How do you kill algae?

[yhbae]

Well, I had an algae bloom about 3 weeks ago on one of my tank. It was really awful, I couldn't even see any objects 2 inches into the tank! Fishes seem happy though somehow...

Since then, I've been doing 10% water change every day, plus I also did one large 40% water change during this weekend. It is much clearer now and I can sort of see the back of the tank, but still far from being clear. I do not keep the lights on at all except during feeding time.

Is there anything I can do to speed this up? This daily water change is beginning to irritate me!

 

[bunjiweb]

Best way to kill algae is a Bristlenose plec!

I got one and along with a small dose of "Algae Control" the algae problem was soon sorted. I now only get small patches on the glass that come up over the course of about a week, but I just scrape them off.

Ben

 

[yhbae]

I do have many of those in my tank. As you mentioned, they are great for cleaning algae on the surface of objects, but they are filled in the water! My water is completely green... Aqua Clear filter media isn't fine enough to filter them out, so perhaps I should look for other media to filter them out?

 

[lucky62]

Is your tank getting any natural sun light ?


Maybe cut down on the amount of food you put in .



Unfortunately you should probably continue with your water changes .

Have you checked your water supply for nitrate and / or phosphates ?

 

[yhbae]

Is your tank getting any natural sun light ?


Maybe cut down on the amount of food you put in .



Unfortunately you should probably continue with your water changes .

Have you checked your water supply for nitrate and / or phosphates ?

Unfortunately, yes it does get some indirect natural sun light. I have a huge sets of windows in my living room, and the tanks as at opposite wall so they don't get any direct sun light but the room is rather bright throughout the day.

This shouldn't be the main problem though - I have the other tank right next to it, and it absolutely doesn't have any algae problem. I suspect it is due to my lighting system - it was powered by a 30w actnic light and another 30w light.

I don't think I cat cut down on food much - I only feed enough for them to eat within 2 - 3 mins... Once per day, and skip one day per week.

Again, my tap water is fine, as it has been witnessed by my other tank... I think I triggered it by having high intensity of lights without much plants. I can change them into one 30w light in the future, but I really want to get rid of this green-ness ASAP!

 

[Tropjunky]

wot are ur water paramiters? i'm interested in the nitrate and nitrits and Phospher content of ur water.
phospher will cause algae to grow like mad.

i'm not sure wot products u have in canada but i would use green away for free floating algae (i havent tried it) and u could pack ur filter wit filter floss.

 

[yhbae]

Nitrites are zero. Nitrates are below 10. (I have significant amount of java fern in this tank). Not sure about phosphates as I don't have a kit that tests for it, although I suspect I have zero. I have 6 tanks in total and this is the only one that is experiencing the algae bloom.

As for these algae, they aren't exactly free floating - they are all over the tank, and I'm sure Aqua Clear generated water current is mixing it further.

I should try to pack filter floss in my filter to see if that helps...

I was hoping for a magic solution such as blink my left eye 3 times and all algae instantly dissapears (well, you get my point... ). I guess that doesn't exist...

 

[lucky62]

For some reason I think it's the actinic light too[ is that your feeling ]. not sure why , but I think I read some where that actinic light promotes algal growth[ salt water set ups] . There is a member here screen name" bol " who is very knowledgable in this area , many areas ,as are many other members , or post in the planted aquarium section , or even ponds [ uv filters , sterilizers ], ponds have this type of problem often . Who knows maybe you can find a solution there .

I also use an actinic bulb in one tank along with a plant bulb and a beauty light bulb makes my fish look amazing .

leave the lights off for a while , and keep doing water changes is probably the safest way to go ...........Good Luck yhbae .

 

[yhbae]

Yes, I believe it is the atinic bulb as well and as you mentioned, it brings such a nice colors to the fishes, especially those whose colors are white and blue.

Unfortunately, I think I am stuck doing more water changes and keep the light off. I might try out Hagen Power Glo (single bulb, 30w) instead in the near future...

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[lucky62]

Is it the 25 gal ? , maybe you could get some plants and keep the actinic .

 

[yhbae]

This one is a 3fter. I have 3ft strip lights with capacity for 2 30w bulbs. I already have quite a bit of java fern in that tank, but because this is an mbuna tank (highly alkaline), it pretty much crosses out just about every other possible plants to try out.

I have insane amount of java moss and java fern in all of my tanks, but I keep java moss strictly in the breeder setup as they look messy. I never thought $3 worth of java moss and java fern would multiply this much a year later...

 

[lucky62]

This one is a 3fter. I have 3ft strip lights with capacity for 2 30w bulbs. I already have quite a bit of java fern in that tank, but because this is an mbuna tank (highly alkaline), it pretty much crosses out just about every other possible plants to try out.

I have insane amount of java moss and java fern in all of my tanks, but I keep java moss strictly in the breeder setup as they look messy. I never thought $3 worth of java moss and java fern would multiply this much a year later...

sounds like my tank . I have literally thrown out java moss . And have java fern in , I think 12 tanks not sparse either very dense .All from 1 java moss clump , and three/ three leaf java ferns , I also have crytocorine[ spelling?] in my big tank .
Do you use timers for your lights ?

If so maybe you could reduce the duration of the actinic to your main viewing hours .

 

[yhbae]

I do have them on timers. Perhaps what I could do is to time it so that it comes on during the morning, off during the afternoon, and on again during the evening/night. Still, I'm afraid of letting actinic light on for more than few hours a day given what just happened....

That's why I might try out Hagen Aqua Glo as this tube seems to be cheap and it does its job well on my other tanks. It really does show all colors of fishes pretty well...

 

[csr mel]

you can buy algea destroyer chemicals at youre lfs.
the one i have works great.

 

[yhbae]

you can buy algea destroyer chemicals at youre lfs.
the one i have works great.

Could you post the brand and the name of the product?

Thanks!