Blue Green Algae

[vancouver]

Someone gave me some plant clippings.. and turns out there was some blue green algae on them.. The tank is 10g, and just has a regular incandescent hood. I'd like to keep the plant clippings alive, as there are a few water sprite and some other neat lilly things.

My question is.. if I black the tank out for 3-4 days, will it kill all the plants?

I'd like to get rid of the algae, but would also like to keep the plants alive if I can..

No fish in the tank, just snails.

 

[SNAIL]

Hello Vancouver,

Are you from Vancouver BC Canada or the USA Vancouver?
I'm from Vancouver BC but I now live in Japan.
To address your situation, first of all, your lights are very low.
Incandescent lights are an invitation to algae. You should upgrade it.
You need at least 2 WPG on a planted tank unless of course you are growing low light plants.
Black out will not kill the plants. It will help but it's not the cure.
Your lights along with other issues are the culprit.

Pls give more info on your tank.
Lights - WPG?..... > Should be 2 WPG depending on the type of plants you have and the appropriate spectrum
for aquatic plants.
Filter, HOB or Canister? Activated Carbon?...... > Do not use activated carbon as it absorbs the ferts as well.
Activated carbon are useful to fish only tanks and for medical tanks only.
Filter should be cleaned every two weeks or once a month.
Water Change schedule?...... > Should be done once a week but twice a week is more benficial to the plants.
Ferts?........ > Liquid should be added when you do water changes and fert tabs or pellets can be added every two months.
CO2?......... > is good to have and plants will benefit even with just a DIY setup.

Hope this will help but do read up and check out the pinned articles so you can get a better understanding of what is happening to your tank.

 

[Themuleous]

You should upgrade it. You need at least 2 WPG on a planted tank

I don't necessarily agree with that, upgrading the lighting will not IMHO cure the algae issue, I have two 10g tanks with 15w over them, and neither get algae. In my experience adding more light only makes the situation worse unless other things are also changed, i.e. matching the increased lighting with better plant growth.

I do agree though that incandescent lights are not very good. Vancouver, do you know what type of bulb9s0 you've got? it should say on it somewhere, given that you describe it as a 'regular hood' I would think its more likely to be a fluorescent light bulb, in which case its less of a problem. Proper plant choice would mean you could have a nice planted tank with your current set up.

And no a 3/4 day black out should not kill your plants, but as a note, the standard for BGA is 3 days

Sam

 

[vancouver]

It's not really a planted tank.. It's an empty tank I set up for snails to hang out in.. Someone just happened to give me some plant clippings that I would like to keep alive if possible..

They're probably worth $5 total so I'm not looking to buy new lights or anything to make them flourish.

I'm moving in a few months, and I just wanted to keep a small tank with some snails until I move.

The BGA isn't everywhere yet, but I'm noticing it on a few things, and the water has become a little green.

Maybe I should just do 50% water changes everyday for a few days to see if it helps?

 

[BiffMalawi]

I have a couple of 10g tanks that came with incandescent bulbs . I just swapped them out for those curly compact flourescents you get a walmart or home depot. They are not the greatest but they are cheap and will give you a decent amount of cleaner light. When I switched my algae problems were greatly reduced.

 

[nurglespuss]

And just to add a scientific comment, there's no such thing as blue-green algae, its cyanobacteria. Give the plants a good wash before insertion, and fertilie lightly, and you should be ok.

 

[SNAIL]

Just wanted to say that Vancouver's enquiry here is what we need to address.
And as Vancouver has stated that this tank is just simply a holding tank, I think we can give it a rest.

Vancouver, I think your question has been addressed.
All the best.

 

[reddeerhobbiest]

i believe that blue green algae is actually a bacteria, not a real "algae"....had it really bad one time and tried everything...in the end had to treat it with mardel tetracycline, worked awesome....

 

[vancouver]

I did a black out for about 3 days and it's gone..

plant seem fine.