algae growth; what's causing it?

T

TwanDizzle

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Jul 31, 2006
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hey guys, i've got algae growing in my tank and i want to know how to get it removed, if it will cause any major problems, and what's causing it in the first place.. its small green spots on the side of my tank (for some reason, only on the back side, where it would be the hardest to reach it with a magnetic scraper) and on the intake strainer thing (where water goes into the filter... then, i assume its the same stuff, but just different color from the location... on my fake plants and decorations its brown spots...

on the filter intake, i stuck my hand in the tank and tried to scratch it off with my fingernail, but it didn't help at all.. and its not slimy like i would imagine... it just feels like nothing is there at all... but as for the glass, would it be OK to just use a brush of some sort? like a toothbrush on a longer handle?

I used the freshwater master test kit from aquarium pharmaceuticals INC, and the results are this:

ph, 7.2
ammonia, 0.0
nitrite, 0.0
nitrate 10.0
temp is 80, but i don't know if my thermometer strip is messed up or what... it stays on 80 always, but i can run my finger across it or blow on it, and it will cahnge colors and stuff.... i just don't want to get one of those floating thermometers because IMO, they ruin the look of the tank, even moreso than the filter and heater!
 
from the looks of your water parameters, you have a very healthy tank. As far as algae is concerned everyone gets it. To what extent you see it thats another matter. If you just have some algae coating the sides and back of your tank then that is perfectly natural and will do no harm at all. I personally hate looking at algae on the front viewing area of the tank so i use an algae scraper made for glass. Go to the pet store they all have them.

Now, the really unwanted algae is usually the threadlike stuff that hangs off tank decorations and plants in long strands as well as the Blue green algae (cyanobacteria) that is really unsightly and usually takes a bit more effort to get rid of. These types of algae could be signs of a nutrient inbalance. Doesnt seem like you are dealing with either. The brown algae are diatoms which are also normal.

If i were you i would just keep up with waterchanges weekly and vaccum that gravel and get a nice scraper. Try not to overfeed your fish as the excess nutrients could lead to a much worse algae outbreak.
 
yep... buy an algae scraper, and give it a good rub down, boy!
 
it's called spot algae and is considered normal in most aquaria. they don't indicate a problem, like hair algae which is normally the result of too much nitrate.

if it's a glass aquarium, use a scraper or razor blade. if it's acrylic, use a gentle scrubber pad that won't scratch the tank.
 
plah831 said:
if it's a glass aquarium, use a scraper or razor blade. if it's acrylic, use a gentle scrubber pad that won't scratch the tank.
Click to expand...

For glass aquariums, I use a toothbrush. Although it requires a bit of force as spot algae is a bit hard to remove compared to other types like diatoms.
 
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