ALGAE EXPLOSION

[EmilyMarie85]

That blows.... you need to get some Flourish Excel and start dosing... also reduce the amount of time your lights are on for approx. 2 weeks - that should do it.

 

[erk419]

Throw some snails in there to!

 

[dpk2313]

Whats your water reading lights being on that whole time and ammonia present could cause this.

I have a single T5 on it my nitrate levels are between 0-5 ppm on my tank and tap water
I also tested my ammonia unfortunately i lost my card but it was verry light yellow

 

[dpk2313]

Throw some snails in there to!

just put some trumpet snails in there I really wish I didnt have to tho those thing do a good job but they become a pita fast

 

[Lupin]

I really want to, Ive been pulling it off and for some reason it smells like dirt I hate it

Earthy smell is simply a sign your tank is well established. Consider yourself lucky this smell happened. It's better than sulfur or ammonia which indicates your tank is poorly maintained.

I personally like the tank like that. It's not that much for hair algae. There are worst cases. Algae helps absorb nutrients and play its role in the development of your fish and water quality.

 

[Lupin]

get alot of algae eating fish and i mean ALOT!

I disagree with anyone who is suggesting a fish to eat the algae. For something harmless like hair algae, why bother to add a fish that adds up to bioload? Besides, compatibility issues are also something you should consider before you get a fish.

Snails are a much better option but very few will eat hair algae. I find trumpets, ramshorns and apple snails to relish hair algae.

I do not see this hair algae in that stage a liability. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Algae is part of the ecosystem. To each, his own I guess.

 

[dpk2313]

I disagree with anyone who is suggesting a fish to eat the algae. For something harmless like hair algae, why bother to add a fish that adds up to bioload? Besides, compatibility issues are also something you should consider before you get a fish.

Snails are a much better option but very few will eat hair algae. I find trumpets, ramshorns and apple snails to relish hair algae.

I do not see this hair algae in that stage a liability. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Algae is part of the ecosystem. To each, his own I guess.

I dont usually have a problem with algae and encourage it for the most part but this has only been here for 2 days and is already causing problems clogging my filter, strangling my plants and to some extent my fish. This algae is more of a weed then an ascetic add on in this case. Ive added some trumpet snails do you think this will help?, if so how long should I expect it to take? Ive added about 8 to 10

 

[Lupin]

Cut back the lighting to visual periods only for at least 2-3 hours, scrape off most of the hair algae and do more water changes to remove the excess nutrients. That should hopefully make a big difference.

Yes, the trumpets will help. I remember grabbing a ball of hair algae from my pond and the trumpets would immediately head for it and in a few hours, the hair algae is gone.

 

[bitteraspects]

just throw a black sheet over the tank for 2 days. no light/ no food. the blackout period will help kill the algae, and your fish will be fine.

 

[VOYTEK]

water change + water change + water change ... multiple times =)

Check the water's chemistry + check if your bio filtration is ok

you'll be fine no worries