Whats the best way to get rid of green algae?
- Thread starter bigbipo
- Start date
A few questions that will help with the best remedy to your problem. What type of algae is it exactly? What is your current setup on your planted tank? What kinds of plants do you have in the tank? What kind of fish do you have in the tank?
I don't recommend using chemicals of any kind in a planted tank. Especially those that are meant to kill a form of plant. Dosed incorrectly and you could have a big pile of compost.
I don't recommend using chemicals of any kind in a planted tank. Especially those that are meant to kill a form of plant. Dosed incorrectly and you could have a big pile of compost.
Theirs two types of algae growing not sure of the types, theirs a bright green blooming type thats very easy to whip off. THeirs also a dark green hair type algea that looks like moss balls and once attached to something I need a scotch brite pad to remove plus some elbo greass..
im currently using CO2 with 10hour light timer for 3 72" 110wat 50/50 bulbs( i read that the 50/50 bulbs help cut down grean algea more white light & less daylight)
also I have about 4 fluval 404's and 3 ac500's, I only have 2 small pouches of phospate remover... Im sure my phosphates are hi, but water changes help...
Right now I have 2 new(nice and green) huge mother amazon swords and 3 older mother swords but the algea has killed them off alot... The swords have TONZ of shoots with many babies, and the algea has attacked them as well.. Also just added a ton of hornwort to help starve the algae. As far as fish go, im housing gold spilo piranhas(about 15or so)...
I'v cut back ALOT on my ferts but i use Greg Watsons plantex, with some extra iron chealat...
sorry for all the typos.
im currently using CO2 with 10hour light timer for 3 72" 110wat 50/50 bulbs( i read that the 50/50 bulbs help cut down grean algea more white light & less daylight)
also I have about 4 fluval 404's and 3 ac500's, I only have 2 small pouches of phospate remover... Im sure my phosphates are hi, but water changes help...
Right now I have 2 new(nice and green) huge mother amazon swords and 3 older mother swords but the algea has killed them off alot... The swords have TONZ of shoots with many babies, and the algea has attacked them as well.. Also just added a ton of hornwort to help starve the algae. As far as fish go, im housing gold spilo piranhas(about 15or so)...
I'v cut back ALOT on my ferts but i use Greg Watsons plantex, with some extra iron chealat...
sorry for all the typos.
looks like its Green Spot algae and Green Dust Algae.
Green Spot algae occurs when there is no or lack of Phospate = Check the Phospate of water, and increase dosing of KH2P04
Green Dust Alage occur if there is no Much co2 = to remove it just let it mature for like 2 -3 weeks then brush it. This is Tom Barrs method of removing that algae and work fine.
Its not Green Water Right, just incase i get rid of my GW by using UV Sterilizer. You can also do the blackout if you want.
Green Spot algae occurs when there is no or lack of Phospate = Check the Phospate of water, and increase dosing of KH2P04
Green Dust Alage occur if there is no Much co2 = to remove it just let it mature for like 2 -3 weeks then brush it. This is Tom Barrs method of removing that algae and work fine.
Its not Green Water Right, just incase i get rid of my GW by using UV Sterilizer. You can also do the blackout if you want.
my Phospates have never been anything below .4ppm
Im sure im not lacking any nutrients, my tank is very hi in nitrates and iron..
Whats your opinion on cuting down my lighting? I'v just turned my timer down to about 5hours..
Also just gave my tank a good flush (75%change) and most of the bright green algea is gone..
The Dark green hair moss type remains unless cut out(MY POOR PLANTS!!), this stuff will NEVER just be brushed off.... Even when cleaning filter parts bleach hardly cuts it..
Now that my water is nice and floating algea free, still should I try to starv this moss type algea or is it better to feed plants in hope that it will over come & out grow it??
I'v also seen that live plant aglea destroy stuff but never heavly used it enuff to notice results...(*that stuffs like a multi marketing product, instructions are basicly keep using untile algea is gone*)
I must say, bushy plants are less prone to algea and my swords just dont survive my tank
Im sure im not lacking any nutrients, my tank is very hi in nitrates and iron..
Whats your opinion on cuting down my lighting? I'v just turned my timer down to about 5hours..
Also just gave my tank a good flush (75%change) and most of the bright green algea is gone..
The Dark green hair moss type remains unless cut out(MY POOR PLANTS!!), this stuff will NEVER just be brushed off.... Even when cleaning filter parts bleach hardly cuts it..
Now that my water is nice and floating algea free, still should I try to starv this moss type algea or is it better to feed plants in hope that it will over come & out grow it??
I'v also seen that live plant aglea destroy stuff but never heavly used it enuff to notice results...(*that stuffs like a multi marketing product, instructions are basicly keep using untile algea is gone*)
I must say, bushy plants are less prone to algea and my swords just dont survive my tank
Phosphates should never get above 1ppm, and the nitrates should sit in the 10 ppm range. Too much and you will find more algae. Don't worry about cutting back your lighting. THe algae you have is likely a red algae from the sound of it. The way I get rid of it is a bleach bath. Hardy leaf plants like anubias can handle this without problems. Use a 19:1 water:bleach solution, and soak affected plants in it for 2-3 minutes.
or add more fast growing plants to compete the algae, Photo period 8 hours daily,
How many bps? (the co2)
How many bps? (the co2)
u recomend bleaching bathing amazon swords??? my HUGE mother plants are really hurting... that sounds crazy but might work
maybe if i were to try this, afterwards should I soak plants for a few hours in pure iron w/gw mixture with some good light?
bps is minium 1-2 bps, and I dont use it even every day.. just when ever im home to turn regulator on
I just picked up some more phosphate remover and gona try dosing with algea destroy. Now the question is do I completly stop ferts? try bleech sigh
maybe if i were to try this, afterwards should I soak plants for a few hours in pure iron w/gw mixture with some good light?
bps is minium 1-2 bps, and I dont use it even every day.. just when ever im home to turn regulator on
I just picked up some more phosphate remover and gona try dosing with algea destroy. Now the question is do I completly stop ferts? try bleech sigh
I would do the bleach bath for the amazon, the leaves should be more than hardy enough to withstand that treatment. I recently did this treatment on some anubias, and within a week the algae was dead and had fallen off.