Big Algae Problem

[witse]

Hi there,

I have a 42 Gallon tank containing 2 x 3" catfish, 6 x Tiger barbs and 1 x blue crayfish. I am having serious problems with algae taking over the tank. First of all the algae appeared on the glass only and was a yellowy colour. Then it started to appear on the filter and on some of the decorations in the aquarium in reddish and yellow. Now the growth in happening on the gravel on the bottom of the tank in a fluffy more dark greeny/brown colour that looks a little more menaceing than the others as it is at places raised up to 7mm above the surface of the gravel and seems to be spreading very quickly. I keep the tank at 25C do weekly 25% water changes and hoover the gravel. I have a Fluval 4 filter and good air pump with bubble wall airstone and light the tank with one grow bulb + one normal strip bulb, I also have crystal clear water. I have had the tank setup for a few months now and have treated it for the first month or 2 so I am sure its fully cycled and have tried various types of algae killer with no good results. Please if possible could you help me out so I can get the tank back to being algae free.

Thank you for your time
Witse

 

[zig]

Is this a planted tank?

Does the algae smell, particularily the brown green stuff on the gravel, it sounds like you may have BGA or some type of cyanobacteria, would it be possible to post a picture?

 

[witse]

I dont think the algae on the bottom smell any more than any other sort in the tank ? just smells like pond really. I have had the lights off since last night and the quantity of growth seems to have halfed. I thank that maybe the JBL Algaeside I put in a few days ago has started to work ?
Any advice on how to continue with treatment would be great also should I leave the lights off untill the growth has gone totally ?

Thanks everyone
Witse

 

[AndyTaylor]

Keeping the lights off for an extended period really depends on your quantity of live plants but algae are a lot less tolerant of darkness than plants are so i'm not surprised that it's started to die back.
I'm no expert on algae (unless having loads counts!) but you need to find out whats causing it and deal with the problem rather than the symptoms.
Are you overfeeding? Overlighting? Is the tank in direct sunlight etc...
Just some thoughts from a learner...