1. Welcome to Aquarium Space! We are a friendly online community for aquarium owners all over the world who love their tanks including their fish, reefs, corals, invertebrates and their aquatic livestock. If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to register and join our community!

ALGAE PROBLEM!

Discussion in 'Aquatic Plants & Planted Tanks' started by FishVixen, Jul 6, 2010.

Page 1 of 2
  1. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    My 55 gal NPT with 2.5 WPG is going crazy with (brown) algae. 4 SAE's and 10 snails can't keep up with it all of a sudden. Tank has been set up for 6 months. Scraped sides, turned off lights and did a 50% water change. what else can I do? 1 sword plant covered and 1 val starting. rocks and gravel covered. This stuff seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. It just started 2 days ago.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 6, 2010
    #1
  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    What are the water parameters ?

    Has anything changed with the tank lately that you know of ?
     
    Anthony, Jul 6, 2010
    #2
  3. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    0-0-5 to10. No changes within last 3 months. no new plants, deco, or fish. Temp remains at 78. I do not have a way to check phos. so not sure on that. No changes in fish coloration or eating habits.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 6, 2010
    #3
  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Humm... How long do you keep the lights running ? Is the tank getting more natural light lately by any chance ?
     
    Anthony, Jul 6, 2010
    #4
  5. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    9 hour of light per day and it's nowhere near natural light. Closet window is 5 feet away and covered.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 6, 2010
    #5
  6. James0816

    James0816 New Member

    Messages:
    1,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    How old is the setup and what type of substrate? Sounds to me like a nice outbreak of diatoms.
     
    James0816, Jul 7, 2010
    #6
  7. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    potting soil topped with pea gravel (NPT) that's been running for 6 months. Definitely diatoms! Any ideas for controlling it?
     
    FishVixen, Jul 7, 2010
    #7
  8. James0816

    James0816 New Member

    Messages:
    1,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    woops...not sure how I missed that 6 mos in the first thread....sry.

    Diatoms will eventually go away on their own. As for controlling it now, you have a couple options. You can keep everything rubbed down in the tank...they come off real easy or look at some Otos as they simply love this stuff.
     
    James0816, Jul 7, 2010
    #8
  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    going through the same thing ursi.
    I wiped the tank down, did a huge partial, added a massive sponge filter, put in new filter cartridges, and added some substrate.
    no sight of diatoms as of yet (and I know they'll probably go away eventually on their own as I tested my phosphates and know they aren't the culprit and highly doubt being it was bare bottom that silicates would be to blame?).

    But you can try Otocinclus, Seachem's PhosGuard or a Kent's Phosphate Sponge if it's driving you mad.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 7, 2010
    #9
  10. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    getting 5 oto's from James hopefully next weekend.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 7, 2010
    #10
  11. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    If you have a petsmart nearby you may wanna check them out (they typically carry them for $1.00 ea)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 7, 2010
    #11
  12. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    no car and none on bus line. Have to do aquarium shopping online.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 7, 2010
    #12
  13. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    ouch, that can get costly.
    And shiping livestock in the high heat we've been having is chancy.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 7, 2010
    #13
  14. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    He's going to hand deliver them hopefully sat. if all works out.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 7, 2010
    #14
  15. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    oh, that would be good!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 7, 2010
    #15
  16. James0816

    James0816 New Member

    Messages:
    1,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    The good thing is that u don't need to worry about phosphates 4 diatoms. While unsightly, they are good to hav around if u hav algae lovers. I try to grow them on purpose actually.
     
    James0816, Jul 7, 2010
    #16
  17. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    What can I say some people are weird! Growing diatoms. LOL

    I do understand if your raising oto's.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 7, 2010
    #17
  18. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Wish you could get out...I know you were wanting ottos and the local petsmart has them for .89cents a piece and their really nice looking. But the weather the next week + will be way to hot to ship them.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 7, 2010
    #18
  19. FishVixen

    FishVixen Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    I'll see what I can do. .89cents WOW.
     
    FishVixen, Jul 7, 2010
    #19
  20. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Ya, I picked up several for the 90g...just couldn't resist at that price.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 7, 2010
    #20
Page 1 of 2