Algae HELP!

Non puffer freshwater discussion. Don't tell your puffers, they'll be jealous!
nick709r
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Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

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
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eieio
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by eieio »

what is your nitrate level?
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nick709r
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

eieio wrote:what is your nitrate level?
Unfortunately i don't have any testing strips :( maybe i should go buy some
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by Pufferpunk »

Forget the strips, you need API liquid test kits.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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eieio
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by eieio »

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 plan ahead. That way, I don't have to do anything right now!"
nick709r
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

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.
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Iliveinazoo
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by Iliveinazoo »

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.
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by Pufferpunk »

What's your water change schedule & do you thoroughly stir the substrate before you do them?
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/lib ... aediatoms/
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by TOPuffers »

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 :)
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by Hillehaus »

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.
nick709r
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

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.
nick709r
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

I will add, since posting this, I've been doing water changes more frequently and the problem isn't as bad
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Pufferpunk
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Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Algae HELP!

Post by Pufferpunk »

Most of us here, do 50% weekly WC.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
nick709r
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Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 5:59 pm
Location (country): Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Re: Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

I will start changing more water.
nick709r
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Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 5:59 pm
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Re: Algae HELP!

Post by nick709r »

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!
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