Frosty

Please help!!
The aquarium where I work has been established for several years. Suddenly the rocks are covered in black? algae? Even after cleaning, the very next day they are black again! Never had this problem before and some of the fish (platys) are acting stressed! Can anyone offer some advice? Help very much appreciated!!

Thanks, Frosty

mathas

Algae can have more than one potential cause, and more than one type is dark in color, so the first step would probably be to try and identify what type of algae it is (or what it could be if it's not algae). Can you describe it any better than just "black"? Is it tufts, or hair-like filaments, or slime, etc.?

Try looking through some of these sites and see if any of the pictures match what you see on the rocks:

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm
http://plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...lgaefinder.php (this one requires registration)

Another good idea would be to try to determine what changed... you said the tank had been established for years, and "suddenly" the rocks are covered in algae. Algae doesn't just lie in wait and then throw a suprise party. If it wasn't growing before, conditions weren't right for it; if it is growing now, conditions (nutrients, light) have become right for it. What changed that made the tank more conducive to algae growth? Is the tank getting more light, or more direct sunlight, or is the water being changed less frequently, or have you added a lot of fish lately, or any new plants?

Frosty

Thanks for the quick reply,
I looked at the pictures as you suggested, none of them looks really like it to me. How would I be able to determine if it is not algae at all? Also, the airstone is very weak, would trying to add more air bubbles help do you think?

mathas

Beats me, but there are a lot of experienced people on this board. Hopefully someone else can offer suggestions, but again, a better description than just the word "black" would be helpful. A picture would be even better, if there would be any way for you to get one.

It couldn't hurt, but I wouldn't promise that it will help either.

Again, it would probably be worth determining what's changed between when you had none of this growth and when it suddenly began appearing. If your airstone has been weak the entire time, then I can't see how getting a stronger pump would help.

Frosty

Yes, I agree it wouldn't be the air, since this is not my tank I'm not as familiar with it as my own, I have never had this problem at my house with my tank. However, I do know there have been no changes, it is a 90 gallon tank, has about 10 small fish in it, and no live plants! It has always been in the same place, same lighting schedule, it is very frustrating! I have noticed it when I go to work for the last couple of weeks, my boss's son maintains the tank and he insists he changes water and cleans it as usual. Maybe a real good water change, new rocks......I don't know! He tells me it appears the very next day after cleaning I am working tonight I will investigate further. By the way the water is very clear, its just on the rocks and it just looks terrible, like its dirty! Thanks so much for trying to help me!

CindyJ

Have there been any fish deaths latley? And can you find out what the water parimeters are too?

I'm really new at this too and have had this before too. I also don't know what caused it but I took the rocks out and cleaned them with water. Maybe too much food left over?

Maybe one person is feeding them and then maybe someone else is too and doesn't realize they've already been fed.

Do you have any algea eaters too?

Hope someone can help us both and tell us how that problem happens and how it can be fixed and how to prevent it too.

Good luck!

mathas

How long has it been since the bulbs in the lighting fixture were replaced? As bulbs age, their color spectrum can shift. It's possible that your bulbs have aged enough that they're now emitting the exact wavelength(s) of light that whatever type of algae you're experiencing thrives on.

I did find this quote while poking around on Google:

I don't know how accurate that is, but it might be worth a try if you can't figure anything else out.

CindyJ

Great Idea Mathas.! So my water parimeters were probably way off then. Cause when that happened to me I didn't even know what water testing and all that was. I also have quite a bit of extra gravel so once or twice a year I take the rock out and and put a different color and i'm sure that's what I did when I had the black algea and cleaned the algea off and let them dry.

I hope some of this helps you too Frosty!!! It has helped me so Thank you both!!

Frosty

thanks to you both, i will try to take a picture tonite!

Shawnie

maybe the rocks arent made for aquariums? take one out , dry it off good, and put a tsp of vinegar on it..see if the vinegar bubbles or not..if it bubbles, get it out of the tank..if it doesnt, its ok ...just another suggestion to try

CindyJ

My rocks were(are) just aquarium gravel bought at the fish store. Great trick though for finding out which ones are good for fish or not. I learned something else! Thanks