products that reduce algae

[kaley822]

The tank seems to only have problems with algae when i'm not around. This time it is on a whole new level, i've never seen anything like this. When i was taking care of the fish i never needed to scrape for algae, the oto took care of it and there really just wasn't that much to begin with.

But i went home and found not just normal algae but like furry green algae covering EVERYTHING. I'm convinced its like a different species of algae (if thats possible). It feels like fuzzy and I stuck my hand in to try and rub some off a plant with no success. Its near impossible to remove with the algae scraper and the Oto won't even touch it. When I somehow succeed in removing a little from the glass it comes back within a day. I have tried changing the light conditions, but i don't see how this could be the problem because that hasn't changed and i never used to have this problem. Water changes, feeding, etc. has all supposedly remained the same although it hasn't been me doing it.

So my last resort is one of those bottles of stuff you put in that supposedly gets rid of algae. Has anybody had any success with any of these, and if so which one? Will this hurt the live plants?

thanks

 

[Tolak]

Get a bristlenose plec. Never had an algae problem in any of my tanks with one of them in it. Even tiny ones do a great job.

Tolak

 

[Dwarfs]

I say get more otos, I get the feeling you only have one, they like to be in groups of 3 or more They also work better like this. I wouldn't trust bottled solutions, just my opinion

 

[The-Wolf]

The best chemical product, IMHO, is eSHA protalon-707.
It really does work and kills most species of algea.

 

[karrihug]

i used something called algea fix, it says on the bottle it is safe for planted tanks. it did a pretty good job. but now i have a uv sterilizer on that tank so no more problem.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I wouldn't use chemicals if you can get aweay with it, try to find what is causing the problem and get some more otos and another algae eater if you want.

What is your nitrAte reading? Excess nitrate and phosphate will lead to algae problems. Also, does your tank get direct sunlight or is the light on more when you are away?

 

[Dubby]

Sometimes you need different algae eaters becoz each seems to have a preference for a diff type of algae. So I would go for SAEs, Otos, shrimp, mollies, barbs etc.

 

[kaley822]

thanks for all the answers. Ideally it would be better to put more otos in i know, but i wont be back to get some until around christmas and i need something desperately in the interim. I'm gonna look for that eSHA protalon-707, but i dont remember seeing it in the store ever.

 

[blue_ram]

thanks for all the answers. Ideally it would be better to put more otos in i know, but i wont be back to get some until around christmas and i need something desperately in the interim. I'm gonna look for that eSHA protalon-707, but i dont remember seeing it in the store ever.

AFIK, there is only one fish known to eat brush algae: Siamese Algae Eater (SAE). Quite a few people uses them to conrol bush algae, but if everything is covered by brush algae, then it's time for more drastic action.

The easiest way to kill the algae in planted aquarium is to use simazine or copper based chemicals. I recommend Simazine; AKA "Algae-Destroyer". They are far less toxic to plants and fish.

In future, get yourself a nitrate and phosphate test kit. Make sure the nitrate level is less than 20ppm and only trace of phosphate are found. Also make sure that the plants are getting enough light. This may mean more for fast growing plants, or less for slow growing, shade loving plants. It's always a bad idea to mix these two type of plants.

 

[karrihug]

if you go the chemical route read the bottle very carefully. i bought one and then while reading the directions it said not to use in a planted tank. look for something that specifically says it is safe for live plants.