ALGAE - how to keep it away

16 posts • Page 1 of 2

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


adehaan86
 
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:38 am

ALGAE - how to keep it away

by adehaan86

I have bad green hair Algae problems and I mean bad. I just started running Phos Zorb? (Phosphate remover)

I was wondering any ways to cut down on this. I got newer T12 bulbs from lowes hardware. I have 2.9 WPG. I run it about 11 hours of lighting a day(Use to be 8 hours.)

It's not in direct sun light. And it's making me made

Help!?!?


CedricAndCandy7566
 
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:02 am

by CedricAndCandy7566

Some algae feeds on nitrates in the water...how are your nitrate levels?
Perhaps cut down feeding as well...?
Apart from that you seem to have done all you can - do you use co2?


adehaan86
 
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:38 am

by adehaan86

I just started with CO2 , I do not have a test for nitrate.

The feeding is VERY low as i only have like 5 fish in a 55 gallon.


CedricAndCandy7566
 
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:02 am

by CedricAndCandy7566

A test for nitrates would probably be a helpful thing for you to have, but I guess it is not essential. If your nitrates did test high, the first thing you would do about it would be a water change so perhaps increase water changes for a while and see if it helps...(My nitrates are reading a little high lately and I have now increased my water changes from weekly to bi-weekly and this has kept the levels down while I try and work out why they are high in the first place)

Also I was recently informed by dizzcat that co2 helps with algea because the plants use the nutrients up and there is no excess for the algae to feed off (...perhaps dizzcat can confirm?!) Maybe you'll see improvement soon as the effect of using co2 becomes evident.


Tmercier834747
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

by Tmercier834747

If inverts are an option and your other methods aren't working - Amano Shrimp. I got a crew of 8 awhile back for my 16 before I started running CO2 and no carbon and they wiped the hair algae out in days.


adehaan86
 
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:38 am

by adehaan86

Tmercier83 , They safe for planted tanks? and how many hours a day you run your light??


serpaepleco
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:42 pm

by serpaepleco

You could get a plecostomus.


Tmercier834747
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

by Tmercier834747

Amanos are perfectly safe, as long as there aren't fish large enough to eat them...

My 30 is lit 12 hours a day and receives 2.5wpg and my 16 is lit 10 hours and receives 3.75wpg. I only run co2 on the 16.

Plecos to the best of my knowledge will of course eat algae but like most algae-eating fish won't touch hair algae.


adehaan86
 
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:38 am

by adehaan86

Will Ghost shrimp just as good?


Tmercier834747
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

by Tmercier834747

unfortunately, no. Ghost shrimp diets are limited to that of a bottom scavenger. Most any shrimp will eat like this if no algae or java moss are present to feed off of, but the amanos are most specifically the best all around algae eating shrimp you'll find.

In reference to the other thread, I thought I'd mention they're also generally cheaper than cherry reds/crystal reds/bumblebee shrimp, and live longer.

Although they can look rather bland at first glance they actually have very nice color to them.

They also go under the name Japonica and the LFS I buy them from call them (ironically) algae-eating shrimp. Some may even refer to them as ''cleaner'' shrimp..though I'm not sure why any LFS would label something so vaguely unless they were hoping to confuse the consumer.

ALGAE - how to keep it away

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