New tank

[Acoffey27]

I've had a 70l tank now for just under 2 months. I've had an issue with green algae on the glass it seems to be coming back very quickly over the last 2 weeks. I was just wondering would anyone be able to advise me on how to cure this.

I do around 30 percent of a water change every week. I also add beneficial bacteria into the tank along with an algae prevention, and water safe treatment every week when I change the water.

I tested my levels this evening once I got in from work and they were as follows;
GH,180
KH, 40
PH,6.5
No2, 0
No3, 0

 

[Wills]

Hi welcome to the forum

What light fitting do you have and how long are the lights on? Do you have any live plants and are you using a fertiliser?

Wills

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Post a picture of the algae so we can identify it.

Stop using algicides, they harm higher plants and fish.

Algae grows from light and nutrients. If you don't have many live plants in the tank, reduce the lighting or increase the number of live plants.

You don't need to keep adding filter bacteria to the tank once it is established.

 

[Acoffey27]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Post a picture of the algae so we can identify it.

Stop using algicides, they harm higher plants and fish.

Algae grows from light and nutrients. If you don't have many live plants in the tank, reduce the lighting or increase the number of live plants.

You don't need to keep adding filter bacteria to the tank once it is established.

Hi thanks, and for the reply. I cleaned all the algae off just before i posted up. If i was to try and describe it, it looked like grass growning on the glass. I'll upload a picture of the tank as it is now. I added some more plants as I only had one initially so hopefully that will help, I was able to stop and get some yesterday.

I'll stop using them and the bacteria, I was only going from the recommendation from my local store on what to use as I'm new to all of this.

 

[Acoffey27]

Hi welcome to the forum

What light fitting do you have and how long are the lights on? Do you have any live plants and are you using a fertiliser?

Wills

Hi, thanks and thanks for replying. I'm unsure what brand etc the light is as there's no information on the light, it's one I got with the tank. I've uploaded a picture of the tank in the reply below if that's any help. I only had one love plant, I've added more now though so hopefully this will help. I'm using a fertiliser for the plants it recommends on the fertiliser to use it every morning.

 

[Byron]

A couple of things. First, algae is normal and healthy, but when we have live plants we do need to keep it under control. The Java Fern is a slow growing plant, so that means it needs less intense light and fewer nutrients. How long is the tank light on each day? You may want to reduce the light duration each day, use a timer so it is consistent (on and off at the same time every 24 hour period). Algae on the glass usually needs intervention. During the water change, use one of those sponge scrapers to clean the inside of the glass on the front (at least), the sides and back are up to you, I always like to keep the side glass clean too. This needs to be every week even if you don't see anything. All surfaces under water develop a biofilm, and algae (as well as various bacteria) will colonize it, so removing the biofilm every week prevents it from getting worse.

The fertilizer...what brand specifically? There is no reason to use it every day, especially with these few slow-growing plants, so this may well be feeding the algae. Algae will use any light and all nutrients to get the upper hand. Higher plants are much more demanding.

I would also strongly recommend some floating plants (water sprite, water lettuce, frogbit) as they will shade the tank, rapidly use ammonia and nutrients, and be very welcome by your tetras that occur in dim lit waters and they will swim higher up with some shade.

 

[Acoffey27]

The light would usually be on when I leave for work around 7am and then I would turn it off in the evening time around 7pm, going from what you have said this could possibly be too long. I ordered a timer for the light last night as I'm heading on holiday in a few weeks, and also ordered an automatic feeder for when I'm away. I will set the timer up as soon as I get it.

I used a sponge scraper to clean it when I done the last water change, yea I would be like you and prefer to have all the sides cleaned. Takes a bit more time but it's worth it for the looks alone.

It's called Internet plant food. I'll not use it as much then as you have said. Or would there be a better branded one to go with. This Is just from the store closest to me.

I'll have a look and see if I can get floating plants anywhere near me and add some of these to the tank. It would be nice to see the tetras up higher in the tank.

Thanks for the advise, ice read and watched that much online I didn't know what to think.

 

[Byron]

The light would usually be on when I leave for work around 7am and then I would turn it off in the evening time around 7pm, going from what you have said this could possibly be too long. I ordered a timer for the light last night as I'm heading on holiday in a few weeks, and also ordered an automatic feeder for when I'm away. I will set the timer up as soon as I get it.

Given the plants, this is part of the problem. You can set the timer so the tank light is on when you are normally home to view it (no point otherwise, having a dark fish tank!). You can go down to six hours, my tanks worked with 7, some use 8 hours. I would reduce it to probably 8 and see how it goes...esp with floating plants.

It's called Internet plant food. I'll not use it as much then as you have said. Or would there be a better branded one to go with. This Is just from the store closest to me.

Assume you meant Interpet...their site says it contains the "right nutrients" but no mention as to what these may be. Once a week, following the water change, should be sufficient, again especially here with few low-growers. But even with floaters, probably enough. As you are in the UK, you might look into getting TNC Lite, it is good and does have what is needed.

You are not alone regarding online sources. Many have not the slightest idea what they are talking about. I don't even look at any site where I do not know the owner/author respecting his credentials. Anyone can post "x" and be thought an expert when they are anything but expert.