Algae problem

I need some help please
I have the following tropical tank:
Ø 500 litter 1.5m
Ø Dolphin 1600 canister filter filled with 2stages biorings, 2 stages activated carbon and 1 stage of filter sponge.
Ø The tank has three 36w fluorescent tubes .Lightsis on from 9am to 6pm.
Ø The tank is filled with 20 tetras.
Ø Tank has been running now for one month

I am having serious problems with algae. The algae is brownand is growing everywhere even inside canister filter pipes. The algae evengrowing inside canopy. I have visited a petshop and the guy said I should maybefit UV light inside canopy or buy UV sterilizer. Would this work ?

 

Hello and welcome.

Is your tank getting direct sunlight? That's always a problem.

You should run your lights for a shorter period of time. Maybe only in the evenings or feeding time.

I'm not sure about the UV light and sterilizer. Some more experienced members will comment.

But I'm sure cutting down on your lights will help. Maybe get an algae scrapper as well.

I would also suggest you get some more bio media in your filter. Something like Seachem Matrix. It's much better than Bio balls.

 

hi there , is that the only filtration you have in the tank? i think you should consider a power head or two to increase circulation. also , search "algae" articles on this site. some of the other members have some good write ups on algae.

also , you need to include more info for other members to help you along. especially on maintenance. what water changes you do, how often . are you dosing ferts, is there co2 etc.

@Rudi http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/

he has included this link on algae. good summary on all types of algae.

hth
ashman

 

DO NOT use a uv light in the cannopy. looking directly at the uv will cause problems with ur rectena (spelling) it can cause blindness in the long run. this is very hazardus stuff.. pls be careful.

 

if you must - yea this could work.

- nope this will not work.

 

@fish101


Google Diatom algae.

This is what you are going through. Looks absolutely terrible, and very disheartening to every new aquarist out there!

DO NOT PANIC! It has occurred to 99% of us... and varies from a 2 week cycle to a few months. It is completely normal, and will slowly disappear. It has something to do with a compound (Silica I think ) that is found in new glass, and often in your substrate. (Especially is you are using Silica sand (Pool filter sand)). Again, don't panic. Maintain your weekly 20% waterchanges and over time it will subside and eventually disappear. Your Pet store is just trying to make an add-on sale... don't bother with the uv light/sterilizer.

 

Agree 100% Zoom

A UV light inside the canopy? That is almost a criminal piece of advice and could even be life threatening to you and your fish!

This LFS is just trying to make add on sales. It's a common trick, infact most wise LFS are just wating for you to come ask that question. Give it time it will go away. It is not something that will go away over night though... It takes time, one day you will forget you even had diatoms.

Just keep up with the water changes as Zoom mentioned. Clean the glass as often as you need to keep you positive : )

Here is a nice write up on UV sterilizers

 

Definitely diatoms, frequently/always appear before bio filter really up to speed. Silicates in the water....try RO unit if it persists but will go away all by itself and usually you will then get pest green algae in it's place. Algae will go once bio filter working really well.....feed filter with filter bacteria once a week always! After about 6 months the anaerobics establish sufficiently, if your filter media support this, and sort out the nitrates (NO3). Also, well planted tank will suck out the NO3 as well.

 

Oops! Forgot to mention that sand can be soaked in RO water for 5 - 7 days before use changing RO water daily.

 

Seeing that your tank is so understocked, get some Ottocinclus (min of 6) they are great with diatoms.

 

I agree with boebie, get the algae eaters they will love to snack on the soft diatoms you are experiancing, its a normal proccess and will be over before you know it.

good luck

 

Hi Ashman, thanks for that very informative link.

Regards,
Ashraf

 

I have read that the brown algae is common in new tanks (mine suffered for about 1 month, 3 months after setting up, but then vanished wihin 1 week afterwards)

After 8 months I was getting some green and BB algae, but this was due to too many nutrients in the tank. Even though it was heavily planted and double filtered. The reason was that my plants were not getting enough C02 to photosysth and grow properly. Since diffusiing C02 2 weeks ago, my plants are 'pearling' you can see oxygen bubbles coming off the leaves and their growth as exploded. This has resulted in them out competing the algae and in just 2 weeks all algae has virtual gone. I have also been advised that filters which create too much surface movement is bad as this release the C02...also this goes for air stones

I moved the outflow of my filters to just below the surface and removed the air stone and now my 02 and C02 balance is spot on.

 

Fantastic! I have also found that using Dennerle TR7 or alder cones, oak extract and the like can also eradicate algae.

 

Oak extract, I think this is similar to black water extract perhaps? I had a tank once which was set up using black water extract to mimic an Amazon environment.......looks like tea lol but was really cool and my tetras co our really stood out. The low light levels through the black water made it hard for algae to get going.

 

diatoms ? Or just overfeading with cheap food , had the same till i changed the food on my 2 foot
just IMO ,but heck i am still new here

 

@Corne - Definitely plausible. Cheap foods tend to be pooped out without much being absorbed by the fish. If you are feeding your fish heavily, then you will definitely experience some negative effects on your water quality. But then, you should also be doing regular water changes to remove excess nutrients from the tank.

But there are loads of causes for algae. Nailing down one or 2 reasons for the algae is the hard part.

 

Sean J
thanks

 

No Problem!