When scraping algae...

[Shawna]

Is it ok for it to just drift off into the tank. I have an algae scraper, but it just sorta scrapes it away and is left floating in the water. Would it be better to wipe it away with a cloth?

I do this when my tank is full of water, not when Im doing water changes, as the water level never goes down to the bottom, and secondly, because I can see it better when theres water in the tank.

 

[beviking]

Well, the whole point of scraping algae off the glass is to get it off the glass. Does it matter where it goes after that? Depends on if you want to look at it or not. Theoretically it should get sucked up into your filter and rinsed out when you clean the filter. Or, sucked out when you change some water.

It wasn't really hurting anything being on the glass and it won't hurt much staying in the system for a little while longer. If you leave it sit in a dark place too long, it'll start to break down and add to your bio-load (add nutrients/waste back into the water) so you don't want that! The best time would be to scrape it off shortly before you change some water and hopefully you can remove it then.

Of course, you could just use a cloth. Wipe, rinse, repeat.
Not that one way is better than the other, just pick a way that is better for you!


Cheers

 

[Shawna]

So if I scrape algae one day, and do my water change in the next day or two, I should be fine. Yes??

 

[beviking]

Should be. The only problem would be...more algae!

 

[aquariumhobyist]

why dont you just get an algae eater or pleco.

 

[Shawna]

I had two, but they died.

 

[sumthin fishy]

Are you planted? If not you can cut back your lighting. Most fish don't need the lights on all day, especially if they are getting some sun.

 

[pophead]

well most fish called algae eaters won't even eat algae... unless you starve them into it. and plecos don't eat algae for the most part too.

 

[esarkipato]

Shawna,
If the algae you are scraping off comes off in "strips" as you make it sound like, why don't you just net it out of the tank after you scrape?

otherwise if it's not staying clumped together, I'd say do it right before or during a water change.