Powered by Click2.com Dogs Cats Horses Birds Fish Other pets


Click here to make Auspet.com your default home page



  Auspet - Message Boards
  Fish and Aquarium
  Algae Help Please!

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Posted by Topic subject:   Algae Help Please!
Andrew
unregistered
posted 08-05-2002 01:47 AM           Edit/Delete Message
Hi,
I recently moved and left my tank with friends. It is just a 10 gallon tank with about 6 little fish in it, 3 of which are neons. After I retrieved it about a month later the tank, rocks and decorations are covered with green slimy algae. What is the best way to deal with this?? I scraped it off the glass and tried to wash it off the decorations but most of it would not come off. The rocks are in worse shape. What are my options?? Please respond to my e-mail address any advice you might have. nice1_ca@yahoo.com

Thank you!

Andrew

IP: Logged

Tyler
unregistered
posted 08-05-2002 01:47 AM           Edit/Delete Message
just get a plecosomus it is a algae eater it eats algae and fish waste off the walls and the bottom floor

IP: Logged

Al
unregistered
posted 08-05-2002 01:48 AM           Edit/Delete Message
keep tank away from direct sun light.

IP: Logged

LadyCat
unregistered
posted 08-21-2002 07:35 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Any of your decorations that are either plastic or glass can be bleached. One half a cup of plain bleach to about a gallon of water. Don't soak too long though or you'll take the color out of your deco. Usually 15-25 minutes is enough to get all the algae off. Make sure you rinse everything off really really well. Inside, outside, well you get the idea. Then put the deco back in the tank. Any wood or pourous materials would need to be rinsed well, let dry overnight then rinsed again before going back into your tank.

IP: Logged

Bionickoi
unregistered
posted 09-15-2002 08:09 AM           Edit/Delete Message
Do not put an algae eater such as a pleco into a ten gallon. That's too small for the fish to thrive in. And don't listen to Tyler, because they do not eat the waste (fecal matter) of the fish. No fish does that. Just cut back on your light source, leave it on for only a few hours a day. More light will only promote algae growth. Also cut back on feeding the fish to about once a day or every other day. Any uneaten food turns into food for the algae. Simple tips that don't require you to buy anything such as algae destroyers. And if you do decide to go with a product make sure you read the label. Some of the products will detroy any live plants or invertebrates you have in the tank. And if you do decide on an algae eater, look for an otocinclus. They stay small and they're constantly working.

IP: Logged

Hooben
unregistered
posted 10-09-2002 11:40 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Thats true, plecos get much too big and are overrated algae cleaners. Instead go out and buy a new scouring pad and scrub away the green!

IP: Logged

Fawn
Member

Posts: 11
From:Utah
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 12-09-2002 04:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fawn   Click Here to Email Fawn     Edit/Delete Message
Th bleach-bath works very effectively as Ladycat said. If, however, you are worried about whether or not you have rinsed your deco well enough afterward, place them into a full strength white vinegar bath and let sit for 2 minutes or so. The vinegar counteracts the bleach. Then rinse again with warm water and tada, all set! Also, whip-tailed catfish work VERY effectively for eating both green and brown algae and don't get any bigger than about 5 inches. Keep in mind that they also need other foods included in their diet as well

IP: Logged

sKaXpUnKer
Member

Posts: 74
From:Eglin AFB
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 12-30-2002 12:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for sKaXpUnKer   Click Here to Email sKaXpUnKer     Edit/Delete Message
chinese algae eaters 3 works

IP: Logged

stufit7
Member

Posts: 36
From:canada
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 03-27-2003 07:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for stufit7   Click Here to Email stufit7     Edit/Delete Message
mollies work good to!

IP: Logged

Pat McNulty
New Member

Posts: 4
From:
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 03-27-2003 08:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Pat McNulty   Click Here to Email Pat McNulty     Edit/Delete Message
i had the same problem just by crappy toothbrush and scub the rocks good, It worked for me. you can also put a sheet over the tank fo a few days to keep all light out.

IP: Logged

dcmorrow
New Member

Posts: 1
From:Antelope, CA, USA
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 03-29-2003 11:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dcmorrow   Click Here to Email dcmorrow     Edit/Delete Message
I have been going through algae problems myself and have done everything. One sure fire method is H2O2. It’s purely experimental and seems to have worked so good that I have to feed my “pleco.s” or they will starve. I used 2oz of 3% H2O2 per 20gal. I did this for a week and I have yet to see any algae return to my tank. It even has removed the algae from the nooks and crannies. It's removed all kinds of algae, spot, brown, blue-green, red, hair, etc. My plants are doing well and my fish were unaffected. Some people suggested changing the water after first use, but it’s pointless because it’s non-toxic once it breaks down. Since you have algae in your tank, it will take the brunt of the force and the fish hardly notice it’s there. Don’t go over the recommended does, and you may even consider stepping back on the dosage until you know how your plants and fish react. I heard that ottos can be sensitive to this treatment. I am currently experimenting with this.

Dosage: 1oz/10gal; 2oz/20gal; 4oz/55gal; etc. Cut dosage in half when you have ottos.

If you are interested, I can go through the scientific aspects of why this works.

H2O2 is an oxidizer. To see what is can do, wash your hands in it then rinse them off 5 minutes later. When your hands are dry, you will see dead skin and white spots on your finger tips. As the oil comes back to your hands, this observation will go away. The oxidation aspect of H2O2 is devastating to algae. Higher order living creatures have a natural defense to free radicals (O1), but bacteria and algae don't. H2O2 eventually breaks down to H2O and O2. If you have activated carbon filters, there might be further reaction making CO2, which is good for your plants.

I don't recommend using diluted bleach; it's very caustic, more so than H2O2. If you do use it, you will need to use de-chlorination, to chemically remove any remaining traces. Put 5 times recommended dosage per gallon in a container and submerge your previously rinsed object for 2 hours before putting it in your tank. Also you can dip your newly purchased plants in a diluted chlorine mixture, up to two minutes to kill all the algae before putting the plants in your tank. You will need to put the plants in the 5 times over dosage de-chlor. solution from 5 to 15 minutes before adding them to your tank. (I haven’t actually done this, because I am currently using the H2O2 treatments, which is working well.)

As far as Chinese Algae eaters, they are not recommended because they don’t do a good job and can be aggressive. There however are much better, Siamese Algae eaters which actually thrive on algae and are not aggressive at all. People get these two confused and even in the stores they are mixed up. I recommend going to a store with a good reputation and knowledgeable staff to pick out accurate and healthy specimens. I needed 6 for my 25 gal tank. These fish are hard to find in America and are more common in Europe. They cost $7US each.

[This message has been edited by dcmorrow (edited 03-30-2003).]

[This message has been edited by dcmorrow (edited 03-30-2003).]

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Auspet.com


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.45c