rodgernapril

I have a 210 gallon tank a little over a month old. and it is starting to grow algea at a fast pace. i am fully stocked on fish we have two plecos that are rated to reach 18 inches and two mystery snails. the problem i am having is the tank is to big for their current size now. but when they get bigger they should be able to handle it. should i add more then move them into other tanks as they grow or is there something with less bio-load to help with the algea?
thanks Rodger

rodgernapril

Sorry my tank info is not saveing for some reason

Gunnie

What color is the algae, and how much and often do you do water changes?

rodgernapril

Green and 25-50% ever two days my bio-filter is not quite there yet

susitna-flower

HI ROGERNAPRIL, HA! I'M APRIL TOO! WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

You know Mike was doing some upgrading today....so some things have to get worked out, and we will be able to be more efficient about our help....but maybe you won't mind answering some questions on your tank.

You say it has been up and running for a month and is fully stocked?

Did you do anything to help establish the nitrogen cycle?

Are you taking water test readings? If so what are the readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?

Usually the algae doesn't start growing this fast, and certainly not overtaking a tank, which leads me to believe several things....you have really high phosphates, or nitrate. And you may have too much light.

Is your tank near a window? How long are your lights on?

Exactly what fish are in your tank? Even with a 210 gallon tank I wouldn't have common plecoes.....BECAUSE they produce HUGE waste. Yes they eat algae, but so do Bristlenose Plecoes....You could have 4 of these, they would eat all the algae, and not contribute 1/2 the waste the common does. The waste then turns around and means more nitrate and more food for algae.

Lastly what filtration are you using?

With some answers we should be able to give you some suggestions.

Shawnie

210 gallons..holy moly my dream tank!!!!!! and maybe its the new tank brownish green algae...i cant remember what its called...hmmmm

rodgernapril

susitna-flower
Platy 3
Black Skirt Tetre 4
Neon Tetre 7
Guppy 3
Gold Gourami 2
Opline Gourami 2
Black Neon Tetre 8
Glofish 5
Bala Shark 6
Pictus Cat 2
Cory Cat 1
Plecostmus 2

Yes I cycled with cycle I did add the fish to fast. ammonia is 0. nitrite are .25 right now they spike ever two days or so i do a 25 - 50% water change at that time. nitrate 10
There is a window near but the sun shines on the other wall but i keep the shade closed most of the time and the filter is Fluval FX5 canister rated up to 400 g


Shawnie 210 is nice but I wish I would have go the 180 same width and height but 6inchs shorter algae is bright green

Shawnie

would love to see a pic sometime...id give anything to have a tank like that...wow great size!

susitna-flower

The very first thing I have to point out. The product 'Cycle' does NOT work to truly cycle your tank with the right bacteria that will keep a healthy nitrogen cycle going. If you read carefully on the container, it talks about adding after every water change....Do you REALLY want to have to buy that for the rest of the time you own your tank? Use cycle and that is what happens....just see, if you stop, your tank will go through another "cycle" with a spike in ammonia, then nitrite.....

There is an interesting article in this new May fishlore magazine detailing the product Turbo 700 which does have the correct bacteria, as well as the product we have recommended for a long time, bio-spira.....Either could be added to your tank now and you would not suffer the problems with a fully (actually overstocked) tank....Yes I counted up your inches and they total around 225! They will provide the proper bacteria to complete the nitrogen cycle and you don't have to continue feeding your tank bacteria....it colonizes the filter and gravel....

You also only have one lonely Cory, and they should be in schoals of 3 -5 AT LEAST!

That said, you have not said how many hours a day you keep your lights on, but I can tell you the wattage you have is enough to grow plants, and you have not stated you have plants, so they are growing algae instead.....try turning them off except JUST when you want to watch the fish. For the short term I would say turn them off except for 3 or 4 hours twice a day....MAXIMUM 10 total hours a day.

So you have two big problems. Your tank isn't cycled, and it is overstocked. The algae seems to be a problem, but cut the lights and it should take care of it.

You might also be over feeding.......just feed as much as it takes your fish to clean up in 2 minutes, twice a day. Fast them one day a week, and DON'T count the bottom feeders in your putting food out unless your tank is sparkling clean and no algae......Good Luck

rodgernapril

I have some plants but not near enough I will look for those products and try one.
I had my count 212 total inchs but i've notice each site i go to has a diffrent max size for fish I got thinking about the balas thou and 6 full grown Balas is going to be a bit much even for a tank this size I may have to split them up, and the plecos and cats are even bigger!
I will also cut down on light time to I'm giving it 10 - 12 hours now

Thanks for your time Rodger