algae bloom, what to do?

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MurderedOut

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 29, 2008
122
1
16
Slidell, LA
i asked about this awhile back, and nobody really had much to say.


i have a 2 month old 75 gallon(fx5, rena 300w heater) with a really bad algae bloom since its a newer tank.

the tank is green cloudy so bad u cant even see the back of the tank.

i was recommended 50% water changes every other day, and only 8 hours of light. ive been doin this for the last month. And it hasnt done one bit of good. after 3 or 4 water changes it starts to clear up, but always comes back after a few days of no water change.

water perims are perfect, 82 in the tank, only 3, 5" bichirs. no sunlight, 8 hours of light a day. feeding twice a day only what is necessary.

im ready to throw this tank out the door. ive done everything shy of chemicals.

i even have other tanks that are right next to it w/ no problems whatso ever. change water on them once a week (50%).


what would you do?:nilly::nilly::nilly:
 
What kind of lighting do you have, and do you have any plants?
I have an aquarium that would get algae blooms because it had too many T5HO bulbs (12 I think). Also Algae-gone or algone whatever its called works great for killing the algae, but it also seems to kill my beneficial bacteria.
 
I had the same problem for months, 4 days after I stuck a UV sterilizer in the tank it was crystal clear again.

Buy a UV sterilizer. I bought a JBJ submariner 9W, its rated for 100 gal.
I thought 9watts was way to small for eve a 40 gal tank, but it worked like a charm.
 
trashcan;2742564; said:
What kind of lighting do you have, and do you have any plants?
I have an aquarium that would get algae blooms because it had too many T5HO bulbs (12 I think). Also Algae-gone or algone whatever its called works great for killing the algae, but it also seems to kill my beneficial bacteria.
Click to expand...

just a standard 2/48" bulbs. 32 watts a piece. nothing HO.

And yes thats why im afraid of the chemicals. ive heard so many bad things about it. and i prefer to keep my aquariums as natural as possible unless i have to.
 
Nyquil Junkie;2742782; said:
I had the same problem for months, 4 days after I stuck a UV sterilizer in the tank it was crystal clear again.

Buy a UV sterilizer. I bought a JBJ submariner 9W, its rated for 100 gal.
I thought 9watts was way to small for eve a 40 gal tank, but it worked like a charm.
Click to expand...

thats a good idea. however, i dont want that huge thing hanging in my tank all the time!

do they make a inline uv sterilzer that fits good with the fx5 tubing (1"). Possible to setup with pump and overflowbox?
 
Nyquil Junkie;2742782; said:
I had the same problem for months, 4 days after I stuck a UV sterilizer in the tank it was crystal clear again.

Buy a UV sterilizer. I bought a JBJ submariner 9W, its rated for 100 gal.
I thought 9watts was way to small for eve a 40 gal tank, but it worked like a charm.
Click to expand...

thats a good idea. however, i dont want that huge thing hanging in my tank all the time!

do they make a inline uv sterilzer that fits good with the fx5 tubing (1")? Possible to setup with pump and overflowbox?
 
MurderedOut;2742843; said:
thats a good idea. however, i dont want that huge thing hanging in my tank all the time!

do they make a inline uv sterilzer that fits good with the fx5 tubing (1")? Possible to setup with pump and overflowbox?
Click to expand...

You can't really use UV sterilizers inline. They require quite a low flow rate in order to get proper exposure time. I think the flowrate through an FX5 would be too high.

Your other option is to get a diatom filter. A diatom filter would clear up that green water in a matter of an hour or two. They work very, very well. They also aren't something you run constantly, so you don't have to worry about having another ugly filter on your tank. When you need it, you set it up and run it for an hour or two, then put away.
 
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