New tank,early algea.

B

Brass sliver

"I got slivers on my fingers"
Dec 19, 2004
76
0
0
Alberta Canada
I set up a 75g tank in my living room a month ago. 3 weeks later it started to show algea. It is now cycled. I have 9 malawy cichlids in it as well as 2 angels and a rainbow shark. The tank is set up with 60 lbs of substrate, (african cichlid mix) and 85 lbs of limestone arranged in a pile in the centre. No plants and no air pump. The water outlet is about 4" below the surface but agitate the water enought to break the suface tention and organic film.

Ph:8.2
Kh:100
Gh:220
No2:0
Nh3:0
No3:<5

Why is algea showing up so early? It is bright green and is starting to cover everything. Is my lighting at fault? I use 3 tubes ;2 5000k and 1 6500k for about 12 hours a day. I have now,for the past 2 day cut it back to 10 hours a day. :help:
 
from my own recent experience setting up a new 20g, that I also had algae quite heavy within 2 weeks after it was stocked and running on it's own. Not sure if the cycle wasn't complete or I was feeding too much, but obviously there was plenty of what algae needs, floating in my water....so it thrived.

Well two algae eaters, and 2 plants later....my algae is almost completely gone within 2 weeks. So I would suggest you try either or both of those to your tank and I bet the same will start for you. Also review your feeding practices, as I've read that food that is not eaten puts plenty of yummy algae food into your water.
 
that's the way it goes with new tanks. keep cleaning, and give it time. and and algea eating bottom feader would'nt be a bad investment.

and try and get your amonia and nitrates down more in genaral with a few more water changes too. This'll help the algea and the fish

HTH
 
I don't really want plants. Cichlids have the bad habit of destroying them. Are there any algea eater that would thive with my water condition? I'll ask again what do you think of my lighting? It appears that the algea only grows in lit area, not in the shadow at all...
 
You mention 3 tubes. If they are regular flourescents at 40w each, your at about 1.6w/gal. which would be pretty good for a lightly planted tank. 5500k and 6500k lights are about the equivelant of high noon lightling. Think of a pond of water sitting outside in direct noon sunlight. Algae mania. Also, you have ciclids which are notoriously messy eaters - they blow more chewed up food out of their mouths and gills than goes in the stomachs. You need a couple of catfish to scavange the bottom. There is no way, to get rid of the algae unless you take away nutrients and light....and probably water :). Get a Pleco to keep your glass clean and scrub the algae off your plastic plants when you do water changes. Also, you may want to cut the number of lights you use to just what you need to enjoy viewing your tank. Maybe a timer wouldn't be such a bad idea...set to come on/off when you are at home to view the tank. Without live plants, there is no need to keep your lights on 10-12 hours a day (unless you are home and want to see your fish). Your fish don't care if the light is on or not - it's for you.
 
So a pleco would do well in my tank but gets too large for my liking . I am willing to buy an algea eater that would get about 6" when full grown. Would changing my tubes to a diffrent color temp. help? I like the colors my fish and would like to enjoy them as much as I can. I purchased these tube because of the high CRI.
 
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