Blue Green Algea

[R.A.C.K]

My ten gallon tank was infested with the stuff about two months ago. I did a heavy physical removal which included heavy pruning of plants that had it on them and started doing a ten percent water change every day. However it seems that I am merely keeping it at bay as it still appears on the side of the tank and is still on some of the plants (I can't get it completely off the plants short of restarting my tank). Everywhere I've read says that this type of algea comes from bad water quality, but if I'm changing ten percent of the water each day can the quality of my water really be that bad?

I know most people will tell me to buy a test kit, but if I were to get one what specifically would I need to check for as the do it all kits are pretty expensive. Or is there something else that could be causing this?

 

[manlyfish]

i've heard of this blue algae before
from what i heard its a nerotoxin and is the result of extremely high nitrates or nitrites (i can't seem to remember which is which right now)

i would just buy a full out test kit. you'll probably have use for it later on

 

[WyldFya]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44303

 

[RWaltman]

what type of filter are you using? Blue green algae is a pain in the ass...with a ten gallon I'd say just empty it, clean it and start over if it's empty. It's also not algae...it's bacteria...Cyanobacteria. Normally found at the beginning of a tank "cycle" it's caused by not enough water movement and organic waste (excess food). Sounds like you are at the beginning stages with these beast...am I right? Or is there fish in there? A good cycled tank will not have these issues in such severity...you'll see it in small, isolated instances, but not all over the place. OK! So nobody cares what it is...bacteria...the question is how the heck do I nuke this menace? You can use antibiotics (sold in common pet stores...look for erythromycin. BUT! This will also DESTROY any beneficial bacteria your tank has established...SO! what's the right answer? If the tanks empty...start over. If the tank has fish in it...physically remove all the "cotton fuzz" you can see daily, then make sure you are doing 40% (ish) water changes every other day...reduce the organic waste with proper filtration/cycling....add an air stone to move some water and aerate it....and hope for the best...it's a pain to get rid of...if you can...just start over...it's ten gallons...helluva monster tank to drain I know...but hang in there...

 

[RWaltman]

(if you do decide to buy fish antibiotics to treat the water my suggestion would be to REMOVE any biological filtration media/filter you are using in an effort to save it, then filter the water with carbon to remove any traces of the antibiotic...but again...this idea is a last resort and adding chemical after chemical to a fish tank is a really bad idea...)

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

i have this stuff too. i have no clue how to get rid of it. my WQ is good too. THats the strangest part. Its heavily planted. I have no clue what to do. hope u figure it out so u can tell me.

im afraid to use any meds to rid of it. i have snails and shrimp in there. as well as some lampeyes and black neons. I dont know if they would do ok

 

[RWaltman]

i have this stuff too. i have no clue how to get rid of it. my WQ is good too. THats the strangest part. Its heavily planted. I have no clue what to do. hope u figure it out so u can tell me.

im afraid to use any meds to rid of it. i have snails and shrimp in there. as well as some lampeyes and black neons. I dont know if they would do ok

Once it's there...its there for the long haul...best way to get rid of it is to physically remove it with a toothbrush or something then suck it up...and keep everything in check so it doesn't bloom again...good luck!

 

[R.A.C.K]

I have fish in there, so I don't know that I want to start over. The tank has also been set up for close to ten months now, so that should be plenty of time to get established shouldn't it? If I used antibiotics would it effect the fish?

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

i cant tear mine all apart as well.

 

[RWaltman]

I have fish in there, so I don't know that I want to start over. The tank has also been set up for close to ten months now, so that should be plenty of time to get established shouldn't it? If I used antibiotics would it effect the fish?

Antibiotics will zap any and all beneficial bacteria you've established and it could effect the fish negatively...especially if there is no need....really the best thing to do to combat the blue/green menace is to physically remove it from the tank. During water changes loosen it with a toothbrush or something so that it is "free floating" then suck it up or suck it up off the surfaces. Doing this will help remove it from the tank and if the tank conditions are good then it shouldn't "respawn"...like I said, its not really "bad" and some people claim mollies will eat it (I'm not sure about that) but I wouldn't dump chemicals/meds into a tank just to get rid of it. Try physically removing it and doing that for awhile and see if it keeps coming back....