takikng away light to kill algae?

[-Asianguy-]

so here i am wondering if this is possible.

could you put a tank with an algae problem in complete darkenss to kill algae? figuring that alage needs sunlight or light to grow. doesn't that mean it will die if you take it away?

how long can a fish live in complete darkness?

and do black lights help algae grow too?

 

[BushFishRox]

all you need to do is limit the light to say 8-12 hours a day and do frequent water changes and the will take care of your problem...

 

[midnight]

ya find the problem,lights on to long,window light,lights to close to tank.
might try and get a timer for your lights.
set it for a few hrs on,then few hrs off,then on,then off.
i did have algae.got a timer and raised my lights and it fixed it.

 

[Dread]

so here i am wondering if this is possible.

could you put a tank with an algae problem in complete darkenss to kill algae? figuring that alage needs sunlight or light to grow. doesn't that mean it will die if you take it away?

how long can a fish live in complete darkness?

and do black lights help algae grow too?

Fish can live in the dark a long long time. I had an Oscar in the dark (he busted his own light) for over 3 months, and he was fine when light came back.

As for the algae, most definately. A 3 to 5 day "blackout" will definately kill most, if not all, of the algae you have. Assuming it isn't BBA.

 

[WyldFya]

Don't do a tank black out if you have excessive algae. Remember that dead organic material will turn to algae, and if your bio-filtration isn't strong enough to handle it all, you will have an ammonia, and nitrite spike. Depending on the type, severity, and amount of alga, this can be lethal to all of your tank inhabitants.

 

[Mystix212]

A UV sterilizer will kill most floating algae in the water. Limit your light to 8 hours a day and dont let the tank receive sunlight.

 

[WyldFya]

A UV sterilizer will kill most floating algae in the water. Limit your light to 8 hours a day and dont let the tank receive sunlight.

Once a tank is infected heavily with algae, completely wiping it out is bad (see above post). UV is only good for green water, or single celled algae, and should only be used as a preventative method.

 

[Mystix212]

Thats why I suggested it for 'floating algae'. But in any of my tanks, I like to have some form of algae.

 

[WyldFya]

Once a tank is infected heavily with algae, completely wiping it out is bad (see above post). UV is only good for green water, or single celled algae, and should only be used as a preventative method.

Thats why I suggested it for 'floating algae'. But in any of my tanks, I like to have some form of algae.

Read the bold.

 

[Dr Joe]

Guess -Asianguy- never read one of my algae posts .

Agreed WyldFya, but if you have to wipe it all out, immediately clean the glass, substrate, filter and do W/C's to remove the dead organisms.

Dr Joe

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