Algae in Small Tanks

[amerz]

I have a 2g with a female betta in it, and even with all my frequent water changes, there is some algae buildup around the bottom of the glass. I have some larger "stones" in there that have algae too.

I was just wondering if there were some easier way to control the algae other than cleaning every single rock... etc.

I've been doing water changes, trying to have less light....

any other ideas?

 

[BIGMAC]

I will be interested in reading the replys to your question,as i have the same problem with one of my tanks i find the smaller tanks harder to keep clear of algea than my bigger tanks i am at a loss to know why,they get the same if not more attention an water changes than my other tanks cos of the darn alge.

 

[Feline]

I dont know if ottos can be put in a 2 gallon, but you can use snails? I put an Apple snail in my 5 gallon with some pond snails. And I dont have to clean algae anymore!

 

[modernhamlet]

Have you tried real plants?

As long as you get something that grows easily in low light, it will outcompete the algae for nutrients. I have a 5 or 6 stems of hygrophila polysperma in my 2.5 and my betta absolutely loves winding around in the leaves. I've also got a little java fern and java moss in there.

No algae. Ever.

Good luck!

 

[tstenback]

Once again i find myself agreeing with modernhamlet. (Hope this is a good thing ) Plants will out compete the algae for the same food and gradually you will see the algae completely gone. In the meantime if you want to get rid of this quick a couple of otos will make quick work of it and they only get to be about 1.25 inches in length so they will not overpower the tank. HTH

 

[BIGMAC]

Once again i find myself agreeing with modernhamlet. (Hope this is a good thing ) Plants will out compete the algae for the same food and gradually you will see the algae completely gone. In the meantime if you want to get rid of this quick a couple of otos will make quick work of it and they only get to be about 1.25 inches in length so they will not overpower the tank. HTH

I guess i must be doing something wrong cos my 10 gal has 4 plants in there an even the plant leaves are coverd in the stuff an its driving me nuts trying to clean it all up,its the only tank i have this problem with an i dont know why.I feel like emptying it an starting again but i cant do that cos i dont know where id put me fish.
Sorry for pushing in on your post amerz.

 

[tstenback]

I guess i must be doing something wrong cos my 10 gal has 4 plants in there an even the plant leaves are coverd in the stuff an its driving me nuts trying to clean it all up,its the only tank i have this problem with an i dont know why.I feel like emptying it an starting again but i cant do that cos i dont know where id put me fish.
Sorry for pushing in on your post amerz.

Bigmac
Sometime the conditions for algae are just too good and the plants are not growing fast enough to take away all the nutrients for algae. To help you i will need your hours of lighting, how much light(watts), nitrate level and phosphate level if you have it. Here's why... algae requires light as do plants but one difference is that plants can do without continuous light where algae cant. so if you turn off your lights for a few hours in the afternoon then the algae will not be able tosustain its growth. Now if the tankis in a dark area then this may not be an option because the fish need some light during the day. Also 2 main nutrients for algae growth are nitrate and phosphate a large amount of either combined with the light will cause an algae growth spurt in any tank. HTH

 

[BIGMAC]

I guess i must be doing something wrong cos my 10 gal has 4 plants in there an even the plant leaves are coverd in the stuff an its driving me nuts trying to clean it all up,its the only tank i have this problem with an i dont know why.I feel like emptying it an starting again but i cant do that cos i dont know where id put me fish.
Sorry for pushing in on your post amerz. 

Bigmac
Sometime the conditions for algae are just too good and the plants are not growing fast enough to take away all the nutrients for algae. To help you i will need your hours of lighting, how much light(watts), nitrate level and phosphate level if you have it. Here's why... algae requires light as do plants but one difference is that plants can do without continuous light where algae cant. so if you turn off your lights for a few hours in the afternoon then the algae will not be able tosustain its growth. Now if the tankis in a dark area then this may not be an option because the fish need some light during the day. Also 2 main nutrients for algae growth are nitrate and phosphate a large amount of either combined with the light will cause an algae growth spurt in any tank. HTH

Hi tstenback,ok here goes..... my light is on for around 10 hrs a day which i imagin may be too long from around 1pm -11pm,i have a 15watt sunglo tube in there.My nitrates are 5 and stay stable,no ammonia or nitrite,i have tried doing water change once weekly but the algae build up is so much so fast that i am doing them more often to be able to clean the algae off the stuff in the tank as it looks awful.Its so frustrating as this tank is in my lounge where everyone who comes can see it so i dont want them to think its dirty an i dont bother with it.I have even considerd swapping from gravel to sand as my pebbles look horrid would that look any better do you think?
The tank is possitiond away from direct sun light its sort of in a corner where its shaded .
Any help or advice would be great as its really getting me down cos all my other tanks which are in my daughters bedroom look brill and this one is awful.
Thanx Sue

 

[tstenback]

Switching to sand may not help as the algae will also cover the sand. Would it be possible to get the water tested for phosphate levels? Based on what you have said everything looks fine. I would definitely cut back on the light for the next week or so. Say just evening hours. What type of plants do you have in there? Hopefully we can get this worked out for you. i know what you mean about the tank... it is always the one that has the most exposure to the public that these things happen in.

 

[BIGMAC]

I will go get a test kit for phosphate this weekend cant say i have ever noticed them but probably cos i just go in an get the ammonia nitrite an nitrate kits. I will also take your advice on the lighting and keep it off till evening for a while to see if that helps.
As for the plants im not really sure what they are i havent read up much on the plants i tend to look for ones at the lfs what will look good in the tank .....maybe thats where in going wrong i dont know.Thanx for all your help i will keep working at it and check my phosphate levels out of interest what should they be?
Sue

 

[tstenback]

The levels should be as low as possible....01 is great but generally .05 and below will allow the plants to outcompete the algae. Also did the problem start when you added the plants? I had this happen one time when i added a new plant and it caused a huge algae problem. I had to shut the lights off in the tank and cover it so no light got into the tank at all for 72 hours. anyway keep in touch and good luck sue