I Have Blue-green Algae >.<

[snuffy]

Hello guys. I have a sad topic, my 5.5 gallon tank has be invaded by blue-green algae! I read up on it a little and it was stated that blue-green algae is a cyanobacteria not an algae.

Causes include lighting, overfeeding, and low/no water movement. I think I'm guilty of all three... I have a cheap light hood, which I put in 2 10w bulbs and leave on for about 10 hours a day. So I'm assuming that's a lot of really really bright lights for a 5.5 gallon tank... Also I just put in some cherry shrimps in there and they're not really eating but I didn't dig out their leftover foods. And third I had my filter on really low which is a mere trickle of water...

I'm so sad I don't wanna trash and redo my tank!!! Any way I can get rid of this blue-green algae?!?! HELP! :help: I'm going to try to leave my lights off for 3 days and do 30% water changes every other day to see if that'll fix this nasty problem T_T


Tank Specs:

2 Cheap Walmart 10W Bulbs
ADA Amazonian Soil Substrate
6-10 Cherry Shrimps
Java Moss
Christmas Moss
Swords
Cabomba

 

[Sorab]

Do a 50% water change then a complete three day blackout, with the tank not getting a chink of light (cover the tank with refuse sacks and no peeking) followed by another 50% wc and that should see to it. The shrimp and any plants you have will do fine for three days with the blackout.

 

[Draal5]

Scrap out as much as possible if you have incandescent light change it to the walmant compact florescent bulbs and increase the water flow i had a problem with a 10g I increased the water movement with a small whisper in the tank filter I was only using a sponge filter that cured the problem almost over night.

You should not have to break down the tank at all

 

[Sploke]

I used two 3-day blackouts on one tank to get rid of it, and EM to kill it in another.

 

[Squawkbert]

Excel is pretty good at killing it off too.

 

[grannylvsfish]

this is what was all over the tanks at that crappy fish store. is it dangerous? bad for fish?

 

[Sploke]

No, its just unsightly and can smother plants.

 

[snuffy]

Ok thanks guys I just water changed and used some Excel. Gonna go blackout now. Thanks for all the advise! <3

 

[FtwayneFish]

good luck.

 

[snuffy]

Oh yeah what kind of lighting wawtts/gallon should I be having for my 5.5 gallon if it's gonna be a cherry tank with moss?