaten and uneaten food becomes algae food! Check the quality of your food. Are you dumping a frozen cube into the tank? A lot of the cube is 'dirty' water and bits of shrimp that the fish will not eat, but immediately becomes a food source for the algae. Rinsing the food will reduce the effluent from fouling the water.
The general recommendation is one red leg hermit and one turbo or astrea snail per five gallons of aquarium water. Having cleaned the major patches of algae out of your tank, your cleanup crew should be able to assist in keeping any future outbreaks under control.
Lights are a problem area. If you have corals, you will need the lights, but if you have a fish only tank, you can turn off the lights for a few days. The fish will not mind, accepting the ambient light, but the algae will not be happy. Even tanks with corals can do with a break from the lights. If you have corals try reducing the photoperiod. Put a background around the back and sides of the tank if it is immedeatly under a window.
Macro algae is the 'plant' and encrusting algae that you see in marine tanks. Macro algae cut down on light available to the micro algae, and compete directly for the nutrients otherwise available to problem algae. Caulerpa spp and encrusting corallines (a group of Red algae resembling corals) are best. Encrusting corallines produce chemicals that stop the growth of micro-algae on rocks etc. Caulerpa is a fast growing green macro-algae, and commonly available
Whilst you are fighting the outbreak, you should change a minimum of 10% of the water every week, siphoning out as much detritus & algae as possible. Remember to keep cleaning the mechanical filter media as soon as it becomes soiled and use on reverse osmosis cleaned water.

Answer 2

My normal answer for algae:

First of all, you need to do weekly water changes of at least 20%. Anything less, and you're asking for your nitrates to build up something awful.

I'm going to give you my "standard answer" for algae questions.

"Have you had your nitrates tested lately? If not, take a sample to your local pet store that sells fish and get it tested. Anything less than 40ppm is safe, but you want it less than 20ppm to inhibit algae growth. If it's more than 20ppm, you need to do a water change. You should be doing at least 20% a week. If your nitrates are too high within a week's period, chances are, your tank is overstocked.

If your tank is in direct sunlight, consider moving the tank or closing the curtains/shade. Also, leave your aquarium light off for a couple of days. Algae needs light to grow. You take away the light, you can't grow any algae.

Consider planting some live plants like java fern. They will help convert the nitrates into food for themselves.

Lower your temperature to mid-70s. Be careful not to lower anymore than 4 degrees a day, or else you run the risk of messing with your fishies' immune systems. And we don't want any sick fishies.

Ghost shrimp are known to eat algae, and they add practically nothing to your bioload. And they're cheap.

Do not get any algae eating fish, like a pleco. Depending on your tank size (if it's anything less than a 55-gallon), they will quickly outgrow your tank.

And if all else fails, and you have to add chemicals, make sure you get an algicide that does not contain copper, as some fish are very sensitive to it, and it's quite difficult to remove. I recommend Algae Magic by Weiss, as it's organic and safe for all fish, plants, and invertebrates."

Good luck!

Answer 3

Many ways to slow down the algae process and then almost destroy it. First move your tank out of the sun. The sun is the source for all livngs things to grow, develop, etc. Next buy a bottle of algae remover from your local pet store. Then after those two things make sure your clean your tank every two weeks(complete cleaning; gravel, water change, etc.) This will help out your problem very much! Best of luck.

-Andy

Answer 4

Lets make this short and sweet umm yeah light does add to it since there is nothing there to compete with the growth of the algae it will continue growing even if you turn off that light there is sunlight so i suggest either u buy an algae remover from the pet store or scrub scrub scrub or plants

Answer 5

Algae are attually plants so, you may get a algae eater in your tank and move you tank away from window which stop the sunlight from reaching you tank. And minimize the timing of the light cos once these algae reach the light, they will grow very fast.

Answer 6

The sunlight can make algae grow faster as can the bulb. If you move it away from the window that may help slow it down. THey have chemicals you can put in to kill it as well.

Answer 7

there is algea in all tanks u cnt get rid of it but if u improve the water and lower the nitrates and keep out of a lot of day light then there u go

Answer 8

the light creates a problem i would move it get a snail and a algea eater

Answer 9

Don't turn on the light too much

Answer 10

light creates algea,you can get a safe algecide,that wont harm anything