The Puffer Forum

So lately ive been having A HORRIBLE problem with algae.

I have a 20 Galon long fish tank right now, it has a sand substrate, and its lightly planted. I have some Wysteria in it, and some types of swards. At the moment i have an eel loach, a zebra loach, some otto cats and a rock shrimp.

I am having such a problem with algae that i don't know what i can do about it anymore.

I left the light off for a couple days, and most of the algae on the subsrate cleared up, Ive now been using the light again, and its back

Like super super bad, almost the whole tank gets covered, in a matter of not even 6 hours it starts.

I cant really vacume the substrate because its sand, but ive been cleaning off the dirt of the surface, and agitating it my self....

I don't know what to do anymore about it, its out of control, the glass gets covered, the bottom, the plants, rocks, everything.

I do regular water changes, i have enough filteration. WHAT COULD BE THE PRBLEM!

I should also add, the algae at the bottom, is almost a blue/green colour

what is your nitrate level?

eieio wrote:what is your nitrate level?

Unfortunately i don't have any testing strips maybe i should go buy some

Forget the strips, you need API liquid test kits.

nick709r wrote:

eieio wrote:what is your nitrate level?

Unfortunately i don't have any testing strips maybe i should go buy some

as PP said, get the API liquid test kits
you should have one for (at the least):
Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, and Phosphates
high Nitrates (among other things) can escalate an algae problem big time
high Phosphates can be a cause of Blue/green algae (which is actually a form of bacteria), which it sounds like what you have in your tank
this is why you need test kits, in order to monitor water quality in order to be aware of what may be causing this (and other) issues
with that info, you can make changes as necessary in order to have a healthy tank
almost all aquarium problems are the result of pollutants, and almost all of those problems can be solved with better maintenance & testing methods
also, there are a million chemicals that you can dump into your tank that the manufacturers will encourage you will solve problems such as this
don't buy into it AT ALL!

I will go out tomorrow and buy some, for now i did another water change and syphoned out the sand as best as i could without sucking it up.

I had this a few years back and the problem disappeared when I upped my filter, it wasn't the extra filter media that cleared the problem but the increase in flow around the tank.

What's your water change schedule & do you thoroughly stir the substrate before you do them?
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/lib ... aediatoms/

PufferPunk brings up a critical point - stirring the tank's substrate will help to remove excess nutrients from your tank with each water change.

Our puffers' tank is prone to algae too, if we get lax about stirring the sand prior to water changes. Our parameters are always 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates according to API's liquid tests, which we perform once per week before our water changes. For us it appears the algae is fed on the 'gunk' that settles into the sand. No gunk = no algae

While you're at it, when you get your test kit...test your tap water as well. My regional water source has high nitrates, below MCLs but, still high.

My water changes get done about 20 percent every week and a half. I bought the testing kit, and it should be delivered today.

I usually do stir up the stand, but not all of it, I have one area where the sand is higher and it's highly planted with wasteria and some swards.

I noticed when I took my syphon to that part (I squeeze the hose, so I don't suck up sand, but suck upo dirt) a few bubbles did come up.

I need to find some snails or some fish that will agitate my sand.

I have an eel loach, I'm sure he helps.

I'm looking to get some trumpet snails to help with that too. But can't find any locally, and it's to cold to mail them.

I will add, since posting this, I've been doing water changes more frequently and the problem isn't as bad

Most of us here, do 50% weekly WC.

I will start changing more water.

So I did a check of my water, everything seems to be okay.

I did a big cleaning of the tank 2 days ago, and have had the light turned off since then, today I am going to turn the light back on and see what happens!