Can indoor humidity/temp affect algae growth in tank?

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mshill90

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 4, 2009
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Mechanicsburg, PA
Ok, so, I've been discussing this with another MFKer, and thought it would be good to get some ideas...

I have a fish room in my basement.. well, my basement is my fish room... lol.

However, I have a 50 gallon high that no matter what I do, it's always covered in brown algae, and the water itself turns brown from all of the free floating algae.

Stock is 3 Jags all at 1.5-2", and a 4" Striped raphael catfish. They get fed micro pellets every other day, and only what they consume while I am right there. The Raphael cat eat shrimp pellets, and they are fed late at night, and are gone by morning.

The tank has 2 AC110's. Each has 2 ceramic ring bags, and sponges. And 1 has activated carbon that gets switched out once a month.

The humidity in my basement is 75%, sometimes lower. I run an industrial dehumidifier as well. However, the basement temp gets very hot, often raising my water temps to 86.

My tank readings are 0,0,15. They get water changed every other day.

Could the humidity/temp cause all the brown algae growth?
 
def agree it doesn't help.. but honestly.. try removeing the carbon compleately. I've found since ridding my tanks of carbon my alage population has significantly decreased. I wonder if it's to do with carbon dust actually feeding the algae. since that stuff can utilize just about any type of compound. Something is feeding the algae... or make sure ot rule out any silicone ( new re-seal on the tank, sand, decor ect) as it leaches into the water and will also help alage get a solid foothold. what lighting is it exposed too? just the basement? lights on the tank itself? basement windows?

when you can pinpoint the nutrient source you'll likely be able to fix it pretty fast. But I don't think the temp/humidity alone will cause algae to grow.
 
Ok, so here's the set up:

50 tall- sealed 1 yr ago about.
glass lid- with normal aquarium light
2 AC110's- one with carbon/one without
Also exposed to reg T8 lighting

Tank stocking is- 3 1.5-2" Jags, and 4" striped raph cat and 2 mystery snails (just added to help with algae)

They are fed every other day shrimp pellets, and NLS micro pellets.

I had ran this tank without carbon as well, and there was no difference. I have had the same issue with this tank before when I had another fish in it.. It seems like no matter what the filtration, or stocking.. it still gets algae. It's worse when the basement is hot than when we are in mid winter.

I thought it would have been from the NLS, but I have fed other foods before this stock was in the tank, and same outcome.

I also get this algae on my fahaka tank, and frontosa tank, but it's only on the glass.. but no other tanks are affected.. There are 5 other tanks on the same level as this 50 and they are crystal clear.

I hate this tank, so when I get other tanks up, this one will be put on CL for Free.
 
interesting topic about humidity and algae, if humidity does affect its growth, then that may explain a few things...
 
Ok limited experience with algae but the way I tend to address it is with patience and discipline. Usually an algae bloom means something is off. With an abundance of algae either bioload, biofiltration, or lighting is out of wack assuming all else is as it should be.

Bioload-Try changing the type of food you feed your fish and lower the amount(this was a solution to my moms community tank).

Biofiltration-I had green water and hair algae in my planted tank and it took kirbensis eating it and over a year of aging the tank so the biofiltration could combat the algae properly.

Lighting-Try minimizing light on the tank, my 110 gallon tall cichlid tank was getting colorful water thanks to the light getting left on over the weekend when I'd leave.

Hope that helps.
 
I highly doubt it. I keep my discus tank at 86-87, not a spec of algae. Algae is mostly caused by excess lighting and certain nutrients in non-planted tanks.
 
I've lowered the food, changed the food, lowered the lighting times.. lol.

It's a reg aquarium light on an 8 hour timer- just like all the other tanks.

It's weird because there are 75s at the same level as them.. same everything, just has whisper cartridge HOB's, and they are crystal clear. The stock has more fish in it, but at the same time, and they are given more of the same food.

I think I am just going to drain it, clean it, and start it over.
 
Toss a hunk of java in the tank.. or similar low light loveing plant... or try planting some pothos in the back of your HOB. something to help pull out nutrients and starve out the algae. atm I actually have 2 orchids that no matter what I was doing deteriorated on me... until I hung them in my tank... one of the bloody things has already sprouted 2 new leaves, adding more plants is helping me win the war with hair algae ( if you think the brown stuff is bad... bleh... hair algae is the devil)
 
I can't find a way to rationalize that the humidity in the air can have an effect underwater. I do know that when I get hair algae in my planted tank that its usually a sign that my lamps have lost some power, when I replace my lamps it goes away.
 
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