What can I do to reduce the algae build up??

[sparks42]

Hey guys, I have a question....

My tank has thuroughly washed play sand as substrate and it collects algae really fast.

It doesn't grow all over the tank...just on the sand.

I had a plecco, but he pooped too much, so he's in my community tank now.

It's just Chomper (gsp) in his brackish water in a 29 gallon (soon to be 75g...yay!)

So what can I do to reduce the algae build up???

[kxebs]

Do you know which type of algae you have? It makes a lot of difference..

Brown algae disappears after a while. Blue algae is only removable with the help of some antidotes, because it aren't really algae but bacterial.

Good filtration is the best thing! Keep your water moving over the substrate.

[sparks42]

The algae is green......and it mostly sits at the back of the tank...right underneath the filter - ?

[yunachin]

When you do your water changes, thoroughly clean your substrate out with a Python siphon. It will help control some of this algae problem and reduce the amount of waste in the substrate.

[sparks42]

you can get a siphon for sand????

[yunachin]

I use it for mine..it's a bit of a pain in the butt because you have to watch it to make sure you don't suck up your sand. Hover the siphon above the surface so as not to pull straight sand. Another method is to net the sand. This method requires a net that will allow the sand to fall back into the tank, but yet catch the detritus. If you are siphoning and you do catch some sand, give the siphon a good shake to get the sand down and if that doesn't work, pull it out of the water. It might take a couple of times, but you will get the hang of it.

[Franco]

with a python, I just make sure my faucet water isn't on very much so that there is enough suction to pick up the sand but drop it again about halfway up the tube. It makes cleaning the sand really easy especially if it is larger grain sand. It takes some practice.