Algae on gravel.

I have quite a bit of algae in the tank and there is a lot on the gravel. I have been cleaning the rocks and the glass. My gravel cleaner doesn't seem to clean the algae off, just gets all the dirty things out of it.

How do I clean the gravel? ???
I was thinking about getting some algae eaters, but I think my tankis pretty stocked.
What should I do?

Thanks

Gwenz

 

You don't have any algae eaters in your tank? If you don't, your tank will eventually be overrun by algae (unless you have a lot of plants that will effectively compete with algae for nutrients, or unless you don't leave your aquarium light on for long periods).

In my 30 gallon tank I don't do anything with the gravel except weekly vacuum cleanings. There is not a speck of algae on my gravel, nor on my aquarium glass. I believe this is thanks to my algae eater. I see him constantly scavenge the bottom and the walls of my tank. Because he's disturbing the gravel constantly, he's preventing algae from growing there. Or maybe he's just eating whatever the algae might have grown on the gravel.

I'd say the best solution for you would be to get a suitable for your tank algae eater. Otherwise you'll have to be cleaning the aquarium glass constantly, AND your gravel. Though I don't think you'll be able to keep the gravel perfectly clean this way.

In my 10 gallon tank, where I have baby angelfish, I don't keep any algae eaters for the safety of my fish. In that tank, I have to clean the gravel and the glass because green algae grow on them regularly. This proves once again that algae eaters are effective: in my 10 gallon baby angelfish tank with no algae eaters there is an algae problem; and in my 30 gallon tank with just one algae eater I never have to clean the tank glass or the gravel because of algal growth. The little guy takes care of everything for me, lol.

P.S. In my 10 gallon tank, even though I clean the gravel regularly, there is always some algae left on it. It's impossible to thoroughly clean it inside the tank - you'd have to take it out to do this. But it will only be a matter of time when algae grows on that gravel again, once you put it back in. So once again, you need an algae eater.

 

You could get a couple of pitbull plecos. They stay pretty small and love to roll gravel around in their mouth.

 

I've never heard of them before. Do I have room in my tank for another fish. IT's my 15gallon. The fish I have are in my signature.

Thanks

Gwenz

 

Your 15 gallon tank is fully stocked. If I were you, I'd add only one algae eater that does not grow large, is peaceful, and that can be by itself (not a shoaling fish). Unless ... you can find some very small algae eaters to have 2-3 of them. But really, your tank is already fully stocked. Maybe this is why you're getting so much algae - there are probably a lot of nutrients in the water from fish wastes (the more the fish, the more the wastes), that are available to algae. Whatever the fish you add to your tank, even the algae eater, you'll have to watch your water parameters and probably need more water changes. More fish always produce more wastes, thus more frequent water changes are needed.

 

Since your tank is a 15G perhaps a couple of otos would be sufficient to keep your tank and gravel clean. but at that point you will be stocked on the margin of overstocked and will have to be very vigilent about keeping the water clean. Anything larger will definitely be too big for your tank.
You could try more frequent water changes and less light to see if that helps. Algae survives on extra nutrients in the water and needs light to do it so well.
Carol

 

OK. I'll trying putting the light on for less hours, do more frequent water changes (twice a week, OK?) and see if my lfs sells otos.

Thanks

Gwenz

Do otos need to be kspt in groups?

Thanks

Gwenz

 

green X!! its awsoem and cures algae problems for a short while you can either get it in a liquid or in a ouch that you place into your filtration system that will help cut down all the nutriance that algae loves I know Aqua Clear makes some Green X filter packets can't remember any other companies that make green X

 

I live in UK. I looked for that yesterday at my lfs but they didn't have any.

Gwenz

 

Otos like company but do fine alone. I wouldn't recommend putting any sort of chemical in the tank to treat the algae. Oftentimes, chemicals cause more problems than they fix. Its best, IMO, to go with as natural a solution as possible.

 

OK maybe I'll get 2 otos or something to put in there then. Thanks Boxermom.

Gwenz

 

This post reminds me of when I was younger and thought algae was a good thing and the more the better - I never cleaned it off cos I thought it reminded the fish of their natural environment - Dad eventually convinced me that its nice to actually see the fish... hehe

 

Hey guys I am having a big problem. That is algae. They are making my tank look really bad. They are not green but brown. This is 15 gallon tank with a tinfoil barb fry. Medium lighting. They are present on the gravels. Pls help me. How should I control it. I totally don't want it. Which type of algae are these? Thank u. Some pics are attached.

 

Looks like new tank/water algae/diatom. It occurs most often in new tanks or newly reworked tanks. It has to run it's course. You can clean it, but it will probably come back until it's done.
There is more to it, but that's a quickie for you

 

No its not a new tank but its fully cleaned . 100% new water and fully cleaned gravels. How many times I have to clean it?

 

No its not a new tank but its fully cleaned . 100% new water and fully cleaned gravels. How many times I have to clean it?

Like I said "newly reworked tank", you have to let whatever is feeding its growth get eaten up.

 

Ok thank u

Which type of algae is it?

 

It is most likely "diatoms", do a search on that word, pay attention to the silica (silicate) responses.
Some of them may say to add this or that to the tank, I wouldn't, I would try and let it run it's course.
Of course, over the internet it is hard to tell, but that is probably your culprit. Good luck.

 

Thanks

Will they grow again when I clean them up?

 

Yeah, diatoms. They feed off of extra nutrients in water. It may be that your tap water has high silicates. Best way to remove it is well... To do nothing. Once the excess minerals are used up, the diatoms should begin to die off. It may also be due to overfeeding.

 

Thanx

 

After my tank upgrade ive been leaving my light on longer than I did in the old tank. Which has meant more algae! Its all over my gravel which looks.nasty as they are light purple and pink , other than keeping the lights on less, what else can stop the algae growing so quick? And how can I clean the gravel? I was thinking of adding some new gravel on top to cover the dirty bits but then obviously I need to prevent algae growth? Thanks

 

After my tank upgrade ive been leaving my light on longer than I did in the old tank. Which has meant more algae! Its all over my gravel which looks.nasty as they are light purple and pink , other than keeping the lights on less, what else can stop the algae growing so quick? And how can I clean the gravel? I was thinking of adding some new gravel on top to cover the dirty bits but then obviously I need to prevent algae growth? Thanks

What are your water parameters? Lower nitrate levels->more/ bigger water changes, Less light, more plants, vacuum and stir gravel more, increased oxygenation (bubble stone).

 

What are your water parameters? Lower nitrate levels->more/ bigger water changes, Less light, more plants, vacuum and stir gravel more, increased oxygenation (bubble stone).

0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 5 nitrate! So low, ill try getting some moss balls and reducing the light! Thank you

 

After my tank upgrade ive been leaving my light on longer than I did in the old tank. Which has meant more algae! Its all over my gravel which looks.nasty as they are light purple and pink , other than keeping the lights on less, what else can stop the algae growing so quick? And how can I clean the gravel? I was thinking of adding some new gravel on top to cover the dirty bits but then obviously I need to prevent algae growth? Thanks

HI Sarah...

Reducing the light won't help your algae issue and will over time weaken your aquatic plants. Reducing the food will help more. If you reduce the food, the more complex aquatic plants will take their share and leave the algae hungry. By starving the algae, it will eventually shrink to the point it's under better control. Algae is a very good means of telling you if you're feeding the fish too much. If algae grows too much, you're feeding too much.

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