Hi, I am new here. I normally post on other forums, but this issue is more specific to my large fish. I have a 90 gallon with a huge twelve inch red oscar named Otto. This tank has a horrible green spot algae problem. I am having to scrape it off every week. I believe the problem in high nitrate and normally the solution is more frequent water changes/less light. I do weekly water changes. Unfortunately, my tap water has a lot of nitrate in it. More than is allowable for the city even. I even bought a new test kit to make sure it wasn't the cause of such high readings. In my planted tank with smaller fish I use a wonderful little female bristle nose named Xenu. The green spots are there, but I never have to scrape off that gross film that goes with it. I cannot put her in with Otto because I am sure he will eat her. I am tempted to break down the tank and start over, but I have nowhere to put Otto while it cycles. How do I get rid of it? Am I doomed to scrape forever? I have seen people with lovely oscar tanks with no algae. How are they doing it? Sorry this is long winded. I really appreciate your help. Please tell me what I am doing wrong.
Algae issue, suggestions?
- Thread starter Musicmeg
- Start date
you really shouldn't break down the tank and start over. it would be a lot of work when you may very well bump into the same problem unless you find the root cause. what type of lighting are you using? and how many hours a day are you running the lighting? also, high levels of phosphates will feed into an algae problem. Is your tank located near a window?
Thank you for your reply. It isn't really too near a window. There is about twenty feet between the tank and the window and the window is covered 99 percent of the time. The lighting is low output. It isn't really designed for a freshwater tank though. I am using two 48 inch coralife fixtures that include actinic bulbs. I wonder if it has anything to do with the type of algae? I only use the actinic because I hate the yellow color of the other bulbs. I can't seem to find the correct bulbs for a freshwater tank anywhere that fit these fixtures. The tank isn't planted. Otto saw to that. How do I test for phosphate?
Removing the substrate sounds like a good idea. It is likely packed with nutrients to help plant life grow. Try that and see what happens over the next week or two.
Use Pothos. It's a common house plant, available anywhere plants are sold. Just dangle the roots in the water, and they'll suck up the nitrates (keep the leaves out of the water). They don't even need any bright lights, the diffuse light of any bright room will suffice.