Algae!

[charliecanskatesome]

I have a huge algae problem. My 30 gallon tank is so green i cant even see one inch into it. I really need to know how to get rid of it because its really pissing me off. I did an eighty five percent water change and put in four of those No More Algae tablets, changed the filter cartdrige and it was still cloudy after two days. I also went to buy two siamese algae eaters but they didn't have anymore at petsmart so i got two plecostomuses and then i put them in the tank. Im not sure if they will even eat the algae. Will they? Can you tell me anything else i can do to help the problem?

 

[markus]

the algea on the glass, u can just buy a magnet called an alge scraper which just wipes the algea off.

the plecs should clean some of it at nite

 

[cometcattle]

Dont leave your light on as long. Feed Less. I tried that no more algae tabs, they did nothing for me.

good luck

 

[gixer]

is your tank getting sunlight on it at all?

 

[tstenback]

All of the above suggestions are great and the questions should be answered so that we can better help you. If the algae is in the water (the water is green) then shut your lights off for 3-4 days and do not feed the fish. The lights being off will rob the algae of the light source it so desperately needs and not feeding the fish will help reduce the phosphates that often accompany fish food. I have even wrapped a blanket around the tank to completely cutt off the light source. HTH

 

[RobbieM]

I dont know about other makes but Juwel have a Nitrate sponge that replaces your top course sponge, it really made a differance in my tank. I have an algea sucking loach and he has cleaned the rocks / objects up a treat, only probs is that they are ment to get aggressive, big andattack other fish as they get older but Ill crossw that bridge when I come to it.

Juwel Nitrate Removal Sponge
This product effectively removes nitrate from your aquarium therefore dramatically improving conditions for both fish and plant. Less nitrates means less algae, better plant growth and healthier fish, all the things we strive for as fish keepers.

How does it do it?

The sponge contains microbes which consume the nutrients that algae need to survive, the algae consequently die through starvation.



Check the nitrate level in you aquarium before application with an appropriate nitrate test kit from your local aquatic specialist. Once you have the initial reading, check the nitrate level every few days and once it reaches zero the algae will disappear.



Before using please remove the outer packaging. Application is simple: just remove on of the upper coarse blue sponge and replace it with the new green Juwel Nitrate Removal Sponge.



The Juwel Nitrate Removal sponge will reduce the nitrate to zero, test the water regularly to monitor nitrate levels and change the sponge every 6 weeks to maintain optimum conditions in the aquarium.

 

[gixer]

products like that are all well and good but with regular tank maintenance there really is no need for these products IMO.

i can see the advantages if you live in an area with high nitrate in your tap water but the best way to keep nitrate down is water changes...pure and simple...

if maintenance is regular and you dont overstock you shouldnt have high nitrate anyway. so all this will cut out is people doing waterchanges. which is not a good idea IMO.

 

[charliecanskatesome]

ok i really need to know this. when the algae dies will the water still be green and you need to change it? or will it just be drawn into the filter as dead organic matter?

 

[gixer]

a bit of both really.. if you answer the questions above will will be able to help you a lot more

 

[susangc]

Killing off the algae (regardless of method) will leave you with loads of dead algae. You have several more water changes ahead of you. Consider one more big water change to get as much of it out before you try again.

Susan