Purple/black algae
- bertie 83
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Purple/black algae
Hi guys i seem to have some sort of algae bloom. It looks kinda purple and wondering best way to stop it. !49 gallon tank Am 0, nitri 0, nitrate >10. 3 or 4 x weekly 30% w/c. Occupants 1x lineatus, 2x cae and a mix of rasporas. I know they should not be in there but he ignores them (it is temporary) Any ideas how to rid this algae?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
Oh i forgot to add gets 6 hrs lights per day
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- sevenyearnight
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Re: Purple/black algae
Does it smell really odd? Rub it between your fingers, if it's cyano, it will smell really strangely.

- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
Give me 2 secs will see
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
Smells like dirt
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
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- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
Re: Purple/black algae
Ok, probably just algae then. Cyano smells really odd, but algae tends to just smell earthy. Are there any plants in this tank? Do you happen to know your phosphate levels? What is the temperature? At only 6 hours, you could most likely rule out excessive light.

- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
Yes have plenty of plants. Temp at 25.8c . Dont know phosphate atm. Can get checked tho. This is very strange as i am used to a bit of green algae appearing this time of year. However it is a bad summer and have not seen this before
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
I actuaally dont dose. My plants are about 4 yrs old and as they grow ok i dont dose, my bad. As long as they have been fine i havent bothered with supplements.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
That was nind of a lie, i do add alittle flourish here and there but not much and quite rarely, if that makes sense
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
Perhaps if i follow the instructions it may help lol. So if i dose my plants better will it not encourage algae?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
Re: Purple/black algae
Usually algae will grow when the plants are under fertilized. If they don't have their building blocks to grow, the algae will take advantage of that.
Have you been doing more water changes than normal? That might be depleting your nutrients that your plants need.
Have you been doing more water changes than normal? That might be depleting your nutrients that your plants need.

- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
My waterchanges have been fairly standard. Maybe one or two extra recently. Will up fertiliser and go from there. Thanks seven
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
- bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: Purple/black algae
My waterchanges have been fairly standard. Maybe one or two extra recently. Will up fertiliser and go from there. Thanks seven
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly