algae issue in bichir tank

[TRSickler]

Normally would solve this problem with a pleco, same as my other tank. But I've heard a lot about how plecos will suck off the slime coat of my bichir. I have 2 mystery snails but they don't seem to get a lot done. I have 4 live plants but not sure of they help with algae. I leave the lights on for usually 9-10 hours a day.

Any solutions? I don't like the look of algae on the tank walls.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

#1)Lights on too long. #2) too much waste in the water. Big apple snails could help eat the algae, however, they'll eat your plants and cause more waste as well. Vacuum your gravel out really well. Check your water parameters.

 

[AROS]

More frequent water changes and vac the bottom real good.


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[F1 VET]

Excess nutrients in the water can feed algae! As said above more frequent water changes and a lesser photo period will help.

But it may seem the root of the problem is higher lighting then your plants require. When you have low light plants and you have med/high lighting this is almost always the #1 cause of algae. My advice would be the above but also you can raise the fixture or take out a bulb if its florescent, and if the spectrum of the light is purplish blue that would indicate a saltwater type light. Freshwater plants need 5000-7000k lighting to mock what nature provides. T5ho's are almost always med/high lighting.

More details of your lighting fixture or a picture would help!

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Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[koltsixx]

#1)Lights on too long. #2) too much waste in the water. Big apple snails could help eat the algae, however, they'll eat your plants and cause more waste as well. Vacuum your gravel out really well. Check your water parameters.

As ZEROPILOT is saying above the best way to avoid algae is to be proactive and stop it's causes rather then handling the issue after the fact. Also as being said the reasons for algae outbreaks is usually the lights on the tank are on too long or the tank is getting direct sunlight and the fish are being overfed. These factors create a perfect environment for algae by providing the nutrients for its growth, so decreasing them will invariably decrease your algae problem. There are other alternatives that can be used instead or with the above to even further help prevent algae.

You can build your own algae scrubber. A algae scrubber controls algae by controling where algae grows in your aquarium making it's removal easier. One can be put in your sump or in the tank hidden by a plastic box that can be in the same color as your background making it less unsightly. There are plenty of Do It Yourself threads in our DIY section and UrauJoey shows how to make one on youtube. Algae scrubbers are create because they don't eliminate algae and instead help make use of it's natural ability to filter water, creating a better environment for your fish. Here's UaruJoeys vid
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As for Plecos most of them are horrible algae eaters and they should never be considered clean up crew. They're just like any fish and need just as much attention to their diet as any other fish you would keep and as such should never be just a way to control algae or leftovers. There are however some that are good at eating algae, those that are shouldn't suck on you bichirs slimecoat as they're vegetarians which I'll add not all plecos are. One of the best plecos for algae control are bushynose plecos though I'll add not all of bushynose are but Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus is and will usually leave even plants alone strictly focusing on removing algae. Other good fish include the Florida flagfish, Whiptail catfish, Twig catfish, Siamese Algae Eater, Otocinclus and Fei Fengs.

The last solution I can think of are U.V. Sterilizers. They're mostly useful for removing free floating algae and therefore preventing coudy or green water. They are a great addition to the aquarium besides this though as a properly designed one can help control all kinds of things and help prevent disease by killing free floating pathogens and by improving aquarium water redox. Hope this helps and if I missed anything hopefully someone else will put it out there.

 

[TRSickler]

Those were all extremely helpful answers. The lights I use are Marineland LEDs that came with the whole set-up. I have the 55g Marineland tank. I'll see if I can't find a timer to run all my lights off of, as I have another tank right beside it.