Algal Bloom that won't go away!

D

DrHackFish

AC Members
Jun 28, 2004
6
0
0
42
From NJ, Live in Boston
Visit site
Hi, I have been fighting this algal bloom for months now and am at my wit's end. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas what might be causing it or how to fix it. The problem started when I moved into my new apartment and no matter what I do water changes, changing filter media, scrubbing down every inch of the tank etc etc nothing helps. I recently subjected my poor babies to full water change and am shocked that even after that the water is starting to grow green once again. Could it simply be the water in my building containing some preexisting algae or something ridiculous like that? I was tempted to purchase spring water to do the full change but the prospect of buying 55 gallons of water seems a bit insane. Any ideas?

Thanks for any help!
 
Test your tap water for nitrates and phosphates.

If this surface algae, on rocks and glass, or green water? What size tank, what fish, any plants, feeding?
 
If it is a green water bloom, Do a 4 day blackout combined with a couple of water changes. In the meantime get the test results OG asked for so you can figure out future prevention. The blackout will kill the algea, but won't keep it from returning. Also what light do you have, and is the tank subjected to sunlight during the day.

Make sure the blackout is complete, use a blanket or posterboard to cover the tank. Feed very lightly if at all during the blackout. Water changes will help remove the dieing algea and prevent other problems, but you can never change enough water to get rid of it without the blackout.
 
It's a bloom, just freefloating algae in the water... I have a pleco that does wonders for the rest of the tank. The tank is a 55 gallon, two filters (a regular over the side and a canister/biowheel), no live plants, stocked with the pleco, a betta, 2 gold barbs, 2 tiger barbs, a catfish, 2 corys, 3 gouramis (2 blue, 1 gold), 4 zebra danios, 2 australian rainbows, 2 torquiose rainbows. I have a varied food cycle consisting of two types of flake food, 1 immune/health boosting pellet food, blood & tubifex worms, algae discs and shrimp pellets and every other week they are fed live brine shrimp. The tank has been set up for nearly 8 years now, nothing has changed in recent months except my apartment location... that's why I assumed it must be something in the water. The tank is closer to the window than before but I bought room darkening shades which are duct taped down and black curtains so I doubt the sun plays that large of a role in this. I also do regular testing of pH, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites and have noticed no changes.
 
What are your nitrate levels? It's possible that the new water source has high enough phosphates to promote an algal bloom--and the recent change may have reduced the population of beneficial micro fauna that normally consume the algaes. If you have a chum that's running a healthy tank, see if you can get some mulm--the collected solids from the substrate--and add it to your tank to re-colonize your setup with the critters. A black out will help, along with water changes to remove the dead algaes...But sometimes, you need to let the tank mature a bit following a move, and lots of big water changes can slow the process. In extremes, many report success using a diatom filter or UV sterilizer, short term...But figuring out why the tank is out of balance enough to cause the bloom is essential.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom