Algae bloom

G

ggrowney

AC Members
Apr 8, 2006
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I set up tank 10 days ago. Have 2 corys in a 12g. yesterday I received shipment of 2 beginner plants and replacement 6400k lights compared to my 50/50 reef bulbs. Today I have major alage starting and had only noticed very small amounts before. Is one of these factors accentuating the algae or is it just the norm.

What do experienced aquarists do about algae? Chemicals? Fish? Inverts?
 
First, what brand filter and model of filter do you have?? Is the cartridge full?? How much are you feeding them?? To get rid of an algae bloom, do a 50% water change immediatly, then in 24 hours, do a 25% water change. Change the cartridge in your power filter. Let me know if this works!!!
 
What kind of algae? Is it brown?

If it's brown algae, diatoms, it's perfectly normal and will go away on its own in a few weeks. Change your water regularily and vacuum up the brown stuff every time you do.

Nothing to panic about.

Roan
 
algae

It's green. I have a nano cube. The power filter is built in. I haven't changed the carbon bag (there is ceramic and rubber media as well). There is a sponge filter that can be cleaned.

I will follow advice and do a water change and take the particle filter out and rinse it.
 
What is the wattage of the lights you added to the tank?

Algae grows when there is an imbalance of nutrients and the plants are unable to outcompete the algae for them. If your lighting is too high and there are too few plants, then the algae will run amuck.

I suspect you may have very high wattage for that tank and not enough plants to compete with the algae. Are you dosing fertilizers? If not, you should probably start. How often do you do water changes and how much?

We'll know better when we find out what type of wattage you have.

Roan
 
fishieperson321 said:
If that doesn't work, let me know and we can fix this problem!!! I promise!!!
Click to expand...
Fishieperson --

Changing the carbon is not going to help with algae. Algae starts with a nutrient imbalance and that must be corrected.

Roan
 
Lights

Are 24w. I have not changed water yet. I was planning first change this weekend. I will get right on it. I only have 2 small plants. I am guessing the lighting is the key. Should I consider going back to the 50/50 bulbs until I can plant and fertilize further.

I plan now to do water change and filter (not carbon but the sponge) rinse and then see what happens.
 
Roan Art said:
Fishieperson --

Changing the carbon is not going to help with algae. Algae starts with a nutrient imbalance and that must be corrected.

Roan
Click to expand...
It isn't really the carbon that I am aiming at getting changed. It is the mechanical media because there may be excess nutrients and uneaten food in the cartridge that isn't getting rinsed out too well that causes this. If the filter isn't moving enough water, that can be a problem too because the excessive organic stuff that isn't getting removed from the water. The water change will cause the nutrients to be diluted. Make sure you vacuum the gravel!!! :cool:

And incase you don't know, the sponge is the mechanical media.
 
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