Surface Algae Everywhere!
- Thread starter johnnymax
- Start date
Cut the time you have your lights on, if it's not a planted tank you are fine with just turning the lights on when you want to observe the tank.
As long as the tank is in a room that gets light the fish will be fine, the lights are more for you or if you have plants.
I had a run of mad algae that coincided with the growth of my Oscar in the main tank and my large parrots in smaller tanks. I posted on what I did to get it under control. Larger quantities of pothos submerged have completely eliminated algae in the main tank.In the smaller tanks large areas of algae disappeared in days.I also use phosguard.
How I licked brown algae before it licked me...
I mentioned in earlier threads an issue I had with uncontrolled brown algae blooms. Did all the conventional stuff...reduced light hours, less heavy feedings, water changes, wipe downs. It would clear for maybe a day or two then return full force. I was beginning to think I'd have to live with...
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
I guess WAY TOO MUCH! I would turn it on in the morning at 6:00 am then off when I headed to bed 9:00 pm
For a total of 15 hours. Not anymore!
Typically here in Panama, filtered, indirect sun begins at around 7AM from the east increasing to full sun by 1030AM, until about 2 PM and around 3 PM becomes filtered and indirect sun from the west, with sun down by around 7 PM. In many cases with that photoperiod, algae is rampant in the natural areas.
In the states, I tried to mimic this a little on artificial lights, by having the timers stagger the on/off cycles, heaviest between 11 AM until 2PM and maybe only half the fixtures on until 7PM .
On my tank here with only the sun for lighting, it only gets a few hours indirect in the morning, and because its under a patio roof, no direct sun at all, then in late afternoon with only indirect sun again. Algae in the tank is minimal, yet the plants thrive.
In the states, I tried to mimic this a little on artificial lights, by having the timers stagger the on/off cycles, heaviest between 11 AM until 2PM and maybe only half the fixtures on until 7PM .
On my tank here with only the sun for lighting, it only gets a few hours indirect in the morning, and because its under a patio roof, no direct sun at all, then in late afternoon with only indirect sun again. Algae in the tank is minimal, yet the plants thrive.
Okay, I will add Seachem phosguard and only turn the light on in the evening when I am in the living room. That will be 3 hours max.
Also, I may add a small led light to go right next to my automatic wifi feeder (Arriving tomorrow)
I will be moving the fish today into a temp tank, then I will break down the 75g and move it tomorrow.
It will get a thurough cleaning. I also have an HOB filter coming in today for additional mechanical filtration.
Thanks for all the help.
Also, I may add a small led light to go right next to my automatic wifi feeder (Arriving tomorrow)
I will be moving the fish today into a temp tank, then I will break down the 75g and move it tomorrow.
It will get a thurough cleaning. I also have an HOB filter coming in today for additional mechanical filtration.
Thanks for all the help.
The catalyst for most algae in general, except for the green species which need more nutrients, is ammonia and light, particularly true for brown algae. It is often common in new setups for the same reason but can happen in established tanks due to overstocking, food trapped in substrate/filter, overfeeding, etc...As for the brown algae itself, it is harmless and a great food source for fish and fry. By overtaking the tank, all it does is using favorable conditions and thus balancing a tank. But it needs manual removal...Even if it stops growing, it will linger and be colonized by green algae species if left alone on surfaces...That's what I do in an algae fish species tank where I actually need complex biofilm...
How I cured this problem was by putting my tank in a room that doesn't get much light.
By having an indoor tank and an outdoor tank on the same system, all the algae grows in the outdoor tank which gets lots of light and almost none in the indoor tank which gets less.
I also grow pothos and other plants in the tanks to help control the nitrates.
I have herbivores and big algae eaters in both tanks.
By having an indoor tank and an outdoor tank on the same system, all the algae grows in the outdoor tank which gets lots of light and almost none in the indoor tank which gets less.
I also grow pothos and other plants in the tanks to help control the nitrates.
I have herbivores and big algae eaters in both tanks.
