Algae Eater.

[mcdanielnc89]

Okay, having a planted tank means algae blooms. Therefore I'm needing an algae eater. I call them that because they eat the algae. LOl... I need something small enough to fit into a 20 gallon tank. If you look here (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158985)you can see everything that's in my tank (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158985).

[The Zigman]

Not necessarily true, if you have enough plants, and light, and the proper balance of nutrients, the plants will starve out the algae...

got any Pix?
What are your nutirent levels?
Nitrate
Phosphates
and Iron

[Malefic23]

Ottos are good surface cleaners and they don't really damage plants. Got to have good water quality and nothing too agressive in there though. As posted above, if you're getting algae, you've got too much nutrient in your tank, or not enough plants.

[mcdanielnc89]

So, Is it possible to have Too much Co2 at a time with not enough plants?

[NickD]

Maybe you've got too much light. As Ozymandias noted in your other thread (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158985), 130W seems like a lot of light for 20 gallons.

[jpappy789]

That is waaay too much light. There is no way you can balance the nutrients (ferts), Co2 and lighting...thats basically an algae hothouse

[mcdanielnc89]

err. Sry guys. I only have 65Watts, I forgot to change that number on the other thread..

[jpappy789]

Oh. thats a lot better.

still, it would me much better for you and for the plants if you found a balance between the lighting, adding ferts, and dosing CO2 rather than just adding fish to take care of the algae...it may take a while and a lot of experimenting, but it will pay off

[mcdanielnc89]

I do agree, but I've been trying to do this for months... I must not be doing something right..

I have been doing water changes.. I even went a far as killing my shrimp, lol... No offense to shrimp lovers. Nothign works... What should i do?

[jameshilljr]

I don't know if this helps, but I bought a CAE for my planted 55g that was covered with green and brown algae...in 2 days all of it was just about gone. the CAE even cleaned off all of the leaves of the plants

[jpappy789]

CAE's are bad news when the get older. They get large and aggressive. What type of CO2 are you running? How are you dosing ferts?

[mcdanielnc89]

Homeade CO2..

[Cichlidgirl91]

What kind of algae do you have? If it's an algae bloom (green water) then I don't think regular algae eaters will clear it up. I will tell you though - most newborn fish love green water. Don't know if that would solve your problem though... LOL

[mcdanielnc89]

lol.. I'm not exactly sure what it is.. It's mostly jsut on the glass of the tank and the accessories inside it. It's green as well.. In a way it looks hairy, but not totally sure.

[KarlTh]

How much CO2 are you getting in there? You may not be able to get enough from homebrew to match your 3+WPG.

[grannylvsfish]

Not necessarily true, if you have enough plants, and light, and the proper balance of nutrients, the plants will starve out the algae...

got any Pix?
What are your nutirent levels?
Nitrate
Phosphates
and Iron

I agree hole heartedly !!
I have a fully planted tank, no algae and no problems. and no co2 and my tank does extremly well.

[grannylvsfish]

err. Sry guys. I only have 65Watts, I forgot to change that number on the other thread..

thats what I have and did not find I needed co2

[mcdanielnc89]

well,

I bought the hagen plant gro equptment not the HUGE one, but the littler one. I fill it with suger to the spot it supposed to be.. i put 1tsp. of yeast and the yest luke warm water...

[grannylvsfish]

why do you need co2 with that light? I do not understand. sounds like your tank will do fine with that light and no ferts, or very little . I believe your over doing it ....... just my opinion. not everyone needs co2 and your light is perfect with out it.

[DAVIDFBT]

I use otos and they clean up the algea I had quickly. In 2 days, they got rid of all my surface algea.

[mcdanielnc89]

Um. I've tried without it. They die.. The plants that is.

[mavisky]

Otocinclus and some Amano shrimp will terrorize your algae.

[stormomi]

Malaysian trumpet snails are my anti-algae team. They bury under the sand during the day and hunt down algae at night. =)

[jpappy789]

why do you need co2 with that light? I do not understand. sounds like your tank will do fine with that light and no ferts, or very little . I believe your over doing it ....... just my opinion. not everyone needs co2 and your light is perfect with out it.

That is quite a lot of light for no Co2.

[mcdanielnc89]

coudl someone just answer my question??/

[KarlTh]

Which one? You've asked a few now. Can you remind me what sort of algae you've got?

[mcdanielnc89]

it's green hairy looking. on teh glass, pump. header CO2 system..

[grannylvsfish]

That is quite a lot of light for no Co2. why?? you can have 2 watts per gallon and no co2, in fact you do not need co2 with 2 watts per gallon. I am at just a hair more ( if you want to split hairs.) and it works wonders for my tank. why to much light?? no fish die, and my plants explode.... I say my tank is perfect !!

it's green hairy looking. on teh glass, pump. header CO2 system..
go here, find pic and it will tell you what to do.

http://www.floridadriftwood.com/algae_identification.html

[grannylvsfish]

Hair algae: Grows as green clumps in between plants, on the side of aquariums or on the substrate. It will not ripple with water current and has a more coarse texture than beard algae. Can grow individual strands that can reach about 5cm in length. It is easier to remove mechanically than beard algae. Also easily controlled with Florida Flag Fish.

[jpappy789]

why?? you can have 2 watts per gallon and no co2, in fact you do not need co2 with 2 watts per gallon. I am at just a hair more ( if you want to split hairs.) and it works wonders for my tank. why to much light?? no fish die, and my plants explode.... I say my tank is perfect !!

go here, find pic and it will tell you what to do.

http://www.floridadriftwood.com/algae_identification.html

65/20=3.25 wpg, a pretty large differece from 2 wpg

I agree with Karl that the OP probably isn't getting enough Co2 to keep up with the lighting.

mcdanielnc89: I already asked this but what ferts are you dosing????

[mcdanielnc89]

i'll have to take a picture of it..

[Lupin]

You really have to address the main cause of the hair algae, not the hair algae itself.

[mcdanielnc89]

ALl I know is it's gree, hairy looking, and sticks on almost everything. I can't tell if it's on the plants for the plants are green.