One of my fish tanks keeps getting an algae bloom. I've used the chemical algae remover,?

Question

I've changed the water to only 2 inches left in the tank. replaced the filter mediums and thoroughly cleaned thesides and the filter box. I've even removed most of the fish to another tank, making it overpopulated. I've covered it for 48 hours to keep it dark. And I've even added extra air by an air stone. Nothing seems to work. Any other suggestions?

I already have an algae eater. I get one every time I start a new tank

Answer 1

An algae eating fish wont eat the free floating algae. Are you sure it is an algae bloom and not a bacteria bloom? What color is it? It won't harm the fish, a lot of people actually make green water since it can be good for the fish but it is ugly. The only thing I can suggest is leaving it covered for a little longer.

Check out the link, it list the causes and ways to get rid of it.

Answer 2

What kind of algae eater, and how many of them for what size tank?

Reduce the amount of food you give your fish by a lot. Unless you've got fry, this will not harm them. This will minimize the food for the algae to grow, and encourage your small ones to dine on itty bitty critters in the bloom. Or, you just may be using cheap food that has lots of junk in it that your fishes need to eat a lot of it, and this is making the extra fertilzer and clouding the water. Switch to a Japanese brand.

I wouldn't use the full water change unless many fish are dying or ill, this sudden change just sets things up to start cycling again and is not a Good Thing. Do a small weekly water change instead. Let your change water set for a two days in the dark before adding it in, just in case your municipality's water supply is introducing new algae and plankton critters.

I'm not sure how moving the fish could help. They've gotta live somewhere, and if they are the culprit, then they are just going to cause the problem whereever they are living now.

I'm not sure how extra air would help either. Plants use carbon dioxide, so if you are feeding a larger supply into the water from outside, then the amount they are eating from the water is being replenished by an *additional* source besides your fish population's respiration.

I've never seen the chemical algae remover work with anyone I know that's tried it.

Finally, I wouldn't remove all of the algae from the tank's walls, and when I did remove it, I'd only do one pane at a time. I'd always leave a little bit in some corner or the back. The reason for this is because it's a fact of nature that your tank will have some warmth, light, and fishwaste fertilzer, which is prime living space for algae. New algae will multiply madly to fill this space if there's no other competitor, and rapid growth is exactly what causes those cloudy blooms. It also keeps your algae eater from suddenly starving.

Answer 3

You should not get livestock to eat algae. As I mentioned to you before, algae eaters are scavengers and need more in their diet to live any length of time, and they are quite messy - their contribution to waste in the tank can only lead to more algae and while they do eat some algae, especially when they have no choice because their owner doesn't feed them (in which case they don't last), they are still not a cleaning tool. To prevent algae you do weekly maintenance on the tank with partial water changes and vacuuming to keep waste down, and maintain the filter each month to keep it running smooth (but not over-cleaning it). You don't over feed the fish, and make sure you feed the fish and not the tank, and if you have no live plants, keep the lights down to 6 to 8 hours per day, and go with weaker lighting. Once managed, algae will still grow, but it will be easy for you to keep on top of yourself, which is how real fish keepers manage algae. Remember that the only bad thing about algae is that people don't like it. In reality it is very healthy for an aquarium, and when grown on rocks and wood and such can look very natural in an aquarium. Don't be afraid of algae - work with it.

Answer 4

Chemical algae removers don't really help if it's this advanced. I have had the same problem a couple of times in over lit tanks( show tanks). Here is the best cure. A Diatom filter and no extreme water changes. Diatom filters clean all the floating algae spoors from the water they also clean tanks better than any other filtration system i know of. ( Thirty years experience as a breeder) rent a Diatom filter or buy one if you can afford it. clean the tank in bloom then clean it again in three days. This should end your bloom problem and will not cause any damage to the eco system you've built within the tank. Try not to use the following in any highly lit tank. plastic plants, porous objects like clay caves etc. and cut down algae based flake food or algae tabs (pleco food). Show tanks are notorious for bloom and I found this fixes it. Also for you water change slaves that get tired of having to do water changes once a month or even more often, investing in a Diatom filter along with your other filtering systems can often save you 75 percent of your water changes and stop most of the dangers from accidental over feeding or algae problems.

Answer 5

Well, the obvious answers you probably already know, is it near a window that gets sunlight? How long do you leave the light on for? No more then 8 hours. Don't use the chemicals, they don't work-as you're seeing. Try doing the black out again, I've read you're supposed to do it for 3-4 days. Don't recommend doing the complete water change. Try using filter floss in the filter. Probably need to replace it daily, but it's cheap. Live plants are supposed to help with algae as well. Only tank I've had a problem with was my pond, and it was getting too much sun which was the culprit.

Answer 6

As you have discovered, algae destroying products may cure the symptoms for a short while, but the problem will remain unless you deal with the root cause. The cause of your problem could be excess biological matter in the gravel, which is basically fertilizer for the algae. Some algae will remain and will bloom again because there's still food for it in the gravel. Don't disturb your filter, but do a thorough gravel cleaning and keep it clean. Along with reduced light, this may help solve your problem.

Answer 7

The drastic cleanings and chemical algae removers that you are using to get rid of the algae, may actually be contributing to the algae bloom by damaging your nitrifying bacteria and biological filtration. Continue keeping the light off on your aquarium until you get the algae under control, fish are fine without light. Unfortunately, if it is free floating algae (green water), algae eating fish aren't going to take care of it. But, Ammano Shrimp will, so I would consider investing in some of these helpful critters.
Also, if your algae eaters are plecos, they may be old enough that they don't eat algae anymore, and you may be better off with oto cats or siamese algae eaters for the algae on your aquarium, plants, and decorations.

Answer 8

I use this product ..I have had nothing but sucess with it . Also when you clean the gravel and ornaments in the tank use bleach and water let them soak then rinse well, that is pretty much the only way to kill the algae on them. This product you add 25 drops per 10 gallons by the following day the water is crystal clear.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/algaefix125oz.html

Answer 9

What's on the bottom of the tank? Gravel? you'll need to clean that, too. Are there any plants? Any airlines that go to an undergravel filter? All of these can harbor a few algae cells, and they will start another algae bloom.

Answer 10

How big your tank? I have found a product for my pond called pond clarifier and it is the best stuff I have found as far as eliminating algae. I also have a few 55 gallon tanks and I use it in them as well.
Give it a try!