Algae problem
- Thread starter sreid
- Start date
How long do you keep your lights on? What size tank and power of lighting? Do you have live plants? Fertilize?
http://aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/
Check out this site for resources on algae removal. I don't recommend animals to remove algae. Try cutting back on feedings and your own lighting if you can do that. More frequent gravel vacuumings might help.
Check out this site for resources on algae removal. I don't recommend animals to remove algae. Try cutting back on feedings and your own lighting if you can do that. More frequent gravel vacuumings might help.
That's a long time for lights to be on and without live plants to consume some of the excess nutrients, it's an all you can eat buffet for the algae. You may want to cut back on the lighting and consider adding some low light plants to help correct the imbalance. Other cures will be faster acting, but the algae will return until the underlying causes are addressed. Good luck! I know how frustrating algae can be.
I agree that 12 hours is a long time. Cut it to eight hours and see how it goes. As far as feeding, make it so it's just enough food that can be consumed within a minute, maybe two.
In addition to reducing lighting time and careful feeding, I would also check your water parameters both in the tank and at the tap. The limiting factors for algae are phosphate and nitrate (think fertilizer for a garden or houseplant). If these are present at the tap, water changes will only provide a new food source for algae. If they are not present at the tap, continue water changes and monitor these chemicals on a daily basis to see a drop in them. Also, look for anything decaying, maybe a dead fish or snail. Most fish foods use phosphates as a preservative so limiting feeding may also help. If the chemicals are present at the tap, a deionizing filter or reverse osmosis filter will help. No need to spend this money if not needed though.
Charlie
Charlie
Do you have a source for this? I thought it was more than just those two. I'd like to read up on this.
actually for planted aquariums you have any imbalance and you may wind up with algae.
phosphate and nitrates are only part of the equation. you also need light .
if you do not have live plants to compete with the algae you could have issues with any of these.
if the balance is off on the phosphate to nitrate ratio you get ..you guessed it..algae.
too much light..= algae.
cut back the photo period..it's the best start.(limit light o 8hrs and see what happens.)
phosphate and nitrates are only part of the equation. you also need light .
if you do not have live plants to compete with the algae you could have issues with any of these.
if the balance is off on the phosphate to nitrate ratio you get ..you guessed it..algae.
too much light..= algae.
cut back the photo period..it's the best start.(limit light o 8hrs and see what happens.)