should i use tank tablets to get rid of algae in my fish tank, or should i just scrape it off glass by?

Question

hand, and,,,,? if i DO use the tabs, is it ok to use them with other tank medicines at the dsame time.

Answer 1

COPPERHEAD should get best answer as he is right on the mark with his answer. Get to the root of why you have algae in the first place.

Answer 2

I'd be careful with the tablets b/c it is likely they'll kill off some of your good bacteria with the algae. When I used a liquid chemical to get rid of bacteria this happened to me and I lost some of my fish. I would not use any medicines during the 2 to 3 weeks before or after the use of the tablets b/c of the lack of bacteria. You don't want the chemicals to react in a bad way with each other either. Scrape it off. If that doesn't work try an algae eater that's the right size for your tank before adding the tablets.

Answer 3

Tablets are only a temporary solution. You need to find out why you have so much algae and do something about that!

Excess algae is caused by one of two things: excess nutrients or excess light.

Nutrients:
1) Don't overfeed - if the fish don't eat everything in 2 minutes, you're giving them too much. And don't feed more than 2-3 small feedings a day.
2) Do 25% water changes weekly.
3) Use vascular plants (the kind sold in aquarium stores) to remove excess nutrients from the tank (they also shade algae in lower sections of the tank). Water sprite is a good choice, but don't trry to root it - let it float).

Light:
1) Do not place your tank where it gets direct sun (it also makes the water hot!)
2) If you use artifical lighting, keep it on no longer than 12-14 hrs/ day. Use a timer if this is more convenient.
3) Reduce the length of time your lights are on (if you don't have other live plants in the tank). Algae need the light to live.

Also, use natural aglae cleaners in your tank. If you have a big tank, get a plecostomous (they can grow to 18" depending on species). If your tank is small or medium sized, get some flying foxes or Ottocinclus catfish (all eat algae). Don't get Chinese algae eaters (they only eat algae when young and harass other fish when they're adults). You could try a few snails, or algae-eating shrimp as well.

In the meantime, continue to scrape algae by hand and remember that it's best not to add any chemicals to an aquarium if you don't have to! You don't say what fish you have but some species are sensitive to medications/chemicals.

Maracyn is an antibiotic - it may clear up cyanobacteria (blue-green algae, which is actually a bacteria), but won't affect green algae. Likewise, if you have blue-green algae, the aglae tablets won't have any affect. To know if you have blue-green algae view photo in this link:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dcyanobacteria%2Bfreshwater%2Baquarium%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8&w=400&h=300&imgurl=www.tinkerfish.com%2Faquarium%2Fimages%2Fblue-algae.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tinkerfish.com%2Faquarium%2Ffreshwater&size=34.0kB&name=blue-algae.jpg&p=cyanobacteria+freshwater+aquarium&type=jpeg&no=1&tt=1&oid=19e6d27a56329e7e&ei=UTF-8

Answer 4

Well, as the poster above me said, it does kill the plecos and whatever algae eater fish you may have in the aquarium.

I suggest scraping it off next time you change the water, then proceed to change the filter a few days after that.

With the tablets or liquid, it may have an adverse effect on any live plants you may have in your aquarium.

Finally, you can change your amount of light and type of light in your aquarium to reduce algae. If you have no live plants, then you can install a light that brings out fish colors, while omitting the spectrum that algae depends on.

I don't have live plants so I have changed up the lights and the algae growth has decreased.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Is your algae green? If confident, it particularly is not risky. Algae needs 2 issues to thrive: easy and foodstuff. easy, direct or oblique, from a window or from leaving tank lights on too long will sell algae. Tank lights purely must be on 4-6 hours according to day. foodstuff are provided by using way of nitrates interior the tank. ranges of nitrates exceeding 20ppm and extreme easy will produce green algae. Your fifty 5 gallon tank is overstocked, by using the way. The oscars will each choose approximately 50 gallons of water according to grownup fish. the two gourami choose approximately 40 gallons each-minimum and a few plecos can attain 20". The filtration isn't the main situation with the fifty 5 gallon tank, particularly it particularly is the flair grownup length of the fish and territorial needs. a lasting algae answer could be to shrink the quantity of light on your tank and upload numerous stay plant life (will dissipate some nitrate and furnish cover for the gourami) checking out for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates enable you to understand how your organic and organic filter out is doing. Ammonia and nitrite must be 0ppm and nitrates must be 20ppm or much less. carry out partial water variations as needed to get your parameters in line. And, no, the algae isn't coming from the filter out. If the algae is brown, it particularly is oftentimes produced as a tank completes the nitrogen cycle. With constrained easy and water variations it particularly is going to circulate away.

Answer 6

you can scrap it of with your hand but it will always come back and take over your glass tank. and the loose algea will get your fish. get a magnetic glass cleaner. this is simple way to clean the glass inside without getting wet. avaliable at pet stores and discount stores. also if you want get a sucking catfish aka chinese algea eater. These suck the glass and eat algea, hence the glass. dont use tablets, as this may harm the fish and put them under stress, remember the less chemicles in water the healthier they r. gl

Answer 7

Tablets kill Plecostamous fish...don't use them.

Scrape off the algae and then run a good charcoal filter in there to get rid of it in the water.

Good luck.

Answer 8

for best results wipe down the inside of your tank weekly and wash off the plants and decorations -- you wont get algae. as a quick trick you can put maracyn in your tank and it kills algae. you can also keep the tank in the dark for 3 days.