There are some 200,000 plus species of algae existing in the world today
and sooner or later you will have a visit from at least one of them.Why
you ask? There can be one reason or several in combination.
CAUSES
Too many fish
Poor plant growth
Overfeeding
Accumilation of waste
Excess nutrients(overfertilization)
Too high nitrate levels combined with excess phosphate
Lighting of wrong intensity or unfavorable wavelength
PREVENTION
Use healethy fast growing plants
learn to properly feed the fish
regular maintenence to prevent build up waste
regular water changes
replacing lights especially flourescents(yearly)
water testing
CURING
Avoid chemicals they often effect plants negativly
The use of UV sterilizer will only have effect green water they are costly
to buy and run,they also tend to add heat to the water,plus the bulbs need
monthly cleaning and replacing yearly.
FAST GROWING PLANTS
The idea here is using higher plant forms to outcompete algae for nutrients
The below list has the plants name first followed by lighting requirement
and finally ideal *temperature ranges.(see note 1)
1.5-2 watts of lighting per gallon=low to medium light levels
2-2.5 watts of lighting per gallon=medium to high light levels
2.5-3 watts of lighting per gallon=high to very high light levels
Aponogeton crispus-(medium-high)-(77-89F)
Aponogeton ulvaceus-(medium-high)-(71-80F)
Ceratophyllum demersum-(medium-high)-(71-82F)
Ceratophyllum submersum-(medium-high)-(71-82F)
Ceratopteris comuta-(medium)-(71-82F)
Ceratopteris thalictroides-(medium)-(71-82F)
Echinodorus bleheri-(medium)-(71-82F)
Echinodorus osiris-(medium-high)-(64-79F)
Echinodorus parviflorus-(medium)-68-79F)
Echinodorus quadricostatus-(medium-high)-(72-82F)
Hydrocotyle leucocephala-(low-medium)-(68-82F)
Hygrophila corymbosa-(low-medium)-(75-82F)
Hygrophila diffomis-(medium-high)-(75-82F)
Hygrophila polysperma-(low-medium)-(71-82)
Ludwigia palustris x repens-(medium-high)-(75-82F)
Ludwigia repens-(medium)-(71-78F)
Rotala rotundifolia-(medium-high)-(75-82F)
Sagittaria sublata-(medium-high)-(64-82F)
Vallisneria americana-(low-medium)-(71-78F)
Vallisneria spiralis-(low-medium)-(68-82F)
The use of fish.
live bearers such as swordtails,mollies and platys won't work
in a Polypterid tank as they would most likely end up as snacks as would
members of the Otocinclus family.
Some memebers of the Loricariidae,trichomycterid catfishes often develop a taste for slimecoat this is not a desirable trait.
So if the most commonly know algae eaters won't work and chemicals are not
good to use in a planted tank.What to do?
Below are 2 lists of fish known to eat algae.
List one.Rift lake cichlids the following species are know to eat algae
in nature and are reported to be among the less agressive cichlids from Africa.
two caveats.Caveat 1 for this to be sucessful do not overfeed (fish can go 2 weeks)between feedings with no ill effects.
Caveat 2 avoid breeding pairs of these cichlids as they can become very agressive and territorial during mating and rearing of fry.
List#2 the catfishes mostly plecos.I tried to find ones that were reported as vegatarian as possible.those reported as omnivore or carrion eaters were left off the list
List#1 CICHLIDS
This is by no means a complete list of possibilities but I feel its a good starting point
for you to do research from.Some of the below might be hard to find localy this is where
online sellers and also the American Cichlid Association should be helpful.
Astatotilipia burtoni-Burton mouth-brooder(males 4.5 inches)
Astatotilipia brownae-Browns Mouthbroder-((4.5")
Astatotilipia Nubia-(5")
Cheilochromis euchilus-Big-lipped-chcilid (12")
Ophthalmotilipia ventralis(6")
Ophthalmotilipia boops-(5")
Anomalchromis thomasi-African butterfly cichlid (males 4")
Pseudotropheus tropheops-Golden tropheops-(6")
Pseudotropheus barlowi-(6")
Oreochromis mossambicus-Mozambique Mouth-broooder (4-15.5")
Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis-Baringo Nile Tilipia-(12-14")
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus-Nile tilapia-(12-14")
Oreochromis pangani pangani-(20")
Oreochromis spilurus niger-(12")
Oreochromis spilurus spilurus-(20")
Oreochromis tanganicae-(15")
Tilipia mariae -(12.5")
Tilipia sparmanii-Sparmans tilapia-(8")
Tilipia guinasana-Guinastilipia-(7")
Tropheus duboisi -White-spotted chiclid(4.5")
Tropheus moorii-(6")
Tropheus polli-(6")
Tropheus brichardi-Blue-Eyed Tropheus-(4.5")
Neochromis nigricans-(4.5")
Petrochromis famula-(6")
Petrochromis orthognathus-(6")
Pseudosimochromis curvifrons-Thick-headed pseudosimchromis-(7")
Sarotherodon melagaster-Black-throat tilipia-(8")
Sarotherodon galilaeus-(15")
Sarotherodon lohbergeri-(8")
Asprotilipia leptura-(4.5")
Maravichromis formosus-(5.5")
Haplochromis taeniolata-Spindle hap-(5")
Steatocranus irvinei-(6")
Thorichthys socoloff-(5")
Cyprichromis pavo-(6")
List#2 CATFISHES
Acanthodoras cataphractus-(4")
Amblydoras hancocki-(6")
Platydoras costatus-(8")
Ancistrus dolichopterus-(4.5")
Ancistrus adonis-(30+")
Ancistrus lamboensis-(6")
Panaque nigrolineatus-(9.5")
Panaque suttonorum-Blue-eyed plecostomus-(7")
Peckoltia vittata-(4-5")
Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps-(19")
Glyptoperichthys punctatus-Spotted sailfin pleco-(7")
Rineloricaria fallax-(4.5")
Chaetostoma sp.-Bulldog Catfish-(9.5")
Liposarcus anisitsi-Snow king sailfin pleco-(17")
Synodontis alberti-(6")
Synodontis angelicus-(22")
Hoplostermum thoracatum-(8")
Hemiancistrus annectens-(8")
Hemiancistrus landoni-(9")
Isorineloricaria spinosissima-Spiny suckermouth catfish-(12")
Loricaria nickernsis-Nickerie suckermouth-(6")
Baryancistrus sp.-(L18,L81,L177)-(6.5")
Leporacanthicus galaxias-Galactial suckermouth-(13")
Watch for any signs of slimesucking and seperate the offending party immediately
while slime removal is bad enough its the plecos rasping teeth delaminating the bichirs scales thats the real concern-Anne
*note#1 up or down a degree or two is fine
and sooner or later you will have a visit from at least one of them.Why
you ask? There can be one reason or several in combination.
CAUSES
Too many fish
Poor plant growth
Overfeeding
Accumilation of waste
Excess nutrients(overfertilization)
Too high nitrate levels combined with excess phosphate
Lighting of wrong intensity or unfavorable wavelength
PREVENTION
Use healethy fast growing plants
learn to properly feed the fish
regular maintenence to prevent build up waste
regular water changes
replacing lights especially flourescents(yearly)
water testing
CURING
Avoid chemicals they often effect plants negativly
The use of UV sterilizer will only have effect green water they are costly
to buy and run,they also tend to add heat to the water,plus the bulbs need
monthly cleaning and replacing yearly.
FAST GROWING PLANTS
The idea here is using higher plant forms to outcompete algae for nutrients
The below list has the plants name first followed by lighting requirement
and finally ideal *temperature ranges.(see note 1)
1.5-2 watts of lighting per gallon=low to medium light levels
2-2.5 watts of lighting per gallon=medium to high light levels
2.5-3 watts of lighting per gallon=high to very high light levels
Aponogeton crispus-(medium-high)-(77-89F)
Aponogeton ulvaceus-(medium-high)-(71-80F)
Ceratophyllum demersum-(medium-high)-(71-82F)
Ceratophyllum submersum-(medium-high)-(71-82F)
Ceratopteris comuta-(medium)-(71-82F)
Ceratopteris thalictroides-(medium)-(71-82F)
Echinodorus bleheri-(medium)-(71-82F)
Echinodorus osiris-(medium-high)-(64-79F)
Echinodorus parviflorus-(medium)-68-79F)
Echinodorus quadricostatus-(medium-high)-(72-82F)
Hydrocotyle leucocephala-(low-medium)-(68-82F)
Hygrophila corymbosa-(low-medium)-(75-82F)
Hygrophila diffomis-(medium-high)-(75-82F)
Hygrophila polysperma-(low-medium)-(71-82)
Ludwigia palustris x repens-(medium-high)-(75-82F)
Ludwigia repens-(medium)-(71-78F)
Rotala rotundifolia-(medium-high)-(75-82F)
Sagittaria sublata-(medium-high)-(64-82F)
Vallisneria americana-(low-medium)-(71-78F)
Vallisneria spiralis-(low-medium)-(68-82F)
The use of fish.
live bearers such as swordtails,mollies and platys won't work
in a Polypterid tank as they would most likely end up as snacks as would
members of the Otocinclus family.
Some memebers of the Loricariidae,trichomycterid catfishes often develop a taste for slimecoat this is not a desirable trait.
So if the most commonly know algae eaters won't work and chemicals are not
good to use in a planted tank.What to do?
Below are 2 lists of fish known to eat algae.
List one.Rift lake cichlids the following species are know to eat algae
in nature and are reported to be among the less agressive cichlids from Africa.
two caveats.Caveat 1 for this to be sucessful do not overfeed (fish can go 2 weeks)between feedings with no ill effects.
Caveat 2 avoid breeding pairs of these cichlids as they can become very agressive and territorial during mating and rearing of fry.
List#2 the catfishes mostly plecos.I tried to find ones that were reported as vegatarian as possible.those reported as omnivore or carrion eaters were left off the list
List#1 CICHLIDS
This is by no means a complete list of possibilities but I feel its a good starting point
for you to do research from.Some of the below might be hard to find localy this is where
online sellers and also the American Cichlid Association should be helpful.
Astatotilipia burtoni-Burton mouth-brooder(males 4.5 inches)
Astatotilipia brownae-Browns Mouthbroder-((4.5")
Astatotilipia Nubia-(5")
Cheilochromis euchilus-Big-lipped-chcilid (12")
Ophthalmotilipia ventralis(6")
Ophthalmotilipia boops-(5")
Anomalchromis thomasi-African butterfly cichlid (males 4")
Pseudotropheus tropheops-Golden tropheops-(6")
Pseudotropheus barlowi-(6")
Oreochromis mossambicus-Mozambique Mouth-broooder (4-15.5")
Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis-Baringo Nile Tilipia-(12-14")
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus-Nile tilapia-(12-14")
Oreochromis pangani pangani-(20")
Oreochromis spilurus niger-(12")
Oreochromis spilurus spilurus-(20")
Oreochromis tanganicae-(15")
Tilipia mariae -(12.5")
Tilipia sparmanii-Sparmans tilapia-(8")
Tilipia guinasana-Guinastilipia-(7")
Tropheus duboisi -White-spotted chiclid(4.5")
Tropheus moorii-(6")
Tropheus polli-(6")
Tropheus brichardi-Blue-Eyed Tropheus-(4.5")
Neochromis nigricans-(4.5")
Petrochromis famula-(6")
Petrochromis orthognathus-(6")
Pseudosimochromis curvifrons-Thick-headed pseudosimchromis-(7")
Sarotherodon melagaster-Black-throat tilipia-(8")
Sarotherodon galilaeus-(15")
Sarotherodon lohbergeri-(8")
Asprotilipia leptura-(4.5")
Maravichromis formosus-(5.5")
Haplochromis taeniolata-Spindle hap-(5")
Steatocranus irvinei-(6")
Thorichthys socoloff-(5")
Cyprichromis pavo-(6")
List#2 CATFISHES
Acanthodoras cataphractus-(4")
Amblydoras hancocki-(6")
Platydoras costatus-(8")
Ancistrus dolichopterus-(4.5")
Ancistrus adonis-(30+")
Ancistrus lamboensis-(6")
Panaque nigrolineatus-(9.5")
Panaque suttonorum-Blue-eyed plecostomus-(7")
Peckoltia vittata-(4-5")
Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps-(19")
Glyptoperichthys punctatus-Spotted sailfin pleco-(7")
Rineloricaria fallax-(4.5")
Chaetostoma sp.-Bulldog Catfish-(9.5")
Liposarcus anisitsi-Snow king sailfin pleco-(17")
Synodontis alberti-(6")
Synodontis angelicus-(22")
Hoplostermum thoracatum-(8")
Hemiancistrus annectens-(8")
Hemiancistrus landoni-(9")
Isorineloricaria spinosissima-Spiny suckermouth catfish-(12")
Loricaria nickernsis-Nickerie suckermouth-(6")
Baryancistrus sp.-(L18,L81,L177)-(6.5")
Leporacanthicus galaxias-Galactial suckermouth-(13")
Watch for any signs of slimesucking and seperate the offending party immediately
while slime removal is bad enough its the plecos rasping teeth delaminating the bichirs scales thats the real concern-Anne
*note#1 up or down a degree or two is fine
