Algae Problems

[HillaryF]

Hello,

I have a 2.5 gallon betta tank, it’s the Aquapro aquarium dreams. Filtered, just made it planted a few weeks ago with a mosimo ball and Another plant. I had the brown algae before, but I redid the tank with clay substrate instead of gravel.

It never goes away!

 

[Faytaya]

That's a toughie...you're running a really hard to balance tank. Is the betta all you have in there? If he is, try feeding once every other day and only small amounts. I mean SMALL (like two or three blood worms small). You have a problem with too many nutrients in your tank, which means trouble with algae. Shorten the amount of time your tank is lit and if it's near a window, move it away! You can dose algae killer, but you can cause other problems doing that. Hopefully some of the more advanced fish keepers can give you more help! Good luck!

 

[HillaryF]

Hello,

Sorry how do I edit my post? I also don’t know how delete my previous replies.

Also, thank you for your reply. I’ll have to turn the light off for a few days. I had this problem before, and tried to completely restart the tank but it came back.

 

[Faytaya]

Sorry how do I edit my post? I also don’t know how delete my previous replies.

Also, thank you for your reply. I’ll have to turn the light off for a few days. I had this problem before, and tried to completely restart the tank but it came back.

Thre should be an [edit] option on the bottom left of your previous posts. As for deleting posts I don't know how yet, but if you want to manage the algae problem other plants should help. If you wanna keep it from coming back though, you're probably gonna have to seriously cut what you feed, and maybe even get a single nerite snail to help you (although this will strain a 2.5 gallon so if you aren't experienced enough I wouldn't recommend it). You're gonna have to try a variety of things to stop it growing.

 

[Rylan]

The photo of this algae looks like the brown diatoms that are common in new tank setups.

Most new tanks get them which is why I’m not surprised tearing down the tank didn’t help. It just started the whole cycle over.

It goes normally goes away on its own in a few months, though ugly. It’s harmless and can be removed by hand. Eventually it should go away

 

[Faytaya]

The photo of this algae looks like the brown diatoms that are common in new tank setups.

Most new tanks get them which is why I’m not surprised tearing down the tank didn’t help. It just started the whole cycle over.

It goes normally goes away on its own in a few months, though ugly. It’s harmless and can be removed by hand. Eventually it should go away

I didn't know that. I haven't had this problem in mine yet.

 

[JenC]

Looks like diatoms to me too. Powdery, wipes off easily?

My new 29 gallon is absolutely covered in them right now, which is unsightly, but it'll resolve itself soon. You can try manual removal as suggested but wipe it up and out of the tank, or wipe it off under a gravel vac while siphoning water out. Don't just wipe it (like with a magnetic glass cleaner) and let it float elsewhere in the tank. Or just wait it out. That's my plan.

 

[Rylan]

I didn't know that. I haven't had this problem in mine yet.

Yeah sometimes it takes a bit. I’ve noticed they tend to appear in my tanks a few months after or toward the end of establishing the nitrogen cycle.

 

[HillaryF]

Yeah sometimes it takes a bit. I’ve noticed they tend to appear in my tanks a few months after or toward the end of establishing the nitrogen cycle.

Okay thank you guys for the quick response. So I don’t have a vacuum, should I get one? The tank is so small.

 

[JenC]

Okay thank you guys for the quick response. So I don’t have a vacuum, should I get one? The tank is so small.

I would. You could clean the surface with a turkey baster but I think a siphon like this $5 will be easier and work better as you'll be able to clean in the gravel.

This video shows someone using that gravel vac to clean a betta tank. I've always liked it because it quickly shows an easy way to start the siphon.

 

[MicG]

Agree, you definitely need to vacuum the gravels if there are substrates.