Annoying Algae

My 20 long has been established for a year. Conditions are the normal 0,0, and .20, I just tested. My lights are off almost all the time as the tank is next to the window, and if they go on it's night time. I scrub down the sides every week with an algae scrubber, but I've had this new, annoying type of algae in there. It's like little hairy strands. Some of these strands are long and thin, almost like hair and extend in between plants. The others are these short little green strands that grow in between my substrate. I've been pulling out strands and using the gravel vac to try to remove them, but it seems to keep coming back. How can I get rid of this?

 

HI there Matt,

When I first started my first aquarium I was experiencing the same problem as you. One of the best things you can do is get a couple of fish that eat algae. I put 2 bristlenose catfish in my aquarium and they cleaned the tank beautifully. Also maybe try and complete water changes more often and before putting the water in leave the water in your treating bucket for a day or two extra just so that it can sit(I'm not sure why you do this but it helps a lot). Hope it all works out fine

 

HI there Matt,

When I first started my first aquarium I was experiencing the same problem as you. One of the best things you can do is get a couple of fish that eat algae. I put 2 bristlenose catfish in my aquarium and they cleaned the tank beautifully. Also maybe try and complete water changes more often and before putting the water in leave the water in your treating bucket for a day or two extra just so that it can sit(I'm not sure why you do this but it helps a lot). Hope it all works out fine

I am just slightly overstocked already and do a 25% change a week. I don't think more water changes will help this.

 

Do you currently have any algae eating fish?

 

Do you currently have any algae eating fish?

No, I do not. Algae eaters don't magically fix your problems anyway. They can help you control it, but they are not a solution.

 

Perhaps you have too much light coming through. Since they are by the window and get light during the day. Then you turn it on at night.

I think they are exposed to too much light. Perhaps shade them from the light during the day and light at night or vice versa. That might help out a little.

 

Perhaps you have too much light coming through. Since they are by the window and get light during the day. Then you turn it on at night.

I think they are exposed to too much light. Perhaps shade them from the light during the day and light at night or vice versa. That might help out a little.

I rarely turn it on, even at night. I'll only turn it on at night if it was cloudy all day or something like that. I usually close the shades but the sun seeps in through the sides, it's crazy.

 

I rarely turn it on, even at night. I'll only turn it on at night if it was cloudy all day or something like that. I usually close the shades but the sun seeps in through the sides, it's crazy.

A little bit of natural sunlight will go a long way, so even with the blinds closed your tank might be getting too much. Is this tank planted? If so, maybe start/increase CO2 or Excel? If not, throwing in a few easy floating or stem plants to compete for the resources the algae is currently using might help. You could look into a few Amano shrimp if you want a little help cleaning it up without tipping your bioload into the red.

 

A little bit of natural sunlight will go a long way, so even with the blinds closed your tank might be getting too much. Is this tank planted? If so, maybe start/increase CO2 or Excel? If not, throwing in a few easy floating or stem plants to compete for the resources the algae is currently using might help. You could look into a few Amano shrimp if you want a little help cleaning it up without tipping your bioload into the red.

Very lightly planted. Been looking into Amanos, but worried my Bolivian ram would hunt them.

 

Very lightly planted. Been looking into Amanos, but worried my Bolivian ram would hunt them.

I would probably try adding a few more plants, then. Fast growing water column feeders would probably be best. Short of moving the tank or blacking out that window, you're probably not going to be able to do much to control the amount of light the tank gets, and that sounds like the root of the problem. On the bright side, new plants could add cover for your possible future shrimp. I don't have any experience with Rams, but Amamos are a decent sized shrimp with natural coloring, so they would have better luck than something like a cherry shrimp.

 

I would probably try adding a few more plants, then. Fast growing water column feeders would probably be best. Short of moving the tank or blacking out that window, you're probably not going to be able to do much to control the amount of light the tank gets, and that sounds like the root of the problem. On the bright side, new plants could add cover for your possible future shrimp. I don't have any experience with Rams, but Amamos are a decent sized shrimp with natural coloring, so they would have better luck than something like a cherry shrimp.

I've had Amanos in other tanks, I like them a lot. My ram's pretty chill, but he's not happy when someone goes near his log. He only chases, but I don't know what he'd do if he caught a shrimp. I'm meaning to get some more plantss, I just lost a java fern. Probably add a few more too. I have a micro sword, anubias nana, and some temples. Any suggestions? And moving the tank/blacking out the window is not an option.

 

I've had Amanos in other tanks, I like them a lot. My ram's pretty chill, but he's not happy when someone goes near his log. He only chases, but I don't know what he'd do if he caught a shrimp. I'm meaning to get some more plantss, I just lost a java fern. Probably add a few more too. I have a micro sword, anubias nana, and some temples. Any suggestions? And moving the tank/blacking out the window is not an option.

I love Water Sprite and Brazilian Pennywort, which grow quickly and are pretty easy to care for. Water Wisteria and Hornwort are also good. Surface floating plants like Frog Bit or Water Lettuce will do the job, but the level of surface agitation has to be taken into account.

You could also try adding some Pothos cuttings to your filter, or suction cup a few so they drape out of the tank on the side that faces the window. It would pull nutrients out of the water and the broad leaves would help block some of the sunlight.

 

I love Water Sprite and Brazilian Pennywort, which grow quickly and are pretty easy to care for. Water Wisteria and Hornwort are also good. Surface floating plants like Frog Bit or Water Lettuce will do the job, but the level of surface agitation has to be taken into account.

You could also try adding some Pothos cuttings to your filter, or suction cup a few so they drape out of the tank on the side that faces the window. It would pull nutrients out of the water and the broad leaves would help block some of the sunlight.

Thanks! I'm going to go to PetSmart tomorrow and look for some water wisteria, java ferns, and Amanos now. I know they carry them, just a matter if they're in stock or not.