I have had a 30 gallon freshwater tank for a year and a half. It gets algae on the glass and every other surface very quickly (fairly covered in just a week). The tank is not in direct sunlight and I do a small water change ever week. The light is just a standard bulb that came with the tank, any thoughts?
2007-05-08 05:00:40 · 8 answers · asked by Tin Can 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
If you are leaving your light on any longer than 8 hrs you are going to promote algae growth. Also check your nitrates. If these are present, this is feeding and fertilizing your algae.
If you want an easy way to try and start a new without major algae in the tank, turn the light off and cover the tank for several days. Feed only once every other day and within a week your algae will have disappeared.
Then you can turn the light back on for no more than 8 hrs a day and feed no more than once a day. Your fish will be fine with feeding only once every other day if you want to stay on that schedule. This will also help to keep you from having to do water changes as frequently.
Biological controls for algae include snails and plecos or otto cats. All work well for maintaining and cleaning up small algae blooms and the common algae that will grow in any tank.
Good luck!
2007-05-08 05:40:11 · answer #1 · answered by lilith 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
everybody recommending a Pleco has no theory what they are speaking about. - they don't quite eat that a lot algae - They change into tremendous and require aquariums around the seventy 5-one hundred and twenty gallon variety - even as they age they stop eating algae and ought to change into extremely aggressive - they are very messy and could upload considerably on your bio load which will in hassle-free words make the algae situation more effective extreme in case you're having issues do what the different answer suggested and paint the perimeters of the aquarium or pull curtains over the window. an surprisingly good technique even with the truth that should be to purchase a UV sterilizer, it's going to kill the algae, parasites and different nasty issues on your aquarium water.
2016-11-26 19:14:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reduce the lighting by a few hours and increase the size of your water changes. You say the changes are small, be sure to change about 25-35% each week and you should see the algae become far less of a problem.
MM
2007-05-08 06:47:06 · answer #3 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to have the tank in direct sunlight for algae to grow from the light of a nearby window. I would suggest watching your nitrate levels and keeping them below 20. Algae needs nitrate to grow.
2007-05-08 05:20:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
decrease any and all light from little to none.... like 4-8 hours a day of the artificial bulbs. Algae thrives on fresh tap water, so reducing water changes ( this should be only done
) 25% water change per week. Adding plants will actually help decrease it too.
2007-05-08 05:59:25 · answer #5 · answered by Twilite 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would consider moving the tank if possible, buying natural algae controll like snails, and fish that eat algae and if all else fails then buy a chemical.
2007-05-08 05:40:41 · answer #6 · answered by gentlesoul 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
plecostomus im not sure if im spelling it right but they suck the sides of the tank and get it off so do snails and some shrimp would help
2007-05-08 05:09:09 · answer #7 · answered by anissia 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It may be too warm...Check it out before you add chemicals to kill algae.
2007-05-08 05:10:29 · answer #8 · answered by db14 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋