Between water changes i slowly get a buildup of a green dust like algae on the glass and the pebbles. It rubs off easily with a cloth, but i can never get rid of it out of the water. After a week or so it slowly comes back. I do two weekly changes of water, and all is balanced ok, although i can't reduce the nitrate any lower than 40 due to tap water levels. Lighting is on for eight hours/day and water is well aerated, with external power filter.
Thought i'd beat it over time, but have failed.
I'm UK based :)
2006-12-01 22:09:53 · 23 answers · asked by Doobdonk 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
move the tank out off the sunlight
2006-12-01 22:11:45 · answer #1 · answered by sashs.geo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be Honest with you There is nothing that you do can stop Algae..i mean you can help to prevent algae from growing all over the tank by Cleaning as you do,Purchase Algae eating fish such as Mollies,Plecs and Loachs etc and also looking into buying some tank solutions to reduce algae..All i would say to you is not to worry to much about little specs of green algae but be more aware of The bluey Green and Brown types of algae..But these types are normally associated with Very Poor Tank Conditions Or much Larger Aquariums...Its un likely you would experience this as you seem fussy about your tank...The lighting is Perfect and you could afford to keep light on for 10hrs if you please as i do and i have a healthy tank..!! So i hope you have not had Algae nightmare's as its not that bad OK... :)
2006-12-02 16:17:16 · answer #2 · answered by Simon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a few things you can do to solve this problem.
1) buy a magnetic cleaner. it attaches to the inside of the tank and allows you to clean the algae off from the outside without having to put anything in the tank
2) Buy a pleck, loach or catfish as these all eat algae and will help keep it at bay. You can buy these for tropical or cold water aquariums. just ask at your local pet shop.
£) There is a chemical solution you can buy called green away, which you dilute and put in your tank and it kills the green algae in your fishtank.
2006-12-05 10:56:07 · answer #3 · answered by megz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you use a filter and pump, where is the tank sitting is it in sun light i use a filter and this keeps the algae at bay for 3 months, i don't change the water every week no need to.
i started keeping fish 26 years ago and only using filters and things 10 years the best one i find is a big green roller type you can get as a starter kit for kids its the best one i found that kept the tank clean the longest
you can also get a kind of sucker fish a big black thing that looks like a leech and sticks the the side of the tank, my brother used to use these instead of snails as snails tend to over breed and out run your tank,
2006-12-02 15:52:45 · answer #4 · answered by AARONLEE AND SASHA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should only change 10% of your water a week. Your algae problem can be helped by lowering your Phosphate level.(most retailers will sell you a chemical to do it). Keep your tank away from sunlight. The best method to use is common pond snails, they are the best algae eaters i have found in 40 years of fish keeping.
2006-12-04 06:37:08 · answer #5 · answered by bodtheimpaler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Algae is mainly due to too much light so perhaps you could try turning the lights off for more of the day. You need to use a Tap Water Conditioner available from your local pet store. Ask their advice. Good luck
2006-12-03 11:42:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most often this type of algae comes from tungsten lighting. You can change to florescent or leave the lighting off for about a week, and it should clear up. If you don't have live plants in the tank, there isn't much reason for lighting other than to display the tank.
2006-12-02 08:08:56 · answer #7 · answered by Overt Operative 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An algae eater will not eat this type of green algae.
It is likely that your tank is either getting too much sunlight, or you have water issues.
You can start by trying to limit it's sunlight that it is recieving. After this you'll want to scrape the algae off the glass every couple of days, as needed, with an algae scraper.
If it is your water, you may want to switch to RO/DI (reverse osmosis, deionized) water.
2006-12-02 07:06:50 · answer #8 · answered by lunar_flame 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be a number of poblems causing this, is your tank in contact with sun light, if not try adding more plants and remove some fish, algae thrives on high nitrate and light levels. if the problem is your tap water, then you can purchase a resin that absorbs nitrate, or if you want to just control it, buy a plec, couple of bristle noses would do the trick
2006-12-06 02:32:11 · answer #9 · answered by CRAIG G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very common problem, esp. with those who have plants (as you need to fertilize them)
This type of algae comes from an excess of nutrients. You can get an algae eater (plz get otos, they actually EAT algae) to keep it under control.
2006-12-02 09:43:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may need to reduce the light exposure more, you can also pick up algae control from any pet shop. I know you do a water change bi-weekly but do you also syphon the crap from the stones etc?
2006-12-02 06:20:56 · answer #11 · answered by gee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋