The planted tanks guys are the real experts on this, but.....algae needs more than JUST light to grow. It also needs nitrates, phosphates, other chemicals. Different algae types grow well in different nutrient levels. You tank is low nitrate, high phosphate--there's an algae for that. Your tank is NO phosphate, but a a little nitrate--there's another algae for that. They all like light, though.
So, you're always gonna have algae. You can only make it grow slower. Cut the light, and cut the phosphate and nitrate in the water that it uses for food.
But, if you have big Cichlids in your tank, you're gonna have all KINDS of nutrients for algae, because the fish produce it, excrete it, and the food you feed your fish are full of it, too.
Since you can't quit feeding your fish, you're stuck with less light--ALOT less than you're currently running--and remove nutrients.
So don't turn on your lights unless you want to look at the fish. And change your water more frequently. Water Change cuts the nutrient level in the tank by alot. Just like you remove nitrates, you're also removing all the phosphates, and whatever else algae eats--it's a long list of algae nutrients.
I have a big tank that I really REALLY don't want to get into heavy maintenance with. If I work out of town, the lights don't turn on for a week. When I am in town, the lights come on when I'm sitting in the room. That's it. I don't have a timer on the lights on that tank. The fish don't care. They can see just fine to beat each other even when the lights are off--there's a window in the room so they can tell day from night--that's all they need. My fish are CA cichlids, no Pleco's. Fish don't need light. Their eyes are good for 20-30 feet underwater, not much light down there, either.
I put a drip on the tank, too. Always clean water dripping into the tank. Helps keep nutrient levels lower. Or, I'd be doing HUGE water changes every week. Like 75%-90% once a week.
And, try not to feed as much. These fish hit 5 inches, they don't need to eat everyday. They won't grow faster if you feed 'em more anyway. So why put more phosphate from pellet food than the fish really need. It just grows algae.
So, you're always gonna have algae. You can only make it grow slower. Cut the light, and cut the phosphate and nitrate in the water that it uses for food.
But, if you have big Cichlids in your tank, you're gonna have all KINDS of nutrients for algae, because the fish produce it, excrete it, and the food you feed your fish are full of it, too.
Since you can't quit feeding your fish, you're stuck with less light--ALOT less than you're currently running--and remove nutrients.
So don't turn on your lights unless you want to look at the fish. And change your water more frequently. Water Change cuts the nutrient level in the tank by alot. Just like you remove nitrates, you're also removing all the phosphates, and whatever else algae eats--it's a long list of algae nutrients.
I have a big tank that I really REALLY don't want to get into heavy maintenance with. If I work out of town, the lights don't turn on for a week. When I am in town, the lights come on when I'm sitting in the room. That's it. I don't have a timer on the lights on that tank. The fish don't care. They can see just fine to beat each other even when the lights are off--there's a window in the room so they can tell day from night--that's all they need. My fish are CA cichlids, no Pleco's. Fish don't need light. Their eyes are good for 20-30 feet underwater, not much light down there, either.
I put a drip on the tank, too. Always clean water dripping into the tank. Helps keep nutrient levels lower. Or, I'd be doing HUGE water changes every week. Like 75%-90% once a week.
And, try not to feed as much. These fish hit 5 inches, they don't need to eat everyday. They won't grow faster if you feed 'em more anyway. So why put more phosphate from pellet food than the fish really need. It just grows algae.
