algae and "cryptocoryne melt"?

[Polly]

I have an unheated, unlit tank and has 1 goldfish in it. My tank is proably about 2 months old now, and the algae seems to be increasing quite a lot now. (there was none to start with).

From what I've read it sounds like it's "diatom"? It's a brown-green-ish filmy algae all over the sides of the tank.

I have 2 plants in there, one (called Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Mi Oya') I recently planted out into the gravel (it was in a little pot sitting on the gravel before) and I'm not sure it worked very well. The algae seemed to increase after I'd done that, and the plant now looks a bit sickly, with i think algae growing on it's leaves.

I've just googled and found this:
The other thing crypts are a little picky about is sudden changes in their environment. Cryptocoryne are prone to a condition that is known variously as "Cryptocoryne disease" or "Cryptocoryne melt." As a result of unstable water conditions, or even in response to a change in light levels or the addition of new plants to the tank, a stand of crypts can completely "melt down," literally overnight! The leaves will completely turn to mush.

Does it sound like this is what's wrong with my plant, esp as I had just replanted it? Will it get better?

How do I get rid of the algae?

Thanks, as always, for any help anyone can offer. This forum is so useful :-)

[austinpetemo]

how are you growing plants in an "unlit" tank????? and with goldie to boot? my goldies always ate the plants.

[Polly]

ummm. i planted them in the gravel. and they grew (didn't know they wouldn't, so maybe it was positive thinking! lol) and until recently they seemed to be doing fine.

There is daylight, but no special lights in the tank.

Mr Fish sort of mouths at the plants a bit. but doesn't seem to actually eat them.

[austinpetemo]

wow. well thats the problem of your algae right their. natural sunlight can and will cause algae growth. as for the melting im not sure what to tell you. i had something similar happen but im not sure why.

[Polly]

it's not in direct sunlight, there are slatted blinds which are closed all the time, but some light gets through. I can try and block some of the sunlight out (i can't reposition the tank anywhere else) and it will go away on it's own? or do i need to remove it by hand?

[fishorama]

You can just wipe it off the glass with an algae scraper, old credit card, plastic scrubby (without soap of course) etc. Right before your weekly water change is good. Both are just part of tank maintenance.

Crypt melt is usually due to moving them, they don't like change. They should recover. If there are diatoms on the leaves you can "try" to gently wipe it off with your finger but it may just come back. Diatoms usually go away after a few months.

Is your plant growing new leaves ever? All plants need light...