Have been a while and I still have algae

Hello guys
Have been like 2 months since I wrote about my problem with diatoms.
I invested a lot of time cleaning and wiping the glass and the rocks.
I did what was told:
1 clean the glass and rocks each week
2 50% water change weekly
3 clean the canister filter monthly in the same water of the tank (no tap water) and not changing the sponges media, just rinse It.
I was looking on the internet and the diatoms eat the nutrients on the water so I let the brown diatoms on the rocks for 2 weeks and it become green.
Now I have green algae on parts of the rock and diatoms on the glass. I keep scrubbing the glass to take out the diatoms but I let the rocks with the algae because it’s hard to clean.
I haven’t tested the parameters of the water this month because they where stable and the fish, shrimp and plants are fine, they grown much and the shrimp and plants population is growing fast by their own.
I really want to get rid of the green algae and diatoms.
Please I some help

 

You can't have a fish tank and not expect some algae, even in established tanks. I would get a nerite snail. If one doesn't do the job, add another.

 

You can't have a fish tank and not expect some algae, even in established tanks. I would get a nerite snail. If one doesn't do the job, add another.

Do the Nerite snail reproduce a lot? I don’t really like snails but if it fix the problem. Can I have the nerite with cherry shrimp?

 

Do the Nerite snail reproduce a lot? I don’t really like snails but if it fix the problem. Can I have the nerite with cherry shrimp?

No, nerites can't successfully reproduce in freshwater (though they might lay eggs). Yes, you can have nerite snails with cherry shrimp.

 

Do the Nerite snail reproduce a lot? I don’t really like snails but if it fix the problem. Can I have the nerite with cherry shrimp?

Nerite snails will only reproduce in brackish water. You may get annoyed by the eggs they leave around though, but they're small.
Yes, you can keep nerite snails and cherry shrimp together.

 

Wow, beautiful aquarium! I love it with just the algae on the rocks that looks so cool! Seiryu stone I’m guessing? I had a similar algae issue when starting my shrimp tank maybe 2 years ago. How new is the aquarium? I tried all sorts of fixes but it just took maybe 8 months of the aquarium becoming really established until the algae just stopped growing back once I scraped it. Now I have none. I tried a Nerite snail too but didn’t like the eggs it layed so ended up getting rid of it.

 

Nerite snails will only reproduce in brackish water. You may get annoyed by the eggs they leave around though, but they're small.
Yes, you can keep nerite snails and cherry shrimp together.

Thanks so much, I was looking info on google about the nerite, I think is not the best choice for me because of the egg, but I really appreciate your help!

 

Wow, beautiful aquarium! I love it with just the algae on the rocks that looks so cool! Seiryu stone I’m guessing? I had a similar algae issue when starting my shrimp tank maybe 2 years ago. How new is the aquarium? I tried all sorts of fixes but it just took maybe 8 months of the aquarium becoming really established until the algae just stopped growing back once I scraped it. Now I have none. I tried a Nerite snail too but didn’t like the eggs it layed so ended up getting rid of it.

Thanks so much !!! Yes those are Seiryu stones. The aquarium is almost 4 months old, based on your experience I should wait 4 months more. I have the same opinion about the eggs of the nerite snails.
I was thinking, every time I do a water change I use 1 ml of Seachem prime on each bucket so it’s 2ml each water change. Could this in some way help the algae?
In the other hand I feed fish twice at day but a tiny bit each time and shrimps every other day. I’m afraid of cut the food because I did it 1 time and saw a danio chasing a shrimp.
Which could be the cause of the algae?
Some articles said could be the light. How do I know what amount of light is good or not?
I was planning on buy salvinia but I’m not sure about it.

 

Its about light and nutrient balance... you dont have enough plants to outcompete the algae so the algae has plenty of food... algae is basically a microscopic green plant so it "eats" what your other plants eat... you could try adding some amazon frogbit in there as it is well known for absorbing heavy nutrients from the water column and if you're comfortable with it maybe some more plants below the water

 

How long are the lights on per day? When I was having algae issues, it was right after I got new lights. I was also running them for 10 hours per day. Cutting them back to 6 hours was something that helped me as well. The main thing is patience because with every change you make, you’ll have to wait months to see a difference...

 

Its about light and nutrient balance... you dont have enough plants to outcompete the algae so the algae has plenty of food... algae is basically a microscopic green plant so it "eats" what your other plants eat... you could try adding some amazon frogbit in there as it is well known for absorbing heavy nutrients from the water column and if you're comfortable with it maybe some more plants below the water

Makes sense! Definitely I will get some plants ! Thanks so much

 

How long are the lights on per day? When I was having algae issues, it was right after I got new lights. I was also running them for 10 hours per day. Cutting them back to 6 hours was something that helped me as well. The main thing is patience because with every change you make, you’ll have to wait months to see a difference...

They are on 8h. If I add more plants I should cut it to 6h?

 

They are on 8h. If I add more plants I should cut it to 6h?

You should cut it to 6h and only raise it once you add more plants. I like to do a split light cycle where I have half of the hours in the morning and the other half at night. Even after you add more plants, there is no need to raise the time, especially if your algae is still present, but you can if you feel like your plants are benefiting from it more than the algae.

 

Ok I will do that! Thanks so much

 

I have two Nerites in my tank, they work wonders on any algae that tries to grow on my rocks or driftwood. They laid eggs for the first time today. They're super small and inobtrusive, IMHO.

 

I have two Nerites in my tank, they work wonders on any algae that tries to grow on my rocks or driftwood. They laid eggs for the first time today. They're super small and inobtrusive, IMHO.

Thanks for your help! In deed the eggs are tiny. I bought a few plants and reduce the light hours, if doesn’t work they I will add nerites.

 

I think the algae in your pictures is lovely and natural looking. It is beautiful. Algae is just a less formal plant, but still a plant.

As others have said, if you just add more plants, or just wait for your plants to grow, they will eventually suppress the algae. Plants do that.

 

Thanks so much! A few people that came to my house told me that they like the “moss” on the rocks lol. I was worried that the algae may cause some damage, But looks like they don’t. In a few days I should have duckweed.

 

The moss is lovely. As the plants grow the algae is reduced. You could add a Siamese algae eater too. He would enjoy munching on your 'moss' and perhaps keep the balance more to your liking.

 

The moss is lovely. As the plants grow the algae is reduced. You could add a Siamese algae eater too. He would enjoy munching on your 'moss' and perhaps keep the balance more to your liking.

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Thanks so much for the advice. I will check that fish.

 

In theory you could add a bristle nose pleco but only 1. 2 would be stretching it but if you were to get 2 they would have to be female. In my opinion the best bristle nose is Blue eyed lemon pleco.

 

In theory you could add a bristle nose pleco but only 1. 2 would be stretching it but if you were to get 2 they would have to be female. In my opinion the best bristle nose is Blue eyed lemon pleco.

I have a 20 gallons tank with 12 fish and a lot of Cherry shrimps, it will fit on my tank?

 

You would have to get a smaller species of Bristle nose, one that gets 3-5 inches.

 

You would have to get a smaller species of Bristle nose, one that gets 3-5 inches.

I will check . Thanks