What can I add to kill algae

[slipknottin]

In my 72 gallon tank, Im keeping 7 fire bellied toads...

There is no filter, and the algae in the little pond section is growing so badly I cant get rid of it. I do 100% water changes once a week and they dont do anything.

I dont want to add floating plants, as they get stuck to the toads backs and get carried onto the land and die.

Is there some sort of chemical I can add to kill the algae but wont hurt the toads? Im considering eventually getting an ozone producer to see if that does anything.

[OrionGirl]

I'd avoid chemicals--the toads are gauranteed exposure. It's a big deal around here, since so many places treat canals with algacides, and the herpes are decimated.

Have you tried adding snails? A couple ramshorns should help out, and the frogs will happily dine on any eggs produced. Or, something like hornwort, left floating but secured to stay in the deepest area of the tank.

[slipknottin]

Yea I had a bunch of smaller snails in the tank, they didnt do much as the algae grows extremely quickly. Ill try to add a couple bigger snails and see what happens.

[OrionGirl]

I have two ramshorns in with my newts, and they've done a good job of keeping the algae down. If it gets bad, I just cut the lights down for a few days, and then do a large water change. Hasn't been a problem, and this tank does get some direct sun in the mornings.

[somefinnfishy]

I kept salimanders for years the best setup I ever made for them and a lot were made:rolleyes:
I took a 75 burried a 5.5G glass tank in the substrate added some rocks-wood around the edge and ran it with a AC mini camoflaged in moss.one a month cleanings:D From stank water in two days after a change before.

[fishlips]

I would avoid chemicals as most frogs and toads will absorb it like a sponge. One of the many reasons why I'm against treating turf grass. Better yet, whats causing the algae to bloom? What type is it? Is there too much light etc. Let us know.

[slipknottin]

Just looks like blue-green algae. Sort of clumpy like.

The lighting is 4x36 watt PCs. Not a whole lot of lighting, especially considering the water is a good 18" from the light source.

The algae grows extremely fast. I have no idea how else to control nutrients. A 100% water change a week should be plenty.

[somefinnfishy]

OMG dude you trying to blind the frogs:cool:
Seriously that is a LOT of light slip even 18" away

[slipknottin]

Heh, doesnt seem like much light to me... I had 4 54 watt T5s on it for a month or so. Seems like the tank is dim now.

[somefinnfishy]

My last sugestion for you.Use some water rooting plants ie spathiphilum (peace lilly) ,golden pothos,silver kings or queens all would work well rooted in water.Also you might think of giving the water some shade-cover from the light.
But im serious slip I beat my head against the wall for 5 yrs trying to find a easy to clean set up and the small tank burried with a small power filter is the only thing that made me stop pulling my hair out trying to keep their water fresh.Another set up I liked was I took acrylic peices and siliconed to the inside of aquarium (suports so the sits in place instead of a perm instal)then cut a shelf out of 1/4' smoked plexi it went corner to corner so under it I had the full area for a gravel covered UGF setup.And on the shelf I cut holes for teracotta pots to sit with there bases just touching the water under them.This also worked well for me
simple 50% changes a week.
BTW did I mention that useing that tank for FROGS just isnt right slip is it a leaker?
I've ruined good tanks useing like that you will get horid water marks.

[OCSupertones]

it is possibly your tap water slip? i know mine here is high in nutrients.

[slipknottin]

Well, the tank is on the third floor, so I dont really want to fill it with water, when I move to a condo in another year I probably will.

Im going to try to get a couple plants that I could stick in the water and see what happens.

i really dont think its the tap water, I had the tank filled before with fish in it and I never got bad algae, certainly nothing nearly as bad as it is now.