I can't get rid of green algae

[DrDeath]

I have green algae all over the glass on my tank. I bought a pleco but he doesn't seem to be doing the trick. When I first got him he cleared up the tank in a night. Now th stuff is back and it seems like he is trying, it just won't go away! I have tried to scrape it off with no luck. I don't know if it's the scraper I used or what.

Should I add another algae eating critter? I have tried snails but my leporinus has eaten all of them. It also ate all my ghost shrimp.

ANY suggestions?

The tank is a 37g Eclipse. No plants currently(they are all eaten).

Thanks!
DrD :)

[Hatter]

Instead of looking to add another fish (which may make the problem worse by adding more fish waste), look to address the source of the problem by cutting down the source of food for the algae...


1. reduce the amount you feed your fish.

2. Increase frequency/volume of gravel vacuumings and water changes to reduce nitrate levels.

3. Reduce the amount of light that the tank gets. (shade if near window, put tank lighting on timer and reduce "daylight" period.

[perrito_blanco]

What kind of pleco did you buy?
How often do you do a water change?
Is the tank near a window?
How long are your lights on per day?

Use a razor blade to scrape off all of the algae. One of those glass scrapers painters use that have a razor blade in are great.

[ewok]

a magnet scraper for glass maybe......

i agree pretty much with whats posted...... i would increase water change amounts and frequency and maybe test for nitrates. without food it should be harder for it to thrive.....

[DrDeath]

I do 20% water changes once a week, feed once a day, nitrates are zero, PH 7.6.

As for lighting, the tank is in a basement family room beneath a small basement glass block window. I turn the tank light on at about 8am and turn it off about 10 or 11pm. I think I'll try a different scraper and cut down on lighting hours.

Thanks!

DrD