algae destroyer

[FishyMatty]

Today I noticed algae growing on the glass. The tank has only been set up for about 2mo. Heavily planted and heavily inhabited. So I added algae destroyer(for planted tanks) and within minutes there was a ton of little worm like things floating around. I've seen a couple of little squiggly little worms in the past but I read that was somewhat common. This time it was hard to tell if these were the same thing because there were so many I couldnt tell if they were squiggiling or just being blown around by the current. I was able to scoop up a lot with my net but it barely put a dent in it/them what ever it is. Any Ideas, suggestions and also what causes algae. how do you prevent it.
1 dual compac 10,000k 1 dual compac blue both 96 watt havn't injected co2 in 3 days. was injecting at 6bmp.
Thanks
Matt
milford,ct

 

[5xevy]

Hi Matt. Can't really help you out with the worm-like creatures but here's an excellent site on algae and the causes and solutions:

http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9

 

[Aquaken]

The squigglies sound like tubifex worms, and I'm not sure of the dangers they pose. I had them in a 10g once witha betta, he loved catching them and eating them like spaghetti.

 

[J double R]

i noticed the same thing when i used a certain brand of algae killer once, never quite figured out what they were.

 

[ergo sum]

What size and color were they?

 

[J double R]

they were hair thin, and between 1/4 and 1/2 inch long, and white.

 

[ergo sum]

Those are probably Planaria.

 

[liv2padl]

not planaria ... definitely nematodes. the copper in "algae destroyer" also destroyed the nematodes.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/phyla/ecdysozoa/nematodesm.jpg

 

[J double R]

hmm.. WAIT! i just remembered. if there is copper in algae destroyer, that must be why my snails and crayfish died within a week of having each of them.. even though the tank was dry and stored for a good while.

 

[fresh_newby]

IMO I would never add "alage destroyer"
Treat with manual cleaning, maybe spot treatment with excel in a syringe, and water changes then get to the root of the algae problem.