ALGAE...Help

[VulcanNinja]

Ok, check out my sig: My 10 gallon is growing algae like mad. Some of the gravel is covered in a thick covering of NEON Green Algae. I have 2 Oto cats that would't eat the moss off a rock if it was the only rock in the world. Is there something relatively small that I can add to my tank to take care of this? Keep in mind the Betta...and I do have live plants.

 

[enchanted]

Something usually escalates Algae, such as too much nutrients, too much light, etc....

It could be the Algae is just growing too fast for the 2 otos to handle. When your full do you continue to eat anyways?

I would recommend checking the various nutrient levels, lighting, etc....

If you want to add something, otos are better in groups of 3 or more as are most catfish. Also, you might consider some ramshorn snails.

 

[VulcanNinja]

Will those snails multiply like crazy?? I do have my lights on for about 14 hours a day...is this too much??

 

[Dubby]

VulcanNinja:

Do you know the nitrate reading on your tank? Do you have live plants? How much lighting do you have?

As Ddreams said it is the balance which is important for not getting too much algae

 

[VulcanNinja]

Nitrate is about 20 ppm. I have 2 live plants. Lighting is standard fluerecent for a 10 gallon tank.

Any more suggestions? Other than an Oto or a snail?

 

[enchanted]

If you get Ramshorn or some other snail (other than pond snails) they usually don't multiply like crazy.

Also, 10-12 hours is all your lights should be on.

 

[balloon molly]

get a magnet cleaner.it did wonders for mine.
if not get more oto catfish.

 

[shadow]

You could also get 2 mollies, they also eat algae.

 

[sanguinarydragon]

yeah, 14 hours is probably the reason. i just had a algea problem that exploded in my 10gal but i reduced the light to 4hours and it went away instantly

 

[Dubby]

Cover your tank so it does not get light for a few days. That should clear the algae. I have a heavily planted tank & I dont have my lights on for more than 10hrs.

Another trick is to switch off the lights for a few minutes several times in the day. The photsynthesis process for algae is more primitive than plants. They take longer to start photosynthesis, so switching lights several times disrupts them.

 

[VulcanNinja]

What's a magnet cleaner?