How can I control algae naturally in a predator aquarium?

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naturalhabitatdesigns

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 15, 2011
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New York, New York
www.naturalhabitatdesigns.com
I have a 150g aquarium with 1 10" channel catfish, 3 6" largemouth bass, and 3 3" bluegill sunfish. When I first stocked the aquarium one year ago I added 150 nerite snails. Slowly, as the fish grew, the snails disappeared. I think the catfish was the main culprit. By now the snails are just about all gone and hair algae has returned pretty quickly.

Lighting: 2 Marineland LED double brights.
2 T12 46"
~8hr daylight cycle

Nitrates: 10 - 20 ppm

Plants: 15 Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo)

I would like to find a natural way to control algae so I don't have to dose with any chemicals.

Does anyone have any suggestions about livestock I could use to help control algae that would be able to survive with the tank's current inhabitants?

Thanks for any suggestions!
 
^ agreed... either that or add a UV sterilizer, although that will most likely only help cut it down, not completely kill it all off...
 
Or you can add some external live plants either with roots in the water or in a grow bed and absorb more of the nitrates the algae feed on.
 
I wouldn't worry about buying anything fancy or adding anything, the reason why you have algae growing is because your nitrates are high. How often do you do wc?? i would do atleast 25% twice a week
 
Algae scrubbers work great too!
 
I currently do a 10-20% WC every other week so I am definitely going to increase that. Probably 20%/week to see if that helps.

I was thinking of getting some Gold Algae Eaters as I think they might get big enough to be okay.

Rivermud: Any recommendations on specific plant species that love nitrates?

Thanks for all the help!
 
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