algae...sick of it

[TracyRee]

I have a well established 55 gallon that is always covered in algae. I clean it out and 2 days later algae covers the gravel, plants, rocks and a bit grows on the glass.

I have a full 4" clown pleco and 3 otocinclus.

No ammonia or nitrites. PH is about 7.2.

What's going on and what can I do? I get mostly green algae, but brown also.

 

[tstenback]

Do you have any plants in the tank? How long is your light on per day? What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[TracyRee]

Hmm, I don't know what the nitrite or phospate levels are. I'll have to pick up a test kit.

No plants and the lights are on about 8 hours.

 

[tstenback]

Try turning the lights on only when you need to. If the room where the tank is has natural light then the only time you need the lights on in the tank is at night. Algae needs light to grow so if you take it away it wont grow as fast and will most likely start to die back. Take a sample of your water to the LFS and get them to test it for you( if you can trust your LFS). If you add some fast growing plants, they will out compete the algae for the same nutrients and the algae will again die back. HTH

 

[TempestBlayze]

Your tank is probably in the sunlight. My grandfathers 50 G tank is in the sun and it always grows algea very fast. Mine on the other hand is in my basement where there is no sunlight hitting it. I have the light on all the time with live plants and I get absolutly no algea whatsoever.

 

[TracyRee]

I used to leave the light off during the day, but my fish hate that. I have blood parrots and they would turn pale if the lights are off.

Yes, the sunlight is a factor too. Oh well....guess I'll just have to clean clean clean.

 

[astroboy]

Fish use platelets to enhance their color. They get used to a certain schedule and they turn "off" their platelets when it gets dark. So, most likely your fish don't hate it, they just expect the darkness and get ready for it.

 

[FishDan]

I agree, for the most part, fish do not "hate" darkness or light. The do "hate" not having a schedule. The fish could probably care less if they were in the dark all the time or in the light all the time (this of course is dependent on special fish). Plants require light, most fish don't, and the light is there so we can view them. If you try cutting back on your light for a while the algaw should start to die off. Also if you test for nitrAte and phosphates (as was mentioned). These are nutrients that algae use in addition to light to grow.

\Dan

 

[TorPeteO]

If you don't want to turn the lights off, then just go for a live plant. They're nicer than fake ones, and fish eat 'em. I wouldn't want to turn my light off, either, I like seeing my fish in full light. So, as the other posts have said, go for a live plant or two (or more).

 

[Tropjunky]

what is ur water like very interested in phosphates and nitrates
high levels of nitrates and\or phosphates cause algee.