Fish solutions for blue green algae

[eitakppurk]

I rinsed a bunch of old shells from a small 15 gallon tank that did have some blue-green algae in it and added them to the 40 gallon. I didn't think it'd catch on because I rinsed them well enough, the water parameters are good (as of this morning 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, and 5 ppm nitrate), and I don't even have the tank fully lit (only one 18 in light centered across the middle for a "dramatic affect"). I just got back from a four day meeting in Miami and was inspecting my tank this morning, and noticed there is an ever-so-slight mat forming near one of the shells. I know how fast this can get out of control and am thinking of getting a pleco to solve the problem. Except I really want to stick to the Tanganyikan theme and so was wondering if synodontis petricola are effective at consuming algae or if they only stick to detritus and such?

[Cat(fish)lady]

Petricola do not eat algae

[kodyboy]

http://www.aquariumslife.com/algae-control/blue-green-algae/
a pretty good article on blue green algae control

[eitakppurk]

Thanks kodyboy!

[kodyboy]

No problem

[olliesshop]

http://www.aquariumslife.com/algae-control/blue-green-algae/
a pretty good article on blue green algae control

Good article! ... I really didn't know what Blue Green Algae was until I read it. 

Sorry to detour the thread a little, but I was wondering what I always get in my tank after a few months.  I'm not sure if it's actually algae, though, since I haven't been able to find it on the net.  It's the light green stuff shown on the shell below.  The only way I've used to get rid of it is to take the shells/rocks out and put them in bleach for a while.  Has anyone else run across this problem before and gotten rid of it?

[eitakppurk]

That looks like the algae slime I contend with. Does it sort of peel off like a big slimy mat? When I started my first fish tank and had no idea what I was doing, I saw it forming and thought it looked cool, and within a month it literally coated 50% of my tank like a tiny aqua-golf course or something. Once I realized it was not a good thing, I found it virtually impossible to get rid of, hence my terror this time around. I think, in my case at least, since my parameters are all good that maybe the tank needs more aeration? Do you have an air pump going?

[olliesshop]

That looks like the algae slime I contend with. Does it sort of peel off like a big slimy mat? When I started my first fish tank and had no idea what I was doing, I saw it forming and thought it looked cool, and within a month it literally coated 50% of my tank like a tiny aqua-golf course or something. Once I realized it was not a good thing, I found it virtually impossible to get rid of, hence my terror this time around. I think, in my case at least, since my parameters are all good that maybe the tank needs more aeration? Do you have an air pump going?

It's really like paint out of an aerosol can and is virtually impossible to scrub off.  It not really slimy at all.  With regard to aeration, I've had a stone since I got the tank in 2011, but removed it for my redo of the tank I finished Friday.  I do have a ton of current, though, with my canister filter and powerhead.  Also, I have always wondered why I don't get the "typical" type of algae, since I have a bunch of plants and leave the lights on for 13 hours a day ... but it looks like it may be because I add SeaChem Flourish Excel, which is a fertilizer, but also helps eliminate algae.  I thought that was cool.  Maybe it even helps control Blue Green Algae?

It sure would be nice if I could keep this stubborn type of algae from starting again, though.