Tank Algae

[This Old Spouse]

I have a 29g tank that at the moment just has a variety of cory. This tank is right next to my 55g, which doesn't have a spot of algae. The 29g has lots.

I'm looking for a cure. It's about 3 feet away from a north-facing window. The lights are on for about 2 hours in the morning and maybe 3 at night. I don't know the name of the algae, but it's the kind that settles in the corners and back of the tank. I do scrub it off occasionally, but it always comes back.

What's the best solution? This is the tank I plan to put my tiger barbs into (once the cory and shrimp are moved to a 20g long tank) and I'm wondering if I can get some otos to put in there to clean up the algae, or nerite snails or what? Anyone have any insight as to why the algae keeps coming back?

Do otos and tiger barbs coexist well?

 

[KittyKat]

Plants are the best solution, they will use up all the nutrients which the algaes use otherwise. If you are not aiming for a planted tank, then go for floating plants or duckweed.

I can't imagine Otos mixing with barbs, unless the barbs are in a large school…

 

[This Old Spouse]

I've got several plants in this tank, which is why I'm so confused about all the algae growth.

Any other algae eating critters that would mix with barbs? I've got 9 in my school now.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Fast growing plants, such as Canadian Pondweed, will outcompete existing algae.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I just took out a gallon bag full of elodea, so I guess that doesn't work so well.

 

[MissTracy]

I had algae in my 55 gallon. It was Diatoms....brownish/oliveish green that wipes off easily. I read that it affects newly established tanks. I did frequent water changes and kept wiping it off with a toothbrush from my rock caves and it went away after a month. It was in my mbuna tank and I have since added a bristlenose pleco and it has not come back. I'm not sure if a bristlenose pleco would get to big for your tank (someone else can chime in on that!) they get 4-6" I believe. If you went that route keep in mind a piece of driftwood in the tank is a must for a pleco and they poop ALOT!!

 

[KittyKat]

If it is diatoms, a couple of large water changes after scrubbing it off and few decent filter cleans did it for me last time. I also found that ramshorns either ate it or displaced it.