Green algae won't go away...

Lillyan

Lillyan

AC Members
Jan 26, 2010
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Culpeper, VA
So in my 90 gallon tank, I have green algae, I do 50% water changes every other day, though I have done it every day a few times. It's been like this for 2 weeks, maybe a bit longer. I blocked light from the windows and added a background. I also shut off one of the light fixtures. Now there is only 80watts, I also shortened the time the light is on. It's dark in there all the time, the fish think it's night and sleep unless I come to check up on them or feed them. I do not over feed, heck, I might be under feeding. There are plants, but I do not dose anything, no CO2, nothing extra.
I need this annoying algae gone!!!
Help me!!!
 
mbuna would be thrilled to be in there! I'm actually trying to get algae.
How many hours are your lights on?
I dont have algae in any of my 15 tanks except one where the light is on for 10 hours and its not even green yet.
I use flouros of 18-28w, so if your wattage is that high, thats why.
Change your lighting to less watts, and less time.and get an algae eater or two.
 
What kind of algae?? on glass and plants or green water???


PS--Algae does not go away in a few days/weeks.
 
Your tap water could contain a large amount of nutrients to keep it going to....changing out bad water and replacing it with not as bad...is not exactly helping the situation then.

Normally I don't visit FW since I am salt guy....but You should consider buying some RO/DI water (use the FW electrolyte salts in it to put the good stuff back in though)...

This way you are putting in completely unreadable nitrate phosphate free water in ...in other words seriously pushing down those nitrate and phosphate levels ...

I hate algae ...so much.... I would punch it in the face if it had one. *maybe even kick it in the face to*

Check out the info with problems with using tap for saltwater...still it applies to what I am explaining. You never know what the water company may push down your tap ..it can change without notice.

PS: Have you tested your Tap water at all to see? TDS meters are also a handy tool to evaluate your water source.

PSS: Using RO/DI water.... having plants this wont kill them. I have completely stripped phosphate out of my tank. I mean probably at .02 ppm ...I use a lot of phosban.... And I keep my nitrates at unreadable to. Fish poop enough to feed the plants =)
 
Last edited:
ducatigirl said:
mbuna would be thrilled to be in there! I'm actually trying to get algae.
How many hours are your lights on?
I dont have algae in any of my 15 tanks except one where the light is on for 10 hours and its not even green yet.
I use flouros of 18-28w, so if your wattage is that high, thats why.
Change your lighting to less watts, and less time.and get an algae eater or two.
Click to expand...

They were on from 6am to 9pm. The tank is next to a wall of windows where the sun comes in for most of the day. I can't have less watts, it won't reach the plants. I added 72watts of light, but only after I had the issue, then a day later I realized it shouldn't be on until this stuff clears.
 
ToeJam said:
Your tap water could contain a large amount of nutrients to keep it going to....changing out bad water and replacing it with not as bad...is not exactly helping the situation then.

Normally I don't visit FW since I am salt guy....but You should consider buying some RO/DI water (use the FW electrolyte salts in it to put the good stuff back in though)...

This way you are putting in completely unreadable nitrate phosphate free water in ...in other words seriously pushing down those nitrate and phosphate levels ...

I hate algae ...so much.... I would punch it in the face if it had one. *maybe even kick it in the face to*

Check out the info with problems with using tap for saltwater...still it applies to what I am explaining. You never know what the water company may push down your tap ..it can change without notice.

PS: Have you tested your Tap water at all to see? TDS meters are also a handy tool to evaluate your water source.

PSS: Using RO/DI water.... having plants this wont kill them. I have completely stripped phosphate out of my tank. I mean probably at .02 ppm ...I use a lot of phosban.... And I keep my nitrates at unreadable to. Fish poop enough to feed the plants =)
Click to expand...


I have Well Water, and I have smaller tanks in front of windows with sun for several hours every day and they only have a small brown glass algae issue. Their algae is easy to control. Water never changed colors.
 
I think I may have overloaded my post. We are in the same boat when it comes to algae. I may be reef tank with plants...you are FW with plants. The algae still is fought the same ways. Just mine are more extreme levels of management.

Solution I provided was to take 50% of the water out. Replace it with RO/DI water or machine water from like walmart that is RO/DI (Not mineral water though ever)water.

The purpose here is to have a immediate impact on the current green fog water. Algae thrives on Light, Nitrate, and phosphate. So you can attack it with two steps.

1. Deprive it of light by shortening photo times.
2. Stripping down Nitrates and phosphates by big water change if RO/DI water.

This way you starve it...You will see a faster recovery. The water roughly is .50 cents a gallon.

Well water I suspect is rich in nutrients. Use your liquid test kits. If you happen to have Phosphate test kit to.

I am curious to myself to see what your well water has in it.
 
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