Green algae on sand?

[duanes]

Like cogcommando my first thought was cyanobacteria which comes from detritus build up due to lack of regular water changes and substrate vacuuming.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Doesn't sound like algae at all. Sounds more like cyanobacteria.

 

[Fat Homer]

Am I the only one thinking cyanobacteria?? I've never seen algae grow on sand and come off in clumps, but cyanobacteria... definitely.

X2... i agree 100% with this... in fact i've dealt with it before and it sounds like the same thing...

Would definitely advise upping water changes and cleaning up left over food right after feedings..

 

[F1 VET]

Like cogcommando my first thought was cyanobacteria which comes from detritus build up due to lack of regular water changes and substrate vacuuming.

Thank u, adding salt and more chems is unecessary!!!

Ive been saying vac + water change the whole time and everyone has to argue.... aquarium 101 my gosh

#1 S. Vettel

 

[F1 VET]

Add salt?? For algae and nitrate??

That is bad advice.

Just change ur water and VAC

Yes! People with experience know that many types of algae, most notably, String Algae, will die at 0.3% salting or better. WC will of coarse take care of the nitrate. I maintain over a dozen outdoor ponds and cichla tanks with great results. This method is also published in numerous books including one from Dr. Erik Johnson, DVM. It's just advice for the op to take or leave like all advice on this forum.

Lol

#1 S. Vettel

 

[DIDYSIS]

Any progress on it?

 

[Oughtsix]

algae is beneficial to you eco system. It eats nitrates and poops oxygen. So you can lower your nitrates or welcome the extra help of the algae in controlling the nitrates.

 

[Oddball]

algae is beneficial to you eco system. It eats nitrates and poops oxygen. So you can lower your nitrates or welcome the extra help of the algae in controlling the nitrates.

That's not totally true. While green algae will produce O2 in the presence of light, algae expels CO2 as part of their dark (Calvin) cycle when the plant produces oxaloacetic acids to aid in the conversion of carbon to carbohydrates.

While some cyanobacteria can be beneficial in aquaria (Spirulina being the most known for it's nutritional benefits). This bacteria appears to be physiologically somewhere between true algaes and bacterial colonies. Many cyanobacteria are extremely dangerous in aquaria due to their production of cytotoxins, endotoxins, hepatotoxins, and neurotoxins.

 

[duanes]

Oddball, you don't speak often, but when you do, all should listen.