Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bmarine on September 17, 2013, 06:26:15 PM
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I'm getting some green algae in my 125 gallon on my rocks, and my bn pleco isnt doing anything for it. The lights are only on 6 hours a day and there is no direct sunlight coming in. Any ideas on how to fight it?
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lower the nitrates in your tank, or scrub it off would be my suggestions.
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No fish to scrape it off and eat it?
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I suppose if your algae eater is a bit more hungry he may be a bit more thorough, you could add another bnp.
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What lighting are you using?
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A 48" T-5 HO Dual bulb. It has a whitish bulb and a pink bulb in it. And i havent fed the algae eater yet so he should be hungry!
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pink bulb is probably a gro-light, switching it out for a whiter light may help.
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Don't fight it, embrace it & encourage it.
Yes, as I've said many times... I like algae to cover my decor & back of my tanks.
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Other than switching out the bulb, you can also do water changes more frequently to reduce the nitrates in your tank.
With holey rock, I've eliminated hard to get to algae by soaking the rock in a bucket of water with some bleach added. Let it sit for a day or so and they rock should look white again. I then rinse the rock thoroughly and let it sit for a little while in fresh water before putting it back in the tank.
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Haha really? Why? I just feel like it makes the back of my tank so dirty! Would an oto fight the algae?
Its gotten worse in the past few days.
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We only clean a viewing glass also.
Good for the fish
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Yep, I like my show tanks to look natural .
Breeding tanks are a different story tho.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/Regalblue/20130917_212113_wm.jpg)
Look at all that delicious algae. :P
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Haha really? Why? I just feel like it makes the back of my tank so dirty! Would an oto fight the algae?
Its gotten worse in the past few days.
There are a couple of ways to look at it, instead of being "Dirty"...
Algae is basically a plant. And Aquatic Plants consume Phosphates and Nitrates. And Convert CO2 in O2... So letting it grow and "Embracing it" as Blair so wisely put it will actually help the tank overall in the long run...
BUT, if you absolutely can't stand it there is a simple setup that is called an "Algae and Phosphate Scrubber"...
I consists of covered tub that has constant light shinning on egg crate (aka: light diffuser) in it fixed Vertically. Water from the tank is Either pumped or drained into it Continually by those that ends with a Piece of PVC will a line of holes drilled in it facing downward over and fixed at the top of the egg crate. Then Pumped (if tub is lower than tank) or Drained (if tub is above the tank) back to the Tank.
What happens is the algae grows on the egg crate inside the tub instead of inside the tank. All that you have to do is clean the egg crate off when it gets to covered in algae... Which that time frame will depend on tanks environmental factors (i.e. stock level, WC routine, feeding regimen, etc...)
OR Buy some Purigen!
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I have one mid sized BNP in my 180, he keeps about half of the rocks 90% free of algae...I only clean the viewing glass as well. I also like the more natural look of rocks covered in algae, also my labs and some of my haps and peacocks graze on the algae.
(http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r637/eltrafan/2013-09-17_21-28-45_702_zpsa8e8e02e.jpg) He got a late start, he's working his way across the tank, each day another rock loses about 40% of it's algae.
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Gotcha. So even that green algae is good? I have it all over in my 55 gallon, and it is just really hard and takes a lot of effort to scrape off the glass! And my plec doesnt eat it either.
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Gotcha. So even that green algae is good? I have it all over in my 55 gallon, and it is just really hard and takes a lot of effort to scrape off the glass! And my plec doesnt eat it either.
If u have a common pleco there not really algae eaters. 'common' bristlenose are great algae eaters. bristlenose pleco are omnivore that needs addition food in the tank other than algae Veggies, algae wafers and occasional meat should be provided.
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Yeah i have a bristlenose, and i do feed him other stuff, but he just doesnt eat my green algae
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I keep a clown pleco in my 55 gallon and he does a great job of cleaning up a good amount of algae. Don't see him much because he's so small but he's pretty cool looking when you do see him
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it isn't the algae so much that's good (unless you're feeding herbivores), it's the things that live in and on the algae that the fish eat. and as you can see, some people find algae attractive thinking it makes your tank look just a little more natural.
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Gotcha. So even that green algae is good? I have it all over in my 55 gallon, and it is just really hard and takes a lot of effort to scrape off the glass! And my plec doesnt eat it either.
Yes, Green algae is a good sign about your average water parameters. The hard stuff like that can be a nuisance and I generally just use an algae scraper on that. but the green on the rocks I would leave. Hair algea is a good source of fiber as well as other things that include: chlorophyll and pigments, omega-3 fatty acids (EPA) And (DHA)....
So don't understand that Algae is healthy in many ways. I think its a widely misunderstood organism and is considered taboo for many.
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Don't fight it, embrace it & encourage it.
Yes, as I've said many times... I like algae to cover my decor & back of my tanks.
I'm with Blair! I'm tryin to grow some. Mostly what I get is the ugly brown stuff
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Hmm. So just let the fish deal with it and dont clean it on my own?
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Yeah I clean the viewing glass and I have a longfin BNP in there cause he looks cool but I just let the stuff grow...I'm watching my haps and peacocks nibble on the stuff as I type.