I've read the algea links and all but, I can't find anything about a red algea. It's growing in patches on the glass. All my water perameters check out ok. Anyone know what this is, why it's there, and what I can do to prevent it?
Red Algea (WHY?)
- Thread starter Shierkahn
- Start date
If red algae is anything like red palnts, it needs high lighting to grow. Turn down the light intensity and it should go away.
Another way to get rid of algae is to turn off your lights completely for a few hours in the middle of the day. Plants can continue photsynthesizing for a little while after the lights have gone off, but algae can't. Your plants won't notice the difference, and the algae will soon be gone.
Another way to get rid of algae is to turn off your lights completely for a few hours in the middle of the day. Plants can continue photsynthesizing for a little while after the lights have gone off, but algae can't. Your plants won't notice the difference, and the algae will soon be gone.
You sure it's not a light brown, diatom algae? I get that myself sometimes, even on established tanks.
I'm pretty sure it's not a brown algea. It's kinda a bright red color. I'm only running 2wpg of light in the 150g. 3-40w 6500k, 1-40w plant/aquarium bulbs. It's acually a cichlid tank(sa/ca). Not planted but, this is where I found info on algea so, this is where I posted my concern. If it should be posted elsewhere let me know and I'll move it. All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Sounds like it might be a type of BGA, but I don't ever recall hearing of a red version in FW tanks. Without more info/pix, I'd be afraid to diagnose a treatment for you.
Have you tried products like Algae Destroyer?
Have you tried products like Algae Destroyer?
Most any copper based product will work to kill it (Copper safe Mardel labs etc, or dose with Blue stone and a test kit for Cu etc). Peroxide will also work.
You need to be careful not to over dose any of these.
You have a lot of light in there for a non planted tank.
If it's a BGA, you can simply do a large water change, Turn the lights out for about 3 days, clean your filters etc, pull the lights back away from the front of the glass.
I'd suggest you add some floating water sprite in there to suck up nutrients and add O2 and block the light so the algae are not are prevelant. Water sprite is hardy and does not need much, it'll be near the light, have some CO2 from the air above, all that's left are nutrients(NH4/NO3/PO4).
You can sell the excess. There some other suitable floating plants as well.
Cheaper and easier in the long run than copper, antibiotics, etc.
The other thing you can do is grow another desirable species of algae in specific locations. Pithophora is a beautiful velvet fur that will grow on wood and rocks, you need the rocks/wood near the surface and have high current and or aeration running across these surfaces.
This alga is non invasive and looks very nice and should keep other species at bay.
Since it is a SA/Ca tank, adding some Royal plecos/Blue eyes etc would be a nice addition and they will munch about anything and gnaw your wood.
So there are a number of suitable ideas for you.
Keeping up with large weekly water changes always solves most algae issues in Fish only tanks as well.
Regards,
Tom Barr
You need to be careful not to over dose any of these.
You have a lot of light in there for a non planted tank.
If it's a BGA, you can simply do a large water change, Turn the lights out for about 3 days, clean your filters etc, pull the lights back away from the front of the glass.
I'd suggest you add some floating water sprite in there to suck up nutrients and add O2 and block the light so the algae are not are prevelant. Water sprite is hardy and does not need much, it'll be near the light, have some CO2 from the air above, all that's left are nutrients(NH4/NO3/PO4).
You can sell the excess. There some other suitable floating plants as well.
Cheaper and easier in the long run than copper, antibiotics, etc.
The other thing you can do is grow another desirable species of algae in specific locations. Pithophora is a beautiful velvet fur that will grow on wood and rocks, you need the rocks/wood near the surface and have high current and or aeration running across these surfaces.
This alga is non invasive and looks very nice and should keep other species at bay.
Since it is a SA/Ca tank, adding some Royal plecos/Blue eyes etc would be a nice addition and they will munch about anything and gnaw your wood.
So there are a number of suitable ideas for you.
Keeping up with large weekly water changes always solves most algae issues in Fish only tanks as well.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Thanks to all for the replies. You've been a big help. I scraped the front of my tank last night. This weekend I'll do the water change and clean out the filters. where would I be able to get that Pithopora from, sounds like something I might like in there? Again, thanks to all of you.
You already have it, just provide the right conditions for it to bloom on the rocks. There are spores in your tank(everyone's for that matter).
Regards,
Tom Barr
Regards,
Tom Barr
Plantbrain, I took your advice. I moved the lights back away from the front glass after I scraped(razor blade) the glass. Haven't seen any algea growing on it yet. Still have it growing on the back glass though. So, maybe I'll be able to get some pics of it sometime. Once again...... thanks to all of you for the help.