Algae Controll

[markandhisfish]

i havent got what youd call an algae problem as such just the usual ie forming on rocks etc . my plec being a golden nugget isnt really interested in eating it for me and i dont want to risk amano sheimps as my fish would prob eat them

stocking is as follows

red severum green severum blue acara 2 kribs 2 angels 2 jade eyed cichlids 2 firemouths and the golden nugget .

what are my best optiopns please

tank is well matured 100g

 

[shelaghfishface]

hia mark
what colour algae is it? just that jambos tank has a really bad lot that looks like rust all over rhe back of the tank, im sure its from having the lights on too long in the dark eves, just ondered if maybe urs is the same??


shelagh xxx

 

[markandhisfish]

hi shelagh its green and is just forming on the surface of the rocks not loads just thin cover in the eves i unplug 1 of the tubes so the lights are mellow

 

[Nick16]

address the problem of why the algae is there and fix it. dont try to cover it up with something that eats algae. otherwise you will be forever fighting it and then your tank will be stocked with algae eating creatures that you probably dont want.

 

[markandhisfish]

ok possible reasons?

 

[Nick16]

well you need to identify what type of algae it is first. look at aaronnorths sig for a link. it is probably due to too much light.

how long are you lights on for? what WPG is it? do you dose any ferts?

 

[markandhisfish]

2 4 foot 38w tubes both on during the day 1 in the evening

 

[Nick16]

thats the right amount of light, you are not massively exceeding it. do you dose anything? what plant mass do you have?

 

[england]

I have this hair tyep green algae growing on y rocks and some plastic plants in my snakehead tank, its always been there, but i happen to like it and its not out of control in any way,,,,,,

 

[markandhisfish]

only a couple of real plants amazon sword and grenn berensis rest are silk thanks to my sevs i dont dose with ferts just have root tabs. im not too bothered about it on the rocks because as with nellys its not out of controll but it started to form on the gravel in 1 area by the kribs cave . my camera wont get a decent pic of it best way i can describe it is like a little thin carpet of fine green hair very short

 

[minxfishy]

Hey Mark, you say you have both lights on during the day, how long for?

 

[markandhisfish]

i rekon 8 to 10 hours

 

[minxfishy]

Sounds about right then, just wondered

 

[aaronnorth]

look in my sig for an ID

 

[markandhisfish]

im using the link in your sig at the mo aaron i get horrendous algae buildup on the uderside of the sliding glass cover which i assume is due to them being so close to the lights i just take the covers off and clean them so not too worried about that. its the stuff on the substrate im concerned about

well out of those it looks closest to the blue green algae. tank has good water circulation the spraybar is aime under the surface to give current and i use 4 inch bubble disc for surface agitation i gravel vac weekly when i do my water change and never feed more than can be eaten in around 3 to 5 mins .