Flippin Algae!

[dizzyenglish]

Hiya,

I've got a huge problem with algae. HUGE!!!!!!!!

It's really green and really grim, and really getting on my nerves!



It's a 170l tank, and has been up and running since early January. I had a slight hiccup with brown algae, but that has long been sorted. And all the fish are happy and healthy. Especially my Plec, which is growing at a rate of nots!

It's in a naturally light room, so i'm thinking that my be a factor but short of bricking up my windows i dont know what to try.

Any suggestions greatly absorbed!!!!!

Thanks,
D x

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Does the tank have lighting, and if so, how long do you leave it on per day? Do you have any healthy live plants in the tank? Have you tested your tank for nitrates at all recently?

 

[dizzyenglish]

Hiya,

I have 6 plants, 5 look good but my Red Tail Shark has taken a liking to 1 in particular, but i have left in situ cos it keeps sprouting new bits.

I have lighting, it gets switched on around 8am, then i turn it off at bedtime, usually around 10/11pm. I was leaving it off during the day at first, with my lounge being so bright and natuarlly lit but got told by a LFS that it should be on all day.

I have 2 YoYo Loaches and the Plec, and i have a Peppered Cory (it did have friends but they went to the fishbowl in the sky months ago ) that i hoped would "hoover" up the algae if it started but i think they are fighting a loosing battle!

I haven't tested my nitrates recently. Last time was about 4/5 weeks ago and from what i could tell everything was okay.

Thanks,
D x

 

[mark.w.jones]

Algae busting tips:

1. Reduce nitrate levels by not overfeeding and regular gravel vacs / water changes.
2. Ultimate, guaranteed cure. Plant on 50% (yes 50%) of your gravel. That way the plants will out compete the algae for nutrients. This completely cured my algae problems and I now only clean inside of glass once a month.
3. Keep lighting to a maximum of 10 hours a day. I do 5 hours on. 2 off around lunch time. Then 5 on into the evening. This was recommended in another post.
4. Read this pinned post on algae:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=106371

For easy to grow plants click link in my sig.

Buy plants online from:

http/www.aquaticplants.eu.com/