is this something to worry about
- Thread starter Chris@els
- Start date
Nice tank but there is no way anyone can identify what you are talking about with out a close up
In most healthy habitats (especially) without higher plants to use up nutrients, algae will grow to use up any extra nutrients.
I assume you mean the green/yellow patch growing below the end of the log starting in the right 3rd of the tank.
Nitrate is the most common nutrient in well filtered tanks that helps promote algae, because normal filtration does not remove it, by-products of filtration actually help it grow, the only normal way to reduce it, is thru regular water changes (or in salt water tanks, foam fractionation(AKA protein skimming).
I happen to like algae in my tanks, helps to remove nitrate along with plants and lots of water changes, and provides grazing material for fish.
Just a little extra, tons of algae in aquariums usually means filters are not being cleaned enough and water is not being changes enough, especially if the lights are on too long, or too much sunlight is reaching the tank.
There is also a type organism called cyanobacteria (blue green/slime algae)that can be troublesome, certain types suggest high nutrient (polluted) conditions.
This does to "seem" to be what is i the OPs photo.
There are thousands of species of algae.
One of my microbiology text books was entirely about the algae of the American great lakes.
There is also a type organism called cyanobacteria (blue green/slime algae)that can be troublesome, certain types suggest high nutrient (polluted) conditions.
This does to "seem" to be what is i the OPs photo.
There are thousands of species of algae.
One of my microbiology text books was entirely about the algae of the American great lakes.
That is normal brown algae, not cyanobacteria, it is part of every aquarium, and good for the tank, it is using nitrate and light to grow, or if there is silica as a normal part of your tap water, it can also cause brown algae, in combination with light, and nitrate.
Some people don't like it, I do because it's natural.
The only way to keep it from constantly coming back, is to keep nitrate at a very low level, with water changes, lots of them.
Perhaps 50% every other day.
Plants are also able to use nitrate, but to actually effect nitrate enough to hold algae back, you would need a tankful of plants, similar to this to starve the algae.
one, 2,or even 4 plants won't make a dent.
Some people don't like it, I do because it's natural.
The only way to keep it from constantly coming back, is to keep nitrate at a very low level, with water changes, lots of them.
Perhaps 50% every other day.
Plants are also able to use nitrate, but to actually effect nitrate enough to hold algae back, you would need a tankful of plants, similar to this to starve the algae.
one, 2,or even 4 plants won't make a dent.
