Algae Problems - PICS, Please help

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Webslinger808

Registered Member
Nov 25, 2006
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I am having some really persistent algae in my tank and am fearful of using too many unecessary chemicals. I tried Algaefix and the algae subsides for a bit then returns.

PB250082.JPG


I appreciate any suggestions you may have. I am going to buy a test kit today and some plants, but I could use all the help I can get.

Thanks in advance!!

Here is the picture:
PB250082.jpg
 
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make sure you dont have too much light (8-10 hrs a day)
make sure you have enough water movement
make sure all your parameters are in check

someone smart with fish will come in and let you know more soon im sure. also your picture dont work man. try www.imageshack.us
 
I don't see a pic either. We'll need some more information as well:

What size tank?
What kind of lighting? Wattage?
How many hours of light a day?
Type and number of fish in tank?
Nitrate reading? (when you get the test kit)
How often do you change the water? And how much water do you change?
 
Thanks for the replies...more info

It is a 70 gallon tank, has two flourescent bulbs for each side (about 14" long) for aquariums but I dont think they are full spectrum. I am considering getting better bulbs. I have no plants in this tank and will purchase some in the next few days in the hopes that the stronger plants will dominate. After I get the test kit, I can speak more about the water conditions. I have read some posts about increasing phosphates but am not sure ho to do this. Perhaps someone at my local pet store may have more info on this.

Someone told me that AlgaeFix is a good remedy so I may try some of that as well. Sorry about the pics, I am still new to the pic posting thing. In an effort to describe it, the algae is not stringy, but carpets the surface (not free floating green water) of my substrate and ornaments. It is a vibrant, deep green, like the felt on a typical casino gambling table.

Thanks again for the help. If I am missing somenthing, please let me know.
 
I suspect your parameters are off with the addition to too much lighting for the tank, whether it be a window or too much/long lighting. I also advise against adding more chem's to fix this problem as they may fix one problem but they can cause others that are just not worth the hassle.
 
Ah-ha, the algae you described may not be algae at all, which explains why the chemicals did not touch it.

It sounds like what you have is cyanobacteria (also known as BGA, or blue-green algae, but it isn't algae at all).

I don't know what might cause this is an unplanted tank as I have only ever experienced it in a planted tank. I would guess you don't have enough water circulation (it likes low flow areas and stagnant spots) and maybe direct sunlight or too much lighting. Hopefully now that you have a name for it, you can do some google searching and find a cause. I would not add plants until you get rid of it and figure out why it appeared.

To get rid of it, manually scrape/rub off and vacuum out as much as possible. Then you'll want to completely black-out the tank for 3 days - don't turn the lights on at all, don't let any light in. The tank should be covered with a thick blanket - all it takes is a tiny bit of light for this stuff to survive. After 3 days, vacuum out the dead BGA and do a nice big water change. The blackout, if done properly, will eradicate it.
 
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