Strange Algea Problem?

[craigybaby37]

for a few weeks now ive been gettin this odd looking algea build up on the stones on the bottom of my tank and as much as i do water changes etc in the tank and clean the algea off the stones it seems to keep coming back

got a picture here of the algea the only thing i can think of is if its anything to do with putting cucumber in the tank and sometimes it beaks up and i dont get all the bits out the tank and they decompose???

http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...ks051107004.jpg

http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...ks051107003.jpg

 

[SJ2K]

Do you have/use a gravel vac?

 

[craigybaby37]

yes i give the tank a good gravel vac every 2 weeks.

 

[FISH KEEPER EXP]

for a few weeks now ive been gettin this odd looking algea build up on the stones on the bottom of my tank and as much as i do water changes etc in the tank and clean the algea off the stones it seems to keep coming back

got a picture here of the algea the only thing i can think of is if its anything to do with putting cucumber in the tank and sometimes it beaks up and i dont get all the bits out the tank and they decompose???

[URL="http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...ks051107004.jpg"]http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...ks051107004.jpg[/URL]

[URL="http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...ks051107003.jpg"]http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cra...ks051107003.jpg[/URL]

just wondering have your bulbs been changed lately on your tank, because the same thing happened to me. i changed the bulbs and now keep them changed every 5 months. Apparently a bulbs gamma spectrum can change and increase the more of the slimey agae. obviously this may not be the main factor but it worked for me when done with a phosphate removal pouch it worked.

 

[craigybaby37]

thats a good point you've made my bulb is at least 6 months old and i have knowtised that for a little while now it doesnt seem as bright as it used to be......for the sake of £10 its worth a guess i think.

thanks for the advice and if anyone has any more input on the situation feel free to say.

 

[Underwurlde]

Tape up the bottom of your tank with black electrical tape. Don't let any light hit the side of the substrate....

Andy

[edit] As far as I'm aware, there is no correlation between phosphate being a cause of algae. However, the major, major cause is AMMONIA.... I'm espcially talking trace amounts here, that is to say an amount that you wouldn't normally be able to measure using test kits. (Yes Tom, I've been educated.... )

 

[Dave Spencer]

You have got Blue Green Algae (BGA), which is a type of photosynthesising bacteria called cyanobacteria, and not actually a type of algae.

Your picture helps to confirm the thoughts I had with someone else on another forum, which is that it originates down in the substrate where it can receive light ie along the edges exposed by the glass.

Do like Andy suggests and tape along the area of exposed substrate, or lower it below the level of the tank trim.

Failing this, remove as much of it as you can, carry out a 50% water change, followed by a three day black out and another 50% water change.

Dave.

 

[Underwurlde]

Well spotted Dave.... Black outs will work, alternatively because this stuff is a bacteria it can be killed with meds such as Maracyn.

However, if you don't treat the root cause, it WILL come back!

Andy