Oh no algae!!!

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Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 28, 2007
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Kansas
Well I knew it was a matter of time but I finally have an algae out break in my planted tank. It is string algae and it is starting to cover all of my tank. I have been removing it manually for about a week now but it is coming back. I have some oto's and a whip tail cat for algae control and some rummy nose tetras a skunk loach and cories. Any I deas how to gert rid of this crap??? I would prefer not using chemicals to get rid of it but if that is necessary I will.
Thanks.
-Logan
 
I get algae infestation from time to time it's unfortunate but its all part of being an aquarist. If it gets really bad I'll take everything out of the tank, scrub the glass, boil any organic or plastic ornaments, rinse off the leaves of the plants w/ running water (algae comes right off), soak the plants in an algaefix solution for a few hours, turn over the gravel, siffon out the remaining algae, water change, then but everything back in...............haven't come across any fish or chemical that can keep up with outta control algae yet.
 
Don't panic yet. What Otherone said is true, but only as a last resort. You can deal with minor algae outbreaks without a complete tank tear down. I a still pretty new at all of this and in no way am I a master, but I will give you my two cents on the matter.
Algae outbreaks occur when something is not right in the tank. Too much light, too much nutrients, something is allowing the algae to thrive. Algae is a symptom more then a problem. You should try to fix the problem and not just the symptom.
Perhaps the easiest thing to do is cut back on light. Shorten the time the lights are on. I personally like the siesta method. turn the lights off for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. I didn't like to have the lights off in the morning and evening because that is when I am home and want to see my tank. But I am not there during the day.
The other step is to clean up your water. Up the water changes and clean out the filter and tank of anything that can be rotting and releasing excess nutrients that the algae thrives off of.
Thread algae is one of the easier to get rid of. I am sure you will have your tank cleared up in no time.
 
most algae is caused by either too much light or not enough co2, or both. in my experience, crank up the co2 as much as you safely can, and you wont have any algae
 
msjinkzd;2783295; said:
Excellent advice. Here is a link with some info: http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...

excellent advice and article indeed.........I am the great overstocker of carnivorous fish and algae breakouts usually have accured in tanks I might've let go a week or so too long then it would seem to snowball as I would cut back on CO2 and fert........looks like BGA has been my biggest problem tru the years...................def. saved this article seems to address everything.
 
If possible cover the tank for 24 or even 48hrs, algae can't cope without light, the pond I bulit last year is going to be covered in the spring as the UV was not fitted after filling and I've got hair algae and a bit of green water as well. Before it finally goes live I'll cover it for 2 week first
 
You can always get a uv sterilizer ,that will help also.
 
That really is a great article! Well I have increased my water changes to twice a week now and I am cutting back on the fertilizer and lights for a little while an dhave as much CO2 as I safely can so hopefully all will clear up soon. Thaanks for all of the help.
-Logan
 
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