Algae Problem

[Sasha]

Hello everyone.

My 46 gallon tank has a horrible algae problem. I think the main cause of the algae is the lighting. The tank has a 2 x 96 fluorescent light, giving it 4.1 wpg and the light is left on for 10-12 hours a day. I have several live plants in the tank, including a large amazon sword, cabomba and ludwiga. I don't add any liquid fertilizers into the tank, but the plants have root tabs. Once I can find some ottos in the lfs, I'm going to buy six of them. I'm also planning to buy a CO2 system and some more live plants to get the tank fully planted, but first I want to get the algae under control.

What's the best way to reduce the algae in the tank?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[craynerd]

with 4wpg, i`d say you need to be adding some CO2 so that the plants will out compete the algae.

Do root tabs suffice to provide adiquate macro and micro nutrients? maybe someone could tell you....and there could another issue!

 

[phlawed]

with 4wpg, you need to be running a EI cycle and CO2. This will combat the algae and flourish your tank. It might seem confusing at first, but keep reading and trying and it will become easy to do

 

[Sasha]

Could you describe what kind of algae you have?

I don't know exactly what type of algae the tank has. It covers everything (plants, rocks, driftwood, gravel) in a thin layer. It's fairly easy to remove, but it spreads very fast.

Here's a pic of the algae.

And how long has this tank set-up for?

The tank has been set up for two years. However, I upgraded the lighting last January.

I'm planning to get a CO2 system soon, as well as some ottos and more plants. I also want to replace the gravel with sand and laterite, but first I want to get the algae under control.

Is there anything else that I can do to help reduce the algae?

 

[alanchown]

Could you describe what kind of algae you have?

I don't know exactly what type of algae the tank has. It covers everything (plants, rocks, driftwood, gravel) in a thin layer. It's fairly easy to remove, but it spreads very fast.

Here's a pic of the algae.

And how long has this tank set-up for?

The tank has been set up for two years. However, I upgraded the lighting last January.

I'm planning to get a CO2 system soon, as well as some ottos and more plants. I also want to replace the gravel with sand and laterite, but first I want to get the algae under control.

Is there anything else that I can do to help reduce the algae?

This looks like Blue-Green Algae to me, which is not actually an algae, but a bacteria. There is a readily available product in the US called Maracyn (not maracyn 2) this will definately kill it.
Before trying that you may wish to go for a 3 day blackout-completely cover the aquarium so no light can get in, lights off, CO2 off and no peeking for 3 days. This has the advantage of being free and not having to use antibiotics-it will definatetly go using this method, but for some it comes straight back again. Definately worth a try though.

Alan

Alan

 

[Themuleous]

I don't know exactly what type of algae the tank has. It covers everything (plants, rocks, driftwood, gravel) in a thin layer. It's fairly easy to remove, but it spreads very fast.

The tank has been set up for two years. However, I upgraded the lighting last January.

I'm planning to get a CO2 system soon, as well as some ottos and more plants. I also want to replace the gravel with sand and laterite, but first I want to get the algae under control.

Is there anything else that I can do to help reduce the algae?

Yep BGA, that can be a pain to get rid of, try manually removing as much as possible i find it comes off quite easily by hand and then try the blackout. If that doesnt work you'll probably need to try the antibiotics.

BTW if you're going to add a sand and laterite at some stage, I wont worry about getting the algae under control first, that could take years and once you add the CO2, laterite, light and lots (and I mean lots!) of plants you'll find the huge plant grow fights back against the algae anyway, so your best chance is to change the tank over, you're fighting a loosing battle at the moment.

 

[Sasha]

Thanks for the advice. I originally thought it was blue-green algae, but wasn't completely sure.

I might try the blackout first, but will the lack of light harm the live plants in the tank?

I was thinking about buying ottos, but I don't know if they'll eat this type of algae or not.

The reason why I was hesitant to add the sand and laterite is because I don't want the algae to spread across the sand. Right now, the algae covers the garvel within a week but it's fairly easy to remove. I could always strip the tank, put the sand and laterite in, get a CO2 system and buy lots of plants, like Themuleous mentioned, and hope that the plants will beat the algae. However, I don't want the algae covering the plants. A couple weeks ago, I bought 75 plants (25 cabomba, 25 ludwiga and 25 mermaid), but most of those plants are already ruined by the algae.

Is there any other method that I should consider to remove/reduce the algae in the tank?

 

[alanchown]

Thanks for the advice. I originally thought it was blue-green algae, but wasn't completely sure.

I might try the blackout first, but will the lack of light harm the live plants in the tank?

I was thinking about buying ottos, but I don't know if they'll eat this type of algae or not.

The reason why I was hesitant to add the sand and laterite is because I don't want the algae to spread across the sand. Right now, the algae covers the garvel within a week but it's fairly easy to remove. I could always strip the tank, put the sand and laterite in, get a CO2 system and buy lots of plants, like Themuleous mentioned, and hope that the plants will beat the algae. However, I don't want the algae covering the plants. A couple weeks ago, I bought 75 plants (25 cabomba, 25 ludwiga and 25 mermaid), but most of those plants are already ruined by the algae.

Is there any other method that I should consider to remove/reduce the algae in the tank?

The lack of light will not harm your plants at all-mine seemed to benefit! Doubt of the Ottos will eat it as it is not algae, it's a bacteria. After the blackout it will all look like new.
There are more detailed instructions on the blackout elsewhere on here, but the gist of it is suck out as much stuff as possible before hand, maybe clean out your filter before you start. After blackout clean out filter again and do a water change.

Alan