How do I get rid of algae in my tank?

Question

My husband and I have had a 30 gal fresh fish tank for over five years and we NEVER had so much trouble with algae untill we moved a year ago and went from "city water" to a "private well". We have tried everything-from frequent water changes, buying new gravel and even a bio- wheel. We have tried every product our fish store recommended.Nothing seems to help!!!!!!We have gone from water changes every three months using a product called 'Easy Balance' ( which used to work great!) -to every week-partial or complete-it doesn't matter. Our fish seem to be thriving though and don't seem to mind-but WE are desperate and are ready to give up! Is there something missing in well water that makes it less ideal for aquariums? I know it has not been treated with any chemicals . Any help or advise would be appreciated.
Thanks.

We have algae eaters and they don't seem to help with this kind of algae;the tank is not in direct sunight,and we try not to keep the light on during the day. We have tried the algae tabs, algae rid products and so far nothing helps. I have had aquariums on and off for 30 years and consider my self-though certainly no expert-but quite knowledgeable. This really has me stumped.

Answer 1

1. Determine which type of algae you are fighting. I suspect you have pond algae rather than traditional tank algae (private water !)

see the link below.
try a garden centre and treat your tank like a pond situation with fish in -
I suspect it should solve your problem.

Answer 2

Is your algae green? If yes, it's not harmful. Algae needs two things to thrive: Light and nutrients. Light, direct or indirect, from a window or from leaving tank lights on too long will promote algae. Tank lights only need to be on 4-6 hours per day. Nutrients are provided by way of nitrates in the tank. Levels of nitrates exceeding 20ppm and excessive light will produce green algae. Your 55 gallon tank is overstocked, by the way. The oscars will each need about 50 gallons of water per adult fish. The 2 gourami need about 40 gallons each-minimum and some plecos can reach 20". The filtration isn't the main problem with the 55 gallon tank, rather it's the potential adult size of the fish and territorial needs. A permanent algae solution would be to reduce the amount of light to your tank and add several live plants (will use up some nitrate and provide cover for the gourami) Testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates will let you know how your biological filter is doing. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0ppm and nitrates should be 20ppm or less. Perform partial water changes as necessary to get your parameters in line. And, no, the algae isn't coming from the filter. If the algae is brown, it's generally produced as a tank completes the nitrogen cycle. With limited light and water changes it will go away.

Answer 3

The sucker fish things stated above are Plocostimuses. I have a couple and they do love algae but they are ugly (like prehistoric) but they work good, except after a year or two they can get big. Kind of cool I guess, in a way.
Another problem you might have is if the tank is getting too much light. Daylight or otherwise. Don't leave the tank light on all the time.
Last resort, you will have to transfer the fish to a different place, maybe a bucket (with some of the tank water) while you use bleach to clean your tank. This will kill all algae. Then you can start over controlling it with other ways. But make sure you rinse the tank well before adding the fish back.

Answer 4

I had the same problem once and didn't want to use a chemical as a solution. My best advice is to buy several 'algae eaters'. They will eat the algae off the ornamental items, and some algae off the glass, and get along well with most any other fish,and are easy to keep. As far as algae build-up on the glass, I bought several large snails and a glass scraper, available from your local pet shop. The snails will also help to eat algae off the glass. Snails are very susceptible to water temperature changes,as well as water type changes so be sure to consult your local, reliable, pet expert as to which snails are best for your tank. Another tip is to make sure your tank isn't getting any natural sunlight. It looks pretty when it does, but sunlight will encourage tremendous amounts of algae to grow and in a hurry! I found my fish loved living in natural well water, I just had to do a little more maintenance. Best of luck! =)

Answer 5

Algae is also cause by the direct light. Maybe trying to change the location where the direct sun will might help from experience. And also if you add a water heater, that could also cause algae.

You could also try to put those fishes that stays on the wall of the fish tank will definitely solve the problem.

I hope I answer your question. :)

Answer 6

Keep an algae eater fish.
See no sunlight reaches the tank.
Don't keep the light swticth on for a longer time.

Answer 7

Its quite frustrating when these morons keep suggesting an algae eater when the situation would mean starvation and death for the poor fish. Im also getting sick of people recomendin distilled water.
Im with ruben that the well you have has excess phosphates in the water. I think your only option is to switch to bottled spring water. Or buy a uv sterilizer wich would kill any algae spores in the water but its also quite costly and probably wouldnt be worth it. But i would definatly stop doing complete partials. Forcing your fish to go throw constant ammonia spikes is going to take its toll.

Answer 8

Mayb it needs 2 b clean more often. It also might b helpful 2 get algae eaters. It might b the type of food u give ur fish 2. Flakes make the fish tank fog up. I personally suggest pellets.

Answer 9

the only thing that causes algae is light, put up darker curtains, cover the back of the aquarium, dont leave the light on during the day and turn it off before you go to bed, the fish don't need as much light as you think they do

Answer 10

There is a type a fish called an algae eater-the name says it all.They eat algae out of gravel,off the glass,and off of any decorations you have in there,such as a little boat or fafe plant or shell.Use medicine for algae at the same time.The fish and medicine should work together to help it go away.It worked for us.