Red Algee And Loosing Fish

[sonofdelboy]

hi i have quite a bit of red algee and my fish seem to be dying is this to do with the algee and how can i kill it off?
thanks in advance
sonofdelboy

 

[Mikaila31]

Is the tank cycled? How long has it been set up and do you know your water stats? (like nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia)

 

[aaronnorth]

it isnt the algae

 

[rabbut]

Can you tell us more about your set-up please?

Waterstats for

Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
pH
and if you have a kit to hand Phosphate would be good to know too Phosphate tests for freshwater are not considered essential (and aren't all that comon either), so I doubt you will have this kit somehow.

What test kit do you use (Brand, and liquid/tablet/strip?)

Is the algea a slimy type? A more detailed description of it's apperance would be good.

If it's slimy, it's probibly cynobacteria. The caurses can be anything from excessive or restrictive amounts of Nitrate, Phosphate, low oxygen levels, high ammonia or low flow arround the substrate or tank walls (dead-spots)

Any of those factors could also affect the fish also. Did you notice any symptoms in the fish that died, or were there no obvious signs of infection/disease?

Answer those and we can help more easily.

All the best
Rabbut

Edit to add; Cynobacteria, despite the nasty sounding name is not acctually harmful. Algea isn't the caurse of the fish deaths, though it may be linked to the algea's caurse also.

 

[aaronnorth]

Phosphate would be good to know

if you think thise cause algae then it doesnt. it is a type of hair algae. It can thrive in hard water with a high kh, with bicarbonates so some people think it may be able to find a source of carbon from these bicarbonates.

 

[Loony Fish]

s it fresh or salt water?

 

[rabbut]

Phosphate I have read from some sources to be a caurse, though admitedly algea isn't one of my strong points... On my last research of cyno, I found no definitive caurse of it, just speculation, Phosphate being one speculative caurse, hence why I asked to know it. I know some theories curently surgest that low nitrate levels can caurse cyno, but ATM they are just theories, so basically looking as a broad spectrum of things that theories surgest to caurse cyno hopefuly makes the route caurse a little more obvious, hopefully in the form of an unusual level.

While I'm thinking about it OP, What lighting do you have and how long is it on for? Also, any natural light hitting the tank directly? Also, I don't suppose you have an oxygen test kit available? Basically, give as many water stats and/or fish stoking and equipment information you can so we know what we are looking at during this troubleshoot Also, a list of fish that have died may come in useful.

The caurses of the hair algea you give aaronnorth are interesting, as I've recently had an outbreak of this in my tank after a harness level raise Food for thought...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[aaronnorth]

cynobacteria is caused by low nitrrate, dead spots, NH3 slikes and dirty filters & sunlight. There is an algae guide in my sig, very useful. I dont know whether you have heard of EI (estimative index) but this doses KH2PO4 and this method is excellent way to get rid of algae!

 

[Dave Spencer]

Seeing as you have not posted this in the SW section, I am going to assume that you have a FW tank. Secondly, you are calling it red algae, which makes it either BBA or staghorn algae.

If I have made the right assumptions, then you have algae issues in your tank closely linked to CO2 problems. In a low light tank, the best means for you to combat it is to hold back on water changes. The heavily carbonated water you put in at water change causes fluctuations, triggering the BBA and staghorn. Dosing Flourish Excel will kill it for sure. I am of, of course, also assuming you use the tank stock lighting.

In a high light tank, which would imply that it is planted, you need non limiting, stable CO2.

Phosphate I have read from some sources to be a caurse, though admitedly algea isn't one of my strong points... On my last research of cyno, I found no definitive caurse of it, just speculation, Phosphate being one speculative caurse, hence why I asked to know it. I know some theories curently surgest that low nitrate levels can caurse cyno, but ATM they are just theories, so basically looking as a broad spectrum of things that theories surgest to caurse cyno hopefuly makes the route caurse a little more obvious, hopefully in the form of an unusual level.

All the best
Rabbut

From personal experience, I can attribute BGA to poor circulation, ammonia spikes from maintenance and sunlight in the substrate at the front of the tank. I haven`t been able to relate BGA to low nitrates myself, as I ran a tank low on nitrates once to see if nitrogen deficiency would turn my Rotala red. I never experienced any BGA during this period.

One correlation that I have made, which George Farmer made as well, was that the BGA originated in the substrate at the sides of the tank where there will be daylight, whether it be direct or indirect.

I haven`t heard of anyone actually putting any thought in to BGA in the aquarium making a correlation with phosphate levels. The only correlation between phosphates and algae in the aquarium that I am aware of is low levels causing GDA on the glass, something else which I have proven for myself.

Clear pics of the algae would be a great help.

Dave.