Algae bloom(diatom)..how do i clean the tank now?

Question

I have had a sudden algae bloom and my water turned a murky green.I did regular water changes ever since then but i have no idea how to get rid of the " little green dots with greenish hair growing on it",which has spread all over the glass of my tank.I also have algae all over my ornaments and pebbles and on my plants.
Please advice...

I have a pleco and two chinese algae eaters but i guess the algae growth was way too much for them to handle.

Answer 1

Diatoms, greenwater and cynobacteria can all be very frustrating to deal with in an aquarium and all require slightly different handling to effect a complete and total cure. But, a real reduction in the amounts you see are easy to accomplish.

First, all of these rely on getting plenty of light, so reduce the light in the tank. If any sunlight hits the tank, you need to either move the tank of find a way to block that light. Also, reduce the time you have the lights on in the tank. Assuming the tank is in a room with windows, the fish really don't need the light, so you can use it only when you are home to enjoy the tank.

Second, all of these things need nutrients from the water. Different nutrients for each type of problem growth, but all from the water. A careful gravel cleaning and a 50% water change will help to reduce the nutrient levels followed by a regular 25% water change each week again while cleaning the gravel well with a gravel siphon will go far in keeping the nutrient level low.

Many algae eating fish will not touch diatoms or cynobacteria and therefore won't help the problem at all. Also, they can't eat the free floating algae that is making the water green.

There are a number of chemical treatments available on the market, please don't fall victim to any of these. In the long run they will generally only make the problem worse.

Your best course of action is the slower, but sure method of starving the algae out of the tank. Starve it of nutrients and starve it of light. It will take a few weeks to get it to an acceptable level, but the results will come and will be far more lasting than other methods.

MM

Answer 2

well water changes may be the source of your problem. city or well water will have phosphates in it wich is what algae will thrive on. if it is a new tank this is very common you can help the problem with a phosphate sponge in your filter media and cutting the time the lights are on back a few hours. you can also take black garbage bags and place them around the tank so the only light getting in is the light from the top. You can also get some snails and other algae eaters that will eat the algae. The best thing to do is get a RO/DI tap water filter. An RO/DI will remove almost all the nitrates nitrites and phosphates as well as other trace elements from the wtaer befor it enters your tank. RO/DI filters are expensive but well worth it in the long run. hope this helps and feel free to email me with other questions you may have. hope this helps and good luck with the tank

Answer 3

depending on what you have in your tank, you could go to the store and purchase a chemical algae remover, but sometimes chemical are harsh so use as a last resort. Look at getting a few small catfish to clean it the natural way, like a Otocinclus Catfish, they stay a lot smaller than a Pleco does. Also you need to figure out what started it .

Your tank water is nutrient rich, which may mean that you're feeding too much, your tank may be overstocked or you're not doing enough water changes or a combination of all the above. Avoid placing your aquarium where it could receive direct sunlight.

Answer 4

easy. an algae brush from a regular pet store. cleaning out your flter and feeding the fish a little less might help too. test the water with a regular testing kit from a pet store. certain chemicals in the water cause excessive algae growth. your testing kit will have intructions on which products to buy to get rid of these chemicals that can also be harmful for your fish.

Answer 5

do a 50% water change. Take the deco out and scub it by hand. And get a algae magnet to clean the glass with.

Answer 6

theres also a fish thats called The American Flag Fish they stay super small and can be placed with goldfish. They eat hair algae. Ive never seen mine eat it. All i seen was them attack my baby goldfish's tail! so they had to go.

Answer 7

drain most of the water, and wipe it off by hand.

a smaller pleco like a bushynose might take care of the algae. But the best way is take it off by hand.

Answer 8

go to

Answer 9

get placastemuse