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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Algae making the tank look gross
Right now, both of my 5-gallon tanks have brown algae (diatoms I guess), plus one of them has algae that is green and looks like string coming off the sides of the tank. The one with this also has 2 live plants (will be getting a couple more soon).
Besides live plants, cutting back on light, and wiping the walls, I can't really think of what else to do to minimize it. Thought about getting a snail or otos, but don't think either would work (tank too small for me to want to keep otos, heard too many disaster stories about snails). Any suggestions, or is this something I just have to deal with?
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Master
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I had that too. Only in one tank. I still dont' know why it happened. When I moved a big piece of decoration to another tank, the green hair algae disappeared. Mind you, I also have a sick fish in there so it is likely that lights off are causing the algae to retreat. Anyways, my theory was that what caused it was the lack of current, but I could be wrong.
Livebearers and other algae eaters love the stuff, though. If you have a kebab wooden stick, roll some of that stuff around the stick and give it to your mollies, etc. It's like candy floss to them, they really love it.
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Helper
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Some things you could try include:
1. Adding more plants to absorb nutrients from the water thus limiting the food supply for the algae.
2. Using a phosphate removing chemical media.
3. Using RO Water
4. Limiting actinic lighting (if applicable)
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Mentor
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What is your water change schedule? Do you test the water? Water changes, along with cutting the light to no more than 10 hours a day should help.
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pistorta
Some things you could try include:
1. Adding more plants to absorb nutrients from the water thus limiting the food supply for the algae.
2. Using a phosphate removing chemical media.
3. Using RO Water
4. Limiting actinic lighting (if applicable)
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1. Will be giving the fishies some new plants for Christmas 
2. Not too sure what this is.....could you please explain?
3. Same as above 
4. I have been minimizing the light lately to help out (which seems to be working some, especially on the green stringy kind).
Thank you for the suggestions! |
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by susitna-flower
What is your water change schedule? Do you test the water? Water changes, along with cutting the light to no more than 10 hours a day should help.
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Hi, the watch change schedule is 15%, 3 times per week....tank cycled, water conditions are great according to my little tester kit. I use Prime and NovAqua+ to condition the water, plus the tanks get Vitachem every day. Thanks for the reply. |
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by armadillo
I had that too. Only in one tank. I still dont' know why it happened. When I moved a big piece of decoration to another tank, the green hair algae disappeared. Mind you, I also have a sick fish in there so it is likely that lights off are causing the algae to retreat. Anyways, my theory was that what caused it was the lack of current, but I could be wrong.
Livebearers and other algae eaters love the stuff, though. If you have a kebab wooden stick, roll some of that stuff around the stick and give it to your mollies, etc. It's like candy floss to them, they really love it.
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Hi Laure-Anne, not too sure if it could be lack of current or not....but, my filter is non-adjustable so I wouldn't be able to do anything. Interesting theory though
Unfortunately, I don't have any other fishies besides the bettas......if they were Algae eaters, I could ave a fortune on fish food  |
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Master
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Don't you get RO water from an RO unit? Ins't RO water a bit of an overkill for a betta tank? Can you buy it bottled too?
I had plants in that tank, and the hair algae took over. They covered the plants too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistorta
Some things you could try include:
1. Adding more plants to absorb nutrients from the water thus limiting the food supply for the algae.
2. Using a phosphate removing chemical media.
3. Using RO Water
4. Limiting actinic lighting (if applicable)
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Helper
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Phosphate is an algae food source found in your water supply, fish foods, etc. There are chemical medias that will absorb this, thus starving the algae. I believe phos ban is the name of one of them.
RO water is water filtered by way of reverse osmosis. RO systems produce water that is ~98% pure. It removes toxins, heavy metals...everything but water. It has actually been the cure to all my ills.
If you have "good" water and a balanced system, you will not need to limit light any further to prevent algae growth. Algae typically takes over when something is out of balance. The leading cause I've found to this problem is too many nutrients in the water for the number of plants kept. Your plants have the ability to solve this problem for you. If you focus on the plants (supply CO2, quality light and iron) the algae will disappear.
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Master
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But how do you get RO water without an RO unit? Getting an RO unit for a betta tank is a huge overshoot.
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Master
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Don't the algae also thrive on CO2, light and iron?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistorta
Phosphate is an algae food source found in your water supply, fish foods, etc. There are chemical medias that will absorb this, thus starving the algae. I believe phos ban is the name of one of them.
RO water is water filtered by way of reverse osmosis. RO systems produce water that is ~98% pure. It removes toxins, heavy metals...everything but water. It has actually been the cure to all my ills.
If you have "good" water and a balanced system, you will not need to limit light any further to prevent algae growth. Algae typically takes over when something is out of balance. The leading cause I've found to this problem is too many nutrients in the water for the number of plants kept. Your plants have the ability to solve this problem for you. If you focus on the plants (supply CO2, quality light and iron) the algae will disappear.
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Helper
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You would need an RO unit to get RO water (unless you can buy it bottled). I understand what you mean armadillo, it is a bit overkill on a betta tank.
Yes, algae thrives on iron, light, etc. to an extent. What you need to keep in mind is that plants will out-compete the algae for these nutrients. The plants will always win when there is a limited supply. They will steal light and absorb the nutrients in the water column quicker (much like a weed in a garden). Therefore, the more plants you have, the less free nutrients you have in your water... not to mention the benefits that result from having them as they are nitrate reducers, oxygen producers, etc.
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December 12th, 2007
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Fish Master
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Ahaaa! Interesting. Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistorta
The plants will always win when there is a limited supply. They will steal light and absorb the nutrients in the water column quicker (much like a weed in a garden). Therefore, the more plants you have, the less free nutrients you have in your water... not to mention the benefits that result from having them as they are nitrate reducers, oxygen producers, etc.
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December 16th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Ok, a hypothetical thought.....is there a chance that I am using too much Vita-Chem? I use 4 drops once a day in each 5 gallon tank. Or is that just crazy talk  |
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December 16th, 2007
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Fish Newbie
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Well the brown algea could also be too much food not getting eaten. You might want to watch one day and see if the betta is eating all of the food you give it.
The green stringy stuff if I understand it right, might be Hair algea and I used to get it a lot with my live plants. I solved my problem with getting a group of Siamese Algea Eaters, But since it's just a betta tank, if you cut your light usage back to 2 hours a day for a few days and then slowly increase it over a few weeks until it's only on 8 to 10 hours a day, that is supposed to get rid of it too.
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December 16th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Hey Jessie, I know they eat all their food and that neither are over eating. The male gets 4 one pellet meals a day, the female gets 3. The green algae isn't that prevelant, it's mostly the brown....hate the stuff! Going to buy some more java ferns for both tanks tomorrow |
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December 17th, 2007
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Fish Master
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Good tip on the hair algae, Jessie. Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessie
Well the brown algea could also be too much food not getting eaten. You might want to watch one day and see if the betta is eating all of the food you give it.
The green stringy stuff if I understand it right, might be Hair algea and I used to get it a lot with my live plants. I solved my problem with getting a group of Siamese Algea Eaters, But since it's just a betta tank, if you cut your light usage back to 2 hours a day for a few days and then slowly increase it over a few weeks until it's only on 8 to 10 hours a day, that is supposed to get rid of it too.
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December 17th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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I buy RO water from my LFS. I bring in my own 5 gallon buckets, and he fills them.
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