"how to prevent alge in my new tank"?

Question

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PREVENT ALGE IN NEW TANKS...I HAVE BABY GUPPIES AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO,SHOULD I BUY ALGE EATERS,DO THEY WORK?I NEED HELP

THANKS

THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTION,BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO!

Answer 1

there are some excellent answers from a few people already.

Algae is generally caused by poor water quality. Here is a quick list you can do to prevent algae naturally, without the use of chemicals. See how many you're doing. If you're doing them all, ask again and let us know what you're doing and what kind of algae problems you're having.

1) Don't over feed your fish. Uneaten fishfood turns into algae food.
2) Vacuum your gravel weekly. Fishwaste becomes algae food.
3) Change 25% of your water weekly (usually done while vacuuming your gravel)
4) Make sure your filtration system is big enough for your tank (4 times your tanks volume per hour minimum).
5) Change your filter cartridges every 3 months.
6) Get some live plants. Live plants will eat the algae food before the algae can.
7) Get some algae eaters. There are plenty out there. What kinda algae do you generally have problems with? Pleco's, Otocinclus, Siamese Algae Eaters, Amano Shrimp, Cherry Shrimp, Snails, etc... Not sure what type or size tank you have, but yes these guys do work.
8) Limit the light. Get a timer if you have to, but don't leave the light on for more than 12 hrs maximum.

Answer 2

Live plants help consume the nitrates that algae needs to grow.Buying more fish is never a good idea if algae is a problem.Fish produce waste,which in turn will eventually increase the nitrates,this equals more algae.Do not leave your lights on for more than 10 hours,never let direct sunlight get into the tank.Weekly water changes will help keep the nitrates lower,so there will be less algae.Algae is common in new tanks because when the nitrogen cycle completes(if it was a fishless cycle)there are very high nitrates.

So live plants,not too much light,and water changes will all help.If you decide to get some algae eaters,Oto fish are the best,and small.Just make sure you don't over stock your tank by adding them.

Answer 3

Why would you want to reduce alge in a fry tank? Alge helps the fry by suking in waste and alge is a natural sorce of food. Acourse if you can't deal with it, otos are small sucker catfish that school,but you better have lots of alge in that tank, and will have to feed them alge walfers everyday. Otos will not hurt even tiny shrimp!

Answer 4

Most algae need light, reduce the light, reduce the algae.

Keep up the routine maintenance, gravel vacuuming and water changes.

Keep a good, regular maintenance regime and the algae should not take hole.

PS - Smaller tanks are more Susceptible to algal growth than larger tanks

Answer 5

The best way to prevent algae is to control lighting, nitrate, and phosphate.

LIGHT~Only allow the tank to receive 8-10 hours of light from the hood, and NEVER allow direct sunlight (ambient light is fine).
NITRATE~Weekly maintenance (siphoning waste from the gravel) as well as keeping the filter from becoming clogged are vital aspects of keeping the nitrate (which algae "feeds" on) low enough to prevent algae outbreaks.
PHOSPHATE~Fish food contains relatively high phosphates, and as long as your tap water is not full of phosphates, simple water changes (as with nitrate control) will keep it at a level low enough to stunt algae growth.

Guppies will eat a small amount of algae, but not enough to clean the tank for you (algae can make a good first food for Guppy fry). Algae eating fish are usually more hassle than they are worth as they are usually quite messy, fueling more algae than they remove. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: Chemicals are horrible methods of removing algae. They usually contain copper, which kills inverts, and they usually kill plants. I doubt that prolonged exposure to these chemicals is healthy for fish, especially developing fry...

Answer 6

if you keep youre light on to long its one cause to much food poop
only use your light when your feeding your fish it will stop it
feed your fish once every three days if you arent doing that
it could be food

ps alges kinda help on decorations not on walls

Answer 7

Don't buy algae eaters. They will just eat those fries. You could prevent algae by buying magnetic algae cleaners. They should be available in your local pet shop.

CC

Answer 8

im not sure what the fish is called but there is one that will stick to the wall or ur tank and go arounf eating the algae its that pink star fish in finding nemo if uve seen that movie

Answer 9

Algae eaters help but usually can't keep up. You can by anti-algae tablets at the store.

Answer 10

they work but no matter what you do there will always be alge in the tank.