Green Algae

[always4lora]

Cant get rid of the green algae quick enough, it keeps coming on the glass and is quite hard to remove, i removed it last weekend and changed the water and it was back in less than a week. i thought the kissing gourami's might remove it but its everywhere in the tank. Is it possible i need a UV filter or something? Alol ive changed recently is i put a few plants in and put 2 24w t5 bulbs on. the plants are growing really well but so's the algae

help...

 

[Fishin Pole]

I was fight an algae problem for the last 2 months..........my solution was olive nerite snails............These guys have really done the job.........They are worth there weight in gold whenit comes to taking care of the algae...........

few things about your tank?.............how large is it?...........how long do you leave your lights on for?............do you use a fertilizer for your plants?...........Some fertilizers can be high in phosphate which leads to quicker algae growth...........just a few things to look into

 

[always4lora]

48x12x15 is the tank size, lights are on a fair bit through the day , and nah dont bother with fertilisers or out. might try some snails, last time they got eaten

 

[fatheadminnow]

Is it the kind of green algae that grows on your glass?

If so the most likely reason for it is low CO2 in comparison to your lights, Low nutrients and it is also common with new tanks.

According to the Aquarium calculator at the top of this page, you tank is 37 US gallons.

The lights you have are 2 24w. 2 X 24 = 48. Then take 48/37= 1.3 WPG. So with 1.3 WPG you really dont need any Co2 injection unless you have a lot of plants.

How many plants do you have in your tank? If you do not have that much, than all the access light that is present is going to be used up, and in that case algae could grow.

Also, do you have a lot of water surface agitation? The more aerators you have, or surface agitation you have is going to provide the tank with more O2, and less Co2. So if you have a lot of surface agitation, that could account for a lower than usual level of Co2, which in conclusion causes the algae to grow.

You could try the snails, or you can allow the algae to run its full life cycle by leaving it alone for 3 weeks or so. It may become very unsightly throughout this time but just bear with it. Then scrape it all off and do a large water change.

You might have to perform that one more time, but it usually works.

But still, if you have not found the source for the algae it is most likely going to come back. Unless your tank is still cycling, or it is a freshly cycled tank.

I would have your lights no no more than 12 hours a day, even that is a little much. Try to shoot between 10-12 hours of light per day.

Is you tank cycling right now? If not, how long has been established?

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

The lights you have are 2 24w. 2 X 24 = 48. Then take 48/37= 1.3 WPG. So with 1.3 WPG you really dont need any Co2 injection unless you have a lot of plants.

yes but the lights are T5 so it will be higher than 1.3wpg.

Also, do you have a lot of water surface agitation? The more aerators you have, or surface agitation you have is going to provide the tank with more O2, and less Co2. So if you have a lot of surface agitation, that could account for a lower than usual level of Co2, which in conclusion causes the algae to grow.

only true if you are injecting CO2. If you are not, then surface agitation helps to keep the levels raised at 6-8ppm

with the photperiod, i would have it on for 8-10 hours

We need to know the specie of algae to help give you removal options. See the guide in my sig for ID's

 

[always4lora]

its only got 4 little small plants at the front and 2 large ones im growing to cover the back of it , the tanks been setup since about november/december.First time its had any plants in it. and for water agitation its fine , only got the 2 filters keeping a bit of current going in the tank.

I'll let the algae run its cause i think , it doesnt look good but the fish dont seem bothered . i am going to get mroe plants just getting time really to go out and find some. I'll turn the lights off through the day to see if that helps, i have them on a fair bit as the tank looks really dark in the room its in at present , once i move house will be lighter so wont need them on as much.

Has anyone used plants alive? they seem to have lots of plants , might order of them and fill the tank with plants, and pop some snails in too for good measure. thanks for the above information never heard about WPG (presume it means watts per gallon?) i just got the 2 24w t5's because thats what the eprson on ebay was selling


in response to the above :

Green Dust Algae, GDA looks the most likely one , its quite hard to get off, i used an unused cloth and it took a little bit of scrubbing.

Low nutirients in the cause, will this be because the lack of plants?

 

[fatheadminnow]

its only got 4 little small plants at the front and 2 large ones im growing to cover the back of it , the tanks been setup since about november/december.First time its had any plants in it. and for water agitation its fine , only got the 2 filters keeping a bit of current going in the tank.

I'll let the algae run its cause i think , it doesnt look good but the fish dont seem bothered . i am going to get mroe plants just getting time really to go out and find some. I'll turn the lights off through the day to see if that helps, i have them on a fair bit as the tank looks really dark in the room its in at present , once i move house will be lighter so wont need them on as much.

Has anyone used plants alive? they seem to have lots of plants , might order of them and fill the tank with plants, and pop some snails in too for good measure. thanks for the above information never heard about WPG (presume it means watts per gallon?) i just got the 2 24w t5's because thats what the eprson on ebay was selling


in response to the above :

Green Dust Algae, GDA looks the most likely one , its quite hard to get off, i used an unused cloth and it took a little bit of scrubbing.

Low nutirients in the cause, will this be because the lack of plants?

To get it off you could use some sort of scraper to get it off, as it is hard to get off with a cloth. But it will just come back until you find the source for why it is appearing.

Low nutrients could be the lack of not using fertilizers.

-FHM