I have a serious algae problem in my fish tank..........?

Question

I just can't get rid of this green water...I've tried many different things...I was wondering if the fact that i've added a bio-wheel within the past month could be producing more algae...I have 3 fantails in a 55 gallon tank about 2 inches long...tried water changes, 25% for 2 weeks every third day...just cant beat it....Thanks in advance...any suggestion is well appreciated

Answer 1

I'd suggest having your tank water AND tapwater tested for nitrates and phosphates as a first step. Danielle is correct that if these are being added by your tap water, doing water changes won't be of much help. Also consider other possible sources - aquarium plant fertilizers, overfeeding, debris trapped in the substrate/under an undergravel filter (if you use one - these are best run by a powerhead with the flow direction reversed to blow detritus UP out of the substrate). A phosphate pad will remove the phosphate, but if you have both, you might want to consider getting a polyfilter pad which will remove both.

It's possible that your new filter contributed in a small way - unless you used/added the old media from the previous filter, you've lost the bacteria on the old media, but unless you also change the gravel or cleaned it out too well, this shouldn't have had that much of an effect.

Have you tried darkening the tank? It should be set up outside of where it will get direct sunlight, but try keeping the tank lights off as well. Algae needs light for photosynthesis, so without it, it can't produce the food it needs to survive. You can also try reducing the light by using floating aquarium plants like duckweed (although this can clog your filter), wisteria, water sprite, or elodea to both block some of the light and compete with the algae for nutrients.

Since yours seems to be a free-floating type of algae, some expensive but effective methods of control would be a diatom filter or a UV sterilizer. The diatom filter will remove even the fine algae that your regular filter doesn't. The UV uses radiation to mutate the DNA of the algae to either kill, or prevent reproduction. This method only works for algae suspended in the water, not the types that attach, and the lamps need to be replaced every 12 months, so this can get into some money.

Fish and snails can't do much for the free-floating forms (other than add their wastes to the nutrients that keep it growing), but a few filter-feeding shrimp might help with the control. The more difficult part of that task would be finding ones that would be able to be kept at cooler temperatures that goldfish prefer, and getting them large enough that the fish don't eat them.

Answer 2

I had a bit of an algea problem in one of my tanks, what worked for me was putting in a couple of fresh pieces of malysian bogwood into the tank. I have naturally hard water here in KY and the bogwood softened the water, lowered the ph and took care of my algae problem. The water was tinted slightly brown for the first few water changes, this can be avoided by boiling the bogwood in a large kettle on the stove for a few minutes. Now my water is perfectly clear & I have absolutely no algae in the tank at all. The bio wheel should not contribute to an algae problem. the biowheel basically adds surface area in the filter for benifical bacteria to grow, and acts as the biological filter. Goldfish are tolerant to a wide range of water perameters, but if you already have soft water the bogwood might not be a good idea for you. You would be better off to darken the aquarium for a few days, and then do a big water change( 50%- as the dead algea will use up allot of the dissolved oxygen) or you could use an algaecide or a floculant to clear the water.

Answer 3

once I had particularly undesirable algae issues and dent own an algae pad so i ultimately have been given one what I did is first scrub of algae with algae pad that's purely 2dollers. Do gravel vaccuming with a gravel siphon yet purely take out a million/2 of water whilst returning water make particular that's comparable tempreture and use water conditioner to handle water. And save lighting fixtures on purely 6hrs. Aday. An finally. Get a sparkling filter out cartrige or sparkling it with aquarium water counting on what form. I did this and havnt had algae growing to be In 2 month yet now that's totally gentle additionally make particular to do 20percent water substitute weekly and 50percent gravel vaccuming each and each month. yet do no longer forget the water conditioner whilst putting new water in

Answer 4

There could be a few things you haven't thought of. Also, algae eating fish will not eat that much algae. The biowheel could be adding to the problem. I personally quit using them for many reasons.

Too many water changes can also lead to the problem. If your tap water has a high phosporus content this is the food the algae needs. Try adding a phosporus pad to the filter this will cut down on the food for the algae.

There is absolutely no way to completely prevent algae from growing in an aquarium, without killing the other life in the tank.
Chemicals should never be used to control the growth of true algae in an aquarium, and should only be used in rare circumstances to control cyanobacteria.
Correcting a severe algae problem requires time and patience.
Natural methods of controlling algae are the best and most effective.

Algae removal from the tank panels can be done on an as-needed basis, but no more than once a week. Removing algae involves either correcting negative water conditions to control or slow excessive algae growth, or an age-old process known as "elbow grease" (scrubbing it off!).

Be sure the entire filter is cleaned and free of algae.

Also, turn your filters off for about 1/2 hour and allow the free floating algae to settle. Then vac out the micro algae that has settled.

If your tap water isn't the main problem, try feeding your fish a different diet. Goldfish need a balanced diet. When choosing a fish food choose one with high protein (48% or better) and low fat (5% or less)

You can supplement their diet with things like Lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, spinach, peas, endive, seaweed, cukes, kale, chard, broccoli, lima beans, green beans, etc. and feed aquatic plants (e.g. duckweed, azolla, salvenia, etc) or hair algae daily.

For their Carotenoids which are a family of pigments the fish can't make themselves and are obtained as part of the diet. These pigments result in red, yellow and orange colors. Fish have cells called chromataphores. Those cells convert lutein and carotenes into astaxanthin which is the red pigment.
sources include, brine shrimp, krill, spirulina, marigold flowers, paprika, sweet red peppers, yams, carrots, pumpkin

Watermellons and oranges are also good as well as proteins like chicken (chicken livers) beef (livers and parts) and pork as well as worms and bugs.

Feeding veggies does not add to the algae food chain like flake foods.

Also, keeping your tank cooler, below 70 is another way to help control algae.

Answer 5

There is alway algea x which help eliminate it.Or you could do it my way which is to buy algae eater fish such as a chinese algae eater 6'' or a plcostomus can get up to 24''
The pleco is nocturnal so if he/she is hiding all day long thats why. I had an algae eater and have now a pleco.

Answer 6

Best thing to do is keep your tank out of sunlight or any kinda light for long periods of time.
Fan tails are pretty strong fish so you might wanna do more than a 25% water change to really get your tank clean. I know they dont suggest it but, ive been taking care of fish for over 15 years now and i do 75% water changes with no problems. Its up to tho. Good luck!!!

Answer 7

Well... You could try getting some shrimp or Chinese Algae Eaters to help clean it themselves. If changing the water doesn't work (make sure you scrubbed off all the algae before you put new water in) sometimes your only option is just to give it frequent regular scrub-downs (if you use soaps or such make sure you take out the fish first and when you're done flush out the old water scrub down any decorations (pebbles, rock formations) and put in totally fresh water)

Answer 8

Try the following...

* Avoid leaving your overhead light on for more than 8-9 hours a day

* Limit or remove direct exposure to sunlight

* remove any decorations and wash in hot water

* Vaccuum gravel frequently

if all else fails, you can try resorting to an algicide (algae killer tablet or chemical) available at any pet store or WalMart. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Sounds like you're doing everything you should be doing to prevent most algae. I would suggest an algea eating fish. The work quite well in controlling most algaes.
Try this website...http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/algae.html

Good Luck

Answer 10

if theres a light scource it could be feeding the algea and making it grow faster. a more powerful filter, and some shrimp or water snails, or coral would help.