Algae on glass

[Coler]

It all over the glass....not just a few stops...it kind of looks like little hair...I dont know if if my be hair algae

so is it all over the other sides of your aquarium as well ? if you literally have algae all over your glass 2 days after cleaning it there is an interesting problem.

 

[JL15219]

well in about 3 to 4 days but i still think that is pretty quick...thats what I am trying to figure out

 

[Coler]

I wonder if you should try using more a scrubber/scraper and less of a sponge...the sponge may not be cleaning right down to the glass, and probably is leaving some alage traces smeared on it, leading to very quick regrowth...the magnetic scraper doodads typically have a tough durable plastic scrubby side that may do the trick for you. I know the kind of algae buildup you're describing and I use a large mag scrubber on my own tank. I get a couple of patches but a quick wipe twice a week does the job..tip : get one that floats for easy retrieval if you lose traction.

 

[Sportsnutim]

Okay I want to know whats the best way to keep algae of the front glass of my 60 gal african cichlid tank?
It usually grows really quickly maybe 2or 3 days after I have cleaned it off with a sponge...I tried reducing the duration of the light to about 9-10 hours I try not to reduce it too much because I have some plants in the tank...I also tried reducing the amount that I feed the cichlids...I have even done large water changes...the last resort thing that I tried was adding Tetra Algae Control I Know I know what everone is going to say that I shouldnt add chemicals, but I did so get over it...I was desperate...because I had all types of algae growing everywhere it actually helped quite a bit....but the algae on the glass still grows quite rapidly...so if anyone has any suggestions...maybe a pleco or other algae eaters...or something else (phosphate remover).....

Have you considered putting algae eaters in or maybe they wouldn't be compatible with the fish you already have? I have Farlowellas in my 55 gal and they do a awesome job on my algae and very peaceful.:idea:

 

[Coler]

they wouldn't go well with africans - no bottom dweller algae eater really does, aside from the occasional bristlenose plecs. but then most of the small rift lake africans are actually algae eaters themselves, which is why extreme algae build up of this type is unusual in such a tank...mine will graze on the rocks, the sides of the tank...

 

[Lily'sDad]

I was always told that alga need phosphate. Higher plants don't need as much. I remember way back when it was a big deal that washing detergent began removing phosphate from their ingrediants because it caused alga blooms in the waterways.

 

[JL15219]

Yeah maybe I should use a scrubber instead of a sponge...I never thought that I may not be getting all the algae...never thought i could be something so simply....yeah as far as i know algae does use phosphate....