pleco101

I have had a tank for about a year, right now containing one clown plecostomus and three guppies. It's a 20 gallon, and my pleco used to keep all the algae levels down, but recently he has limited himself to one side of the tank, and the algae has exploded on the other. I have two questions: first, how much algae is okay, and second, what bad things could happen with too much algae?

Tony G.

IMO algae is bad at any level. It can take over the whole tank. What kind of algae do you have? there's several types, but the most commons are Green algae, Hair algae, Diatoms.

Diatoms is mostly gotten when the aquarium is new, or it is in direct sunlight. You could get a magned with a sponge and put it on the side where the algae grows so you can wipe it. What kind of pleco do you have? The common pleco can get 18"!!

aspects

well, first things first. do not rely on plecos to get rid of algae. while they do eat algae as part of their diet, they will need to be supplimented with proper foods. (feggies, pellets, etc).
if you are having an algae problem, you need to get to the root of the problem, rather than rely on plecos to get rid of it. (over feeding, too much light, etc)

also, generally, algae is not bad for your fish. (with the exception of diatoms) most rivers and lakes have tons of algae, and it is all a part of the natural biotope. getting rid of the algae is more for the fish keeper than the fish. the only bad thing about having algae on your glass, is that it will reduce the amount of available light in the display.

pleco101

I know how big plecos can get! I have a clown pleco, won't get above five or six inches. I do give it algae tablets and other such things, and I have been scraping off algae from the glass. I tried to identify the algae, but I didn't find anything that matched it's description. It is green in color, but doesn't have any fronds or tendrils. It really doesn't stick up much at all. It's presence doesn't seem to be affecting any of the fish, but it's unsightly and a tedious thing to get rid of. One thing that does mystify me is why my pleco has limited itself to one side of the tank. Before I introduced the guppies, it adored its driftwood and hidey-hole, but ranged all over the tank. Now it pretty much stays on the other side of the tank near the filter, and doesn't go near its driftwood or that side of the tank.

Tony G.

Oh clownies are aweosme! If it is green algae, then i do not have eny experience with it. I have been told it is really hard to get rid of....
lets wait to see what other members have to say about that

aspects

i understand. this is why identifying the root problem will be much more beneficial to you.

it your tank in direct sunlight?
what kind of lights are on your tank, and how long are they on?
how often do you feed?

these will be major factors in removing algae.

you can try a 24-48hour blackout period. (no lights or food). this should help to reduce the spore reproduction in the tank.

alternatively, if it is in your budget, UV filters are quite effective ate removing algae and clearing water.

hope this hepls

pleco101

My tank is in semi-direct sunlight, and I keep my 19 watt florescent light on for twelve to fourteen hours of the day. I feed twice a day. Blackout would be quite difficult, as I have a smaller, high window with no curtain.

aspects

it may not be a domplete "blackout" exactly, but greatly reducing the amount of availible light, will help a lot.

pleco101

Would that be a temporary reduction or a perminant fix?

iloveengl

Imo, permanent IF you address the problem that started it, which seems to be too much light. One way people rid their tank of green alage is to cover it with a dark sheet for a few days (and no tank lights either) for a total blackout. The algae dies off. Reducing the tank light to ten hours (usually recommended amount anyway) and blocking sun rays should stop the problem from happening again.

pleco101

All right. I'll try reducing the number of hours I keep the tank light on.

aspects

agreed.
after the spores die off, give your tank a good cleaning. clean the decor and glass, then do a thorough waterchange and vacuuming.
after that, its a matter of prevention. if your tank is in direct sunlight, your best bet is to move the tank. if that is not an option, you will have to find another way to block the light.

pleco101

right thanks. And if anyone has any ideas about the change in my plecos habits, feel free to throw your idea out there. Also, what bad thing, if any, could happen if there is too much algae in the tank?

redlessi

As far as the plecos behavior try changing around the decorations and see what happens.

gremlin

A UV light is wonderful at getting rid of algae. I have one in my filter and I no longer get the "green pea soup" like I did the first year my pond was in the sun. If left in your tank, it could eventually grow enough to clog your filter. Another option is to add live plants to the tank - either submerged or floating or something that will only have the roots in (like a pothos). The plant will help to use up the nutrients that are feeding the algae. You say you feed twice a day - maybe drop to once a day or only feed half what you would normally feed. At least until you can figure out what is causing the algae growth. Pothos is an excellent house plant as it has a fairly low light requirement. It also does wonderful without dirt - just stick a piece in the tank and it will vine all over the place.

CHoffman

I didn't know diatoms were harmful to fish?

pleco101

I don't want to add live plants, because I have read that plecos will uproot and destroy live plants. Also, my water is relatively clear and not green at all, so I don't think i need a UV light.

aspects

the diatoms themselves are not necessarily harmful, but it is an indicator of potentially harmful water conditions.
although diatoms can reduce oxygen levels, and do produce silicate.

also, contrary to popular belief, diatoms arent actually algae