Blue / Green Substrate

[Ozzy Ozborne]

I have noticed that my substrate keeps getting a blue/green "carpet looking" type of algae.
I keep cleaning it out with a gravel cleaner but it keeps coming back.
I have read its not an algae but a type of bacteria-its a pain in the neck and driving me mad. Is it called cyanobacteria??
There have been a few posts with links (james planted tank) but none seem to solve the problem !
has anybody else got an idea how to get rid of it?

My latest thought is to get a extra water pump to circulate the water more.Will this resolve it or is it risky...............does it cause a problem for the fish with large water volume moving around ?
I have a Juwell 180 litre with all standard equipment.

Thanks

 

[alchemist]

Do you use any CO2 in your tank? That might help reduce it?

 

[aaronnorth]

Low NO3 (<10ppm)
poor circulation
Ammoni spikes
Dirty filters, poor maintenance & Organic waste

what turnover have you got in the tank currently? And is there circulation along the substrate?

It migt be a circuation problem as the juwel filters arent great for this job.

 

[Ozzy Ozborne]

anybody have any more ideas

 

[Amunet]

Well first up, get as much of it as you can out of the tank, then do a black out for 3-5 days.

As for preventing it. Only thing that worked for us was to get trumpet snails, but, now we're overrun with them lol
I've read that you could take black electrical tape and tape it up on the sides of your tank where the substrate is so light can't reach it. I'm not sure how well that works though.

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

anybody have any more ideas

Aaron gave you the reasons for this, act upon them.
The only way I've been able to remove this successfully is to do a 3 or 4 day blackout.

You didn't mention your dosing regime or co2 addition, so please specify that.

 

[Ozzy Ozborne]

I do not dose with any C02, or add any ferets....my local supplier told me not to?

The circulation is only from the Juwell pump which io jhave pointed down.I do get some water movement over the plants,but not much
I am now thinking of getting a Hydor Korallia powerhead,but after talking to Charterhouse aquatics they suggest getting two -one at each end-advised model no 1.

Does this make sense or am i wasting money?

any feedback appreciated

thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

the powerhead is a good move, but i would only get 1

 

[waterdrop]

I do not dose with any C02, or add any ferets....my local supplier told me not to?

I do not add ferrets to my tanks either, was advised they spash a heck of a lot of the water out. (sorry ozzy, couldn't help myself)

I -do- add fertilizers. I was advised that most living things die when they don't get food. (maybe he's trying to sell plastic plants!)

~~waterdrop~~