Help-tank Sides Coated With Slimy Green Algae

[fishnovice]

Help -the sides of my tank are coated with slimy green algae and I can't see my fish!

Water itself is clear not green. Tried several water changes (normally change once a week)3 times a week but made no difference. Scraped algae off front of tank (so I could see my fish!) and changed 50% of water but green slime grew back after a few days.
Had tank about 6 weeks now, 3ft long with 12 small golden rudd approx 2 inches long. It's outdoors so gets lots of light all day though it's in the shade and the top is covered with black plastic lid. Algae grew within 2 weeks.No plants substrate or snails. Fish fed on floating pellets once a day (have NOT been overfeeding). Fish seem healthy though hard to check as I can't see them and all are still alive.

 

[Wills]

even though it is in the shade the excess light will be causing the algae so you will probs need to block out the light in some way, could you move the tank indoors? Either way if you cover it with blackout material for a day or two the algae should die off, Ive had sucsess with this in the past though leave a few gaps or holes for air.

Are the rudd waiting to go in a pond? The tank seems a bit small for 12 of them in the long run.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, after the black-out idea is used, which I agree can work, then to maintain a change you might need to consider a significant light blockage (not entire) for most of the times when the tank is not being viewed. The tank might also need additional flow rate either via more filtration or powerheads.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

If that is a dark green and slimy algae coating, it explains why it comes back so fast. Blue green algae is not really algae at all, it is cyanobacteria. If that is what you are dealing with, please consult the plant folks in their area, most of us here are fairly good at cycle questions or stocking questions but the real plant people have their own area in the forum. Try getting some advice from AaronNorth in the planted section and you will have some decent control advice. I personally got past a BGA problem but I have no idea about the general principles for controlling it.

 

[fishnovice]

If that is a dark green and slimy algae coating, it explains why it comes back so fast. Blue green algae is not really algae at all, it is cyanobacteria. If that is what you are dealing with, please consult the plant folks in their area, most of us here are fairly good at cycle questions or stocking questions but the real plant people have their own area in the forum. Try getting some advice from AaronNorth in the planted section and you will have some decent control advice. I personally got past a BGA problem but I have no idea about the general principles for controlling it.

 

[fishnovice]

even though it is in the shade the excess light will be causing the algae so you will probs need to block out the light in some way, could you move the tank indoors? Either way if you cover it with blackout material for a day or two the algae should die off, Ive had sucsess with this in the past though leave a few gaps or holes for air.

Are the rudd waiting to go in a pond? The tank seems a bit small for 12 of them in the long run.

Thanks foryour suggestion -tried keeping tank top covered and also sides which has considreably reduced algae roblem. an now see fish if I scrape front of tank every 2 weeks.Yes will eventually move fish to small pond when it's set up

If that is a dark green and slimy algae coating, it explains why it comes back so fast. Blue green algae is not really algae at all, it is cyanobacteria. If that is what you are dealing with, please consult the plant folks in their area, most of us here are fairly good at cycle questions or stocking questions but the real plant people have their own area in the forum. Try getting some advice from AaronNorth in the planted section and you will have some decent control advice. I personally got past a BGA problem but I have no idea about the general principles for controlling it.

Just ordinary algae, stuck hard to glass not slimy or blue green. Algae now under control after blocking out some light. Thanks