Green algie on substrate

[Seasand]

I have set up my 55 gal tank 5 weeks ago. I now have green algie beginning to cover my substrate ( Pea Gravel ) very quickly. Can someone tell me what is causing this and do I have to worry about? How do I cure this as it will become quite unsightly.
Thanks...

 

[Marinemom]

How long do you keep the lights on? What is your water change schedule like? How much and how often?

Marinemom

 

[Seasand]

How long do you keep the lights on? What is your water change schedule like? How much and how often?

Marinemom

Lights are on 8hrs daily, water change is weekly / 10 days @ 25%

 

[Windy]

Its not just the lights, what are your Nitrate levels? High Nitrates can cause algae to grow in your tank/gravel.

 

[wataugachicken]

did you cycle the tank? ammonia/nitrite/nitrate? (algae eats those chemicals). what fish and how many? can you test the tap water for the same things?

 

[Marinemom]

Is this tank cycled? If the algae is still persisting, then I would increase the water changes to once a week as opposed to every ten days. You need to remove as much of the nutrients as possible that the algae is feeding off of. Do you have live plants? If not you might want to consider floating some hornwort or anacharis. They are fast growers and will suck up the nutrients in the water thus out competing the algae for nutrients.

Marinemom

 

[Star_Rider]

what does the algae look like.. is it thick and cover like a blanket?
ir is it scattered on the substrate

 

[Derringer]

High Nitrates can cause algae to grow in your tank/gravel.

And low level nitrates along with poor circulation can promote BGA, I wonder if thats whats going on here.

 

[AsaPW]

Get a couple of flying foxes.

 

[wataugachicken]

without knowing what is already in the tank or if it's even cycled, a recommendation to add more fish to eat the algae is out of place.