Algae Problems

[lola]

So my 10gal. is now fully cycled and I have 2 zebra danios and 2 dwarf rainbow gouramis in it. I was going to get a few more danios to finish out the school. Unfortunately I have big problems with algae. I got a scrubber brush and try to clean it, but its all stuck in the plants (plastic) and the rocks. I've had bad luck with plecos in the past and I think even a bristlenose may get too big. Will ottos do a good job keeping this algae in check? How many would I need? Will I be overstocked then? What about chemicals to control the algae? Any experience with those? I try to use as little chemical additions as possible. Can anyone reccommend a product?
Thanks in advance.

 

[djultimate]

So my 10gal. is now fully cycled and I have 2 zebra danios and 2 dwarf rainbow gouramis in it. I was going to get a few more danios to finish out the school. Unfortunately I have big problems with algae. I got a scrubber brush and try to clean it, but its all stuck in the plants (plastic) and the rocks. I've had bad luck with plecos in the past and I think even a bristlenose may get too big. Will ottos do a good job keeping this algae in check? How many would I need? Will I be overstocked then? What about chemicals to control the algae? Any experience with those? I try to use as little chemical additions as possible. Can anyone reccommend a product?
Thanks in advance.

I Personally leave chemicals alone , though I would deffinetly invest in at least 3 otto's which shouldnt make you overstocked, they do wonders in my tank

 

[OldMan47]

I have found that 1 or 2 otocinclus are enough for my very badly covered 10 gallon tanks. After a little while in the nastiest algae imaginable, I end up giving them supplemental feedings of spirulina.

 

[waterdrop]

spirulina? LOL, what the heck is that? oldman, you have so many interesting things to share I can't keep up!

Iola: There are differing opinions about the degree of delicateness of "otos" with at least one planted tank member saying he introduces them very early in new tanks, whereas many feel they are very delicate and one should wait an extra 6 months (!) after fishless cycling before the tank is stable enough for success with otos. I have experienced this myself years ago, so still feel that I fall into the "delicate" camp. There is no dispute however over whether they eat agae - they are great at that!

For your immediate situation, however, I suggest you might be too hesitant about "manhandling" your cleaning. Get yourself a towel and a tray and take those plastic plants and rocks right on out of the tank the next time the water is lowered during your weekly water change. Take the tray to the sink and scrub the things with an old toothbrush or similar thing that you have rinsed thoroughly beforehand. Most of the agae will readily come off.

Lighting is of course the first thing to work on in the war against algae. Make sure your tank is not getting any direct sun of course. Go for some timers and set the lights to only go for a 4 hour morning stretch and a 4 hour evening stretch with the lights out during siesta in the middle of the day.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lola]

spirulina? LOL, what the heck is that? oldman, you have so many interesting things to share I can't keep up!

Iola: There are differing opinions about the degree of delicateness of "otos" with at least one planted tank member saying he introduces them very early in new tanks, whereas many feel they are very delicate and one should wait an extra 6 months (!) after fishless cycling before the tank is stable enough for success with otos. I have experienced this myself years ago, so still feel that I fall into the "delicate" camp. There is no dispute however over whether they eat agae - they are great at that!

For your immediate situation, however, I suggest you might be too hesitant about "manhandling" your cleaning. Get yourself a towel and a tray and take those plastic plants and rocks right on out of the tank the next time the water is lowered during your weekly water change. Take the tray to the sink and scrub the things with an old toothbrush or similar thing that you have rinsed thoroughly beforehand. Most of the agae will readily come off.

Lighting is of course the first thing to work on in the war against algae. Make sure your tank is not getting any direct sun of course. Go for some timers and set the lights to only go for a 4 hour morning stretch and a 4 hour evening stretch with the lights out during siesta in the middle of the day.

~~waterdrop~~

Will a regular lamp timer work? That's probably a stupid question Unfortunately with my school and work schedule, the lights are on about 13-14 hours a day!!! Far too long I know, but short of paying someone to come over and turn them on/off I have no choice. I can't believe I never thought of putting them on a timer! I think I may try some otos, we'll see how they do.

 

[locust267]

Yep I put all of mine on a timer - Easy peesy

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, assuming your light has an "electronic" starter (ie. when you click the flourescent light switch it goes on by itself without you having to "hold the button in" for a bit..) then you just leave the light switch on and the household light timer suddenly provides the electricity at the right (rough is good enough) time of day. The mechanical ones with little colored clickers on a round dial are better than the electronic timers (they have batteries that run out and are more expensive) and you can usually pick them up at hardware big-box stores very cheap.

~~waterdrop~~