chuckyduck

My swordtail died a while ago and I didn't realize it since the body was hidden behind an ornament. After I found him, I removed him immediately but it must have been a few days before I spotted him. Now I'm having problems with an algae bloom causing my aquarium water to look like pea soup. Water changes don't do much good because the green algae keeps coming back.

I've read that blocking all light from the aquarium for 3-5 days is effective at getting rid of this type of algae. I have had my 24 gallon Nano-Cube covered with towels for the past 30 hours. In the tank, I have 1 red tail shark, 2 platies, 1 neon tetra, 1 african dwarf frog, 1 peacock eel, and 1 stick of bamboo. I know that fish can go several days without food, and I fed them right before covering the tank. Should I just feed them at night with the lights out? And, how will I know when to let light back into the tank? Should I keep the tank covered for 5 days and no sooner? Should I do anything differently after I uncover the tank (I usually have the aquarium lights timed to go on 8 hours a day)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!

covering the tank for 3-5 days usually does it...run some fresh carbon in the filter also and that helps a ton (remove it after tho) ...feed very sparingly in that time frame...a good water change after and a clean carbon cartridge should do the trick...

finding out why the algae bloom occurred will help too...the dead fish could have caused it but more likely over feeding/ overstocked/ direct or indirect sunlight on the tank, too high of wattage for the size tank you have, are some of them....do any apply?

goodluck and I hope things look up soon!

chuckyduck

Currently, my aquarium gets some sunlight since I have a plant next to it. After I get rid of the algae, I plan on removing everything from the tank and moving it to a different spot in the room so it won't get any sunlight from my window. So, the tank will soon get a major water change. Thanks for the advice Shawnie!

Shawnie

when moving it, dont clean it totally...the beneficial bacteria needed for the tank is in your filter media, decorations, and subtrate...usually after the black out, you can just do a good water change and vacuum to clean things up a bit...goodluck with things!

agabr123

welcome to fishlore!

great advice from shawnie, definitely make sure that when you move it, you keep the filter media wet and all of the decorations and substrate wet. the easiest way is to keep the dirty water in a bucket (the water you remove from the tank) during a water change, put the decorations and filter media in there and leave at least an inch or two of water on the bottom of the tank. that will keep everything wet so the bacteria doesn't die

chuckyduck

Great ideas! I will just put the gravel and filter media in a bucket with some of the dirty aquarium water before I move the tank. I might just leave the gravel in the tank with some water and have my dad help me lift the tank. That will probably save some time and energy. I just can't wait to see my fish again (and my 10 year old cat feels the same way).

chuckyduck

I uncovered and moved my tank today. Sadly, my neon tetra did not survive the pea soup attack. (I wish neon tetras weren't so sensitive to environmental changes.) The rest of my fish seem happy and healthy though. I just hope that the green algae doesn't return.

agabr123

i'm sorry you lost him

grannypammy2j2

I got rid of the algae bloom that started in November and it's not been back. I tried the daily water change of 5 gallons a day for 5 days using my tap water, I covered the tank for 3 days, I wiped down the sides, I used water clarifiers, and oher additives guaranteeing a better healthier tank.....and The Bloom would be back within 3 days. I researched for HOURS, days, and months about what to do. I listened to audio streams at work and learned I should STOP using bottled water. ***everything I read said, phosphates feed algae....and it's in tap water***** so what was up with this conflicting info? Finally, in desperation I resorted to a chemical to kill it......(I am so ashamed, and syphoned that out immediately.) Then one day I thought about how I use a "flour sack" white cotton dish towel to clear my home-made wine before bottling it. SO That's what I did. First I changed out 6 gallons of water and replaced it with dechorinated tap water. THEN I syphoned all that floating alGAE water from that 30 gall tank through a cotton dish towel into a 5 gallon pail and put it right back in the aquarium. I did this 7 times. The Next Day, the tank was clear and the algae was gone or dead and going into the filter!!!!!!!!! that was about 6 weeks ago and it's been clear since! I DID syphon the water through the cotten dish towel about 3 times after doing a water change the first 4 weeks just to be safe. And each time there was less "debris". NOTE: DO NOT USE WATER CLARIFIERS.....IT'S HARD ON THE FISH, THE FILTERS, AND YOUR BIO SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE IT CREATES THE BLOOM!

I also am now using filter pads that help eliminate phosphates and ammonia. The Penguin bio-wheel filer was SO clogged with algae that it's not even turning anymore and I am ordering a differant wheel. I DID add another HOB filter Aqua-Clear 20 because of the better bio action and I can adjust the flow.....it's one I had for a smaller tank.....I luv this filter - great bio chemistry, easy change, quiet, flow adjusting.

I have two very large fancy goldfish and two corey's in this tank.