Green Slime

[FiSh123FiSh]

Hi all,

In my cichlid fish tank I been getting this green slime which covers everything including the gravel, decor and filters.

By this description dies anyone know what it could be and how to solve it?

Thanks in advance,

Bronwee.

 

[Colin_T]

If the green slime grows really quickly and covers everything, then it is probably blue green algae (Cyanobacter bacteria). This is a photosynthetic bacteria and grows on nutrients and or light. It often produces big bubbles that lift up sheets of the stuff. When you handle it the Cyanobacter smells musty and unpleasant.
Try to syphon it out each day and reduce the feeding, especially dry food like flake and pellet. Do a 30-50% water change and gravel clean each day as well.
Increase aeration/ surface turbulence and water movement around the tank. the water movement makes it more difficult for the stuff to attach to rocks.
Old fluoro lights can encourage it. If the globes are more than 12months old then they should be replaced. Try to get globes with a temperature or Kelvin (K) rating between 5,000K and 10,000K.

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Thanks colin, coming to think of it the bulbs do need replacing.

I will try to cut down on the light.

 

[Colin_T]

if it is blue green algae then you will have to do some gravel cleaning as well as change the old globes. Often the stuff will hang around even after the globes have been replaced. Cleaning the substrate and syphoning the stuff out will help to remove most of it and then the new globes should help too.