Fishy Problems

[Lochala]

I have two questions:
1. Brown algae has taken over the tank. I scrape it off the aquarium every week but it comes back with a vengance. How do I get rid of it for good?
2. What is the optimum lighting and lightbulbs for aquarium plants?

 

[nightbreed]

I havent kept fish for years so I cant advise about the best lightbulbs etc, but whenever I had algae problems it was because of over feeding and way to much light

 

[xanadu1015]

My husband's tank had a problem with algae, we would treat the water then it would just come back. We had another tank in the same room but it wasn't hit with direct light as much as the other one and stayed clear. So we moved the tank to another room where its dimmer and so far have had success. That and we don't use stones or gravel. These can gather algae and bacteria real fast, not to mention any uneaten food. Try getting rid of stones or gravel (if you have any) and make sure there isn't any direct light on the tank. As far as proper light bulbs for aquarium plants, you could do a search and find something that could be helpful.


Laura

 

[Schlyne]

Or you could get some snails, or some algae eaters to help control the problem. Keep in mind that sometimes the algae eaters get pretty big, and snails can take over a taink

 

[moricollins]

I too have a problem with brown algae and can't for the life of me rid myself of it. as the others have said try to feed less and expose the tank to less light.

If you are using sand this may be the cause (i never had algae problems till i switched to sand).


Mori

 

[Lochala]

I do not think any algae eaters would consume it. It is crusty and sticks to every thing. I do believe I have been feeding them more then I should but that can be easily corrected. The light are standard fluorescent bulbs that came with the aquarium cover.

 

[nightbreed]

a good size Hypostomus plecostomus will eat it, those things just keep rasping away but like Schlyne says they get pretty big, cool fish though
does the tank get any direct sunlight?

 

[JonDaAzn]

My husband's tank had a problem with algae, we would treat the water then it would just come back. We had another tank in the same room but it wasn't hit with direct light as much as the other one and stayed clear. So we moved the tank to another room where its dimmer and so far have had success. That and we don't use stones or gravel. These can gather algae and bacteria real fast, not to mention any uneaten food. Try getting rid of stones or gravel (if you have any) and make sure there isn't any direct light on the tank. As far as proper light bulbs for aquarium plants, you could do a search and find something that could be helpful.


Laura

sounds like you would need a pretty powerful filter in order to have no gravel or sand, gravel usually provides a surface for beneficial bacteria to colonise

 

[Lochala]

No, it's in a rather dark room but the fluorescent light are usually on for about 12 hours. I have some java fern and Ludwigia but they are not doing well at all.

 

[xanadu1015]

We just use decorative rock formations and natural plants. The tank has stayed crystal clear and all the fish are healthy. I forget the name of the filter my husband bought, but its a type of biowheel contraption. We have algae eating fish in the tank as well. We have a platy that is getting huge, when he moves, he makes waves lol.


Laura

 

[Deliverme314]

Brown algae will come when there is a combination of not enough light, and to many nutrients not being consumed... Basically to get rid of the algae if you are not keeping a planted tank you need to dany lots of water changes to get rid of the imbalance of phosphates, nitrates, sulfate etc etc.

If you could give me your tank specs I could probobly narrow it down for you.

And for the record if your java fern is not doing well no plants will.

And you are correct that even with a pleco (regular plecos are not great at algae removal anyway) your algae will remain.

What size tank, how many watts of light, what type of filtration, what are your water params, what is your maintenace schedule and what does it consist of, how many and what kind of fish, how much and what are you feedign them etc etc. Anything else you think is pertinent.

 

[Deliverme314]

a guy over at my planted fish tank board made this INCREDIBLY useful post about algae.

http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.....cc/eve/ubb.x?a=frm&s=4006090712&f=8796060812

This is a fantastic message board by the way if you are wanting to get into planted tanks.

 

[Lochala]

Thanks Deliverme for that info!! I will be at work with the aquarium today.
It is 20 gallons, it uses one of those small Penguin filters, the lights are about 40 watts and there are two bulbs. I siphon off the mulm from thre bottom weekly and I wipe the algae off weekly too but it is persistently troublesome.
There are two Neon tetras, two pairs of Paradise fish, and an Juvenile Blue Gourami. I give them a pinch of food is the length of a thumnbail once a day. The fish seem to be healthy even though the algae is there.