How Can I stop Green Algea Growth?

Question

I have a 5 gallon tank and I am really worried about algea growth. I have to take a cloth and scrub every day just to keep it under control! I have heared of algea removel products but never used them and I'm wondering about how they work and how do I use them? The Algea I am getting is either in large patches or teeny pinpricks. It makes the take ugly and I just can't seem to get it off my gravel even with a gravel cleaner. I am also purchasing a live plant will that cause even worse algea growth? The tank is in semi sunlight and I use a lightbulb in thehood of the tank for heating so it is on 24/7.

Answer 1

The green alagae needs to things to grow, nutrients from the water and light. Lower either or best, both of these things and you will see less green algae.

First try to most the tank out of any direct sunlight if possible. If not, then block that direct light with something. Keep your tank light on only about 10 hours a day. If heat is a problem a 25-50 watt heater for your tank will take care of that. In addition, be very sure you get in your weekly water changes. At least 25% removed while cleaning the gravel will remove the majority of the nutrients feeding that algae.

These changes will at least greatly reduce the algae in the tank, possibly to the point you no longer notice it at all.

MM

Answer 2

First, move the tank out of the sunlight completely. This will make a huge difference.

Second, keep the lights off. Using the lights for heating is not the right way to do it - they sell small heaters for this purpose and you should certainly buy one. Your lights shouldn't be on 24/7 anyway, it's stressful to the fish, and certainly the biggest reason for your problem by far. The fish can function without any issues under normal ambient room lighting, so don't even use them. Just turn them on when you are actually there to view the tank - this will make a huge difference as well and pretty much solve your problem.

Third, make sure you do your weekly water changes and vacumming, and make sure you don't overfeed the tank and fish, which creates lot waste, and in turn, nutrients for algae.

You'll never fully stop it, since algae is a product of a healthy tank, but you can certainly change some things to slow it immensely.

Adding a live plant will niether cause nor fix your problems - it takes many fast growing plants to combat algae with them and 1 won't make the difference mentioned above. I can assure you though, that 24 hours of light per day will likely kill the plant.

Answer 3

First, clean your tank and vacuum the gravel using a siphon. Then, scrub the tank walls with the cloth. For 4 days, leave the tank in complete darkness and feed them half the amount of food as you normally would. Don't use chemicals, they can cause adverse effects on water quality. Algae Eaters get far too large for your tank (8-24 inches). You are likely overfeeding your fish too. You need to keep your tank out of direct sunlight to prevent excessive algae growth, that is the cause of most algae growth. Also, you need to get a tank heater, a light is not acceptable for heating a tank. The excessive lighting from the bulb will also lead to algae. Good luck!

Nosoop4u

Answer 4

First of all, move your tank completely out of sunlight, that's the main source you're having green algae
Turn off the light at night for at LEAST 12-14 hours, and leave it only on for 10-12 hours during the day, another source for green algae to grow
Don't overfeed your fish, only what they will eat in 3-5 min

And no, your real plant won't cause algae to grow more, it will actually help to keep your tank healthier

As for cleaning, do a partial waterchange of 25% weekly with a gravelsiphon


Hope that helps


W

Answer 5

the age old question. Well what MM said is the way to go. just to answer the question dealing with adding a plant. If you add a live plany that will actually help the algae problem. Plants use the same nutrients MM spoke about that algae use to grow. so adding the plant will in effect reduce those nutrient that the algae has to grow because the plant will be using them from the same source. so adding a plant is a good idea and follow what MM said and you should have your tank looking good in due time. i always try to avoid chemicals at all cost most of the time people want a quick fix by adding them to the water but in effect they may kill your fish. So natural meathods should be taken first and if still having issues and have no other options then turn to chemical additives.

Answer 6

Good News ! Your tank can support plant life !
But in this case I understand you don't want this type of plant blocking your view and clinging to the glass.

1) Take the tank out of direct sunlight as much as possible and as soon as possible. Without it, all your algea will eventually die.

2) Turn off your lightbulb for a while. A healthy period of darkness would really be appreciated by your fishes.
Ever try to sleep with the lights on?

3) Try to get an aquarium heater appropriate to the size of your tank and your fishes temperature requirements.

4) Keep up the cleaning, filtration and aeration (bubbles).
It sounds like you're doing a great job with that.

Algea can be helpful to a tank, but just like a healthy underwater lawn it needs to be trimmed if it grows out of control.

I don't suggest using too many chemicals in your tank.
Remove it from the glass by hand , but if it grows on the rocks and other dark ornaments it just adds to the natural beauty of your tank.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

you can't with out an algecide and if you have live plants you cant use and algecide. you could limit the amount of light and there by slow down the growth but that will effect your plant. many suggest to get algea eater (AE) fish however there are hundreds of type of algea and each type of AE will only eat certaine types of algea. in my 45 gallon tank I have full spectrum lighting it is away from the window and i have very little algea problem and no AE's I have to scrape algea about once every 1.5 - 2 months I do not use chemical agecides because i have live plants. In my 29 gold fish tank I i scrape algea 2-3 times a week I have live plants it is by a window and there are trap door snails in it. I dont use the algeacides because of the snails and the plants. most algeacides have copper in them and this kills live plants and has been known to kill snails as well. I also have full spectrum lighting in this tank as well. Algea is a factor with all tanks it will always be there without chemical application all you can do is slow it down. I choose to do my water changes, scrape and use external filters ( all tanks have filters meant for tanks twice their size plus under gravel filters as well,I have 4 total,29gal,55 gal125gal, and 45 gal). i tried an algeacide once had several fish die as well when i used it and when started resaerching i found a number fish are very sensitive to the us e of algeacides as well. By the way who told you to use the hood light for a heater? this would not only kill a plant but you probably have some pretty stressed fish. for five gallons depending on room temp, type of fish and room placement do you need the heat? a great book for a beginner is THE AQUARIUM SURVIVAL MANUAL by Barron Books. it use nice simple language and is very informative for biginners. i dont believe in using the chemicals as i said before but thought you should know all your options

Answer 8

well first of all, dont use algae removal chemicals! they will only remove the algae but not the source of the algae. try to avoid sun light. also, get fishes that eat algae. an alternative for algae eating fish are snails. get 2 of them. they are helpful and u shouldnt use the light for the heater, thats probably the source of all the algae. buy a tank heater. for a 5 gallon tank the heater should be like 5-10 dollars. the light should only b on for 10-12 hours during the day and they should b off at night time.

Answer 9

the main reason for the formation of algea is placing the fish tank near sunlight.. so move it a little... and do not switch on the lightbulb 24/7.. it ll heat up the tank.. and the fishes may die..

Answer 10

you in simple terms despatched your tank into re-biking. by no skill replace each and all of the water. You killed your organic and organic clear out(each and all of the advantageous micro organism fish would desire to stay to tell the story). So now you have a at present general tank (in spite of ways lengthy you have had it) with green water. everybody had solid suggestions approximately restricting gentle etc. in addition they sell chemical substances for green water. be sure next time to purely replace one million/3 of the water at a time or your in simple terms putting your self returned and making your issues that extremely extra complicated. solid success!