Algae buildup on the walls of my tank...How do you get rid of it?

Question

I have a 10 gal. glass tank and I keep getting algae in it like crazy and I don't know why! I never had this prob. before in plastic tanks. I have one goldfish in my 10 gal. which shouldn't do much to the tank. Does anyone know how to stop algae from forming on my tank walls??? HELP!

Answer 1

There are two things to look at as far as why you have algae. The first is light. Do you have the tank where it gets natural daylight? It would be best to move it. Do you have lights on the tank itself? How long do you leave them on? Tank lights shouldn't be on for more than 12-14 hrs a day (timers help keep the photoperiod constant). You could try cutting back the amount of time the tank light is on.

Second thing to look at is nutrients in the tank. These act like fertilizer. Do you know what your nitrate levels are? How often do you do water changes? You should scrape the algae as needed and do 20-30% water changes each week to keep the nutrients from building up. Do you overfeed your fish? You should only feed what your fish will eat in about 1 minute. If there's leftover food, this will act as a fertilizer as well.

The best way to get rid of the algae for good is to find out which of the above is the cause. There aer chemical algicides, but these are only a temporary "fix" and the algae will keep coming back.

One last thing - are you sure it's algae? If it's a bright blue-green, it could be cyanobacteria (a bacteria, not an algae) http://www.aquamax.de/Shop/Artikelbilder/Zusatzbilder/Algen%20im%20Aquarium_Blaualgen%20-%20Cyanobacteria_STUG_cyano1.jpg. This is harder to get rid of, and you need to use an antibiotic with erythromycin.

Answer 2

Algae requires light to grow. If you have a tank light on all day or have it near a window that could be feeding the algae. I would reduce the light.

The second thing that causes Algae to grow is nitrogen usually from fish waste.

1) Reduce the light.

2) Clean the tank using a siphon vacuum to clean up excess poops that cuase nitrogen build up or just rinse out the gravel and change the water regularly.

3) You can use a biofilter and a biozyme product to get the bio filter working. This is a natural defense against algae build up as it naturally reduces nitrogen that feeds it. - This step may be overkill for a single goldfish.

Good luck!
-Maria
Mother of many many guppies and a turtle .

Answer 3

You need to clean the tank twice a week with a gravel vac. Only take out one to two gallons (10%-20%) every time you clean. Perhaps the room is too bright? Either move the tank into a darker area of the room or cover the area that is being exposed to the light from the windows. Snails and algae fish won't help because they need at least 70 degree water in order to survive any lenght of time.

Answer 4

Make sure the tank is not close to a window. Don't leave the light on too long. Scrape away the algae with a special scouring sponge (available at your pet store)or even with filter wool. Add some anti-algae chemical solution. Add one or two plecostomus catfish. DO NOT OVERFEED> Do a 20% water change every week.

Answer 5

they have some algea chemical remover that helps stop the growth of new algea, get a regular plecostomus(the fish you always see on the walls of aquariums at stores) and at walmart they have these algea magnets tht i use on my tanks all the time they are great. highly recomend algea magnet and plecostomous, for decorations, what i found that works well is toothbrushes.

Answer 6

You could buy a pleco. Or a magnetic glass cleaner! Or you could fix it with chemicals. Look for anti-algae liquids in the store. AND NEVER BUY YOUR FISH THINgs AT WALMART!!!!

Answer 7

U need two things!! A gravel valcuum...which u can buy at wal-mart and get either a snail or an algea eater---which is a fish........they will work to keep u tank clean!!

Answer 8

Limit light, condition water, good filtration, money, money, more money.