Advice please - algae problem - rapid growth everywhere!!!

[Cymro Gwirion]

Hi,
Lately I have been having a great deal of trouble with algae in my tank.
Green algae will develop after a thorough cleaning within a few days - along
the gravel initially, and then all over the glass. I have a 4 foot tank. I
have 4 golden loaches in the tank and a plec, who cannot keep up with the
growth rate! I have tested my water - Ammonia - nil, Nitrate - Nil, Nitrite
- Nil. PH is 6.4 (i think this is low - would this affect the algae
growth?). I have recently also carried out a 25% water change. My light is
on now for only 6 hours a day. I do have a problem fish, that eats my
plants, and at the moment I have no plant in the tank, though these are
replenished as often as I can. I cannot seem to find the culprit fish though
- as the plants seem to disappear overnight! I mention this as I considered
the lack of plants would give more nutrition for the algae. As far as the
fish are concerned - they seem very healthy - and I have not lost one in
many many months. I am not a fan of putting chemicals in my tank, and I am
aware that there are algae destroying powders etc that I could add to my
tank. Can anyone please suggest something for me to try. Also is the low pH
a problem and how could I raise it (again without the use of chemicals if
possible)

Thanks

[Daniel Morrow]

Mid posted.

--
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"Cymro Gwirion" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> Lately I have been having a great deal of trouble with algae in my
tank.
> Green algae will develop after a thorough cleaning within a few days -
along
> the gravel initially, and then all over the glass. I have a 4 foot tank. I
> have 4 golden loaches in the tank and a plec, who cannot keep up with the
> growth rate! I have tested my water - Ammonia - nil, Nitrate - Nil,
Nitrite
> - Nil. PH is 6.4 (i think this is low - would this affect the algae
> growth?). I have recently also carried out a 25% water change. My light is
> on now for only 6 hours a day. I do have a problem fish, that eats my
> plants, and at the moment I have no plant in the tank, though these are
> replenished as often as I can. I cannot seem to find the culprit fish
though
> - as the plants seem to disappear overnight! I mention this as I
considered
> the lack of plants would give more nutrition for the algae. As far as the
> fish are concerned - they seem very healthy - and I have not lost one in
> many many months. I am not a fan of putting chemicals in my tank, and I am
> aware that there are algae destroying powders etc that I could add to my
> tank. Can anyone please suggest something for me to try. Also is the low
pH
> a problem and how could I raise it (again without the use of chemicals if
> possible)

Depends on what you mean by "chemicals". You can add pure baking soda 1/4 a
teaspoon a day to slowly raise your ph most likely (remember that fish don't
take kindly to drastic/sudden changes), this also raises your kh which aids
in ph stability (i.e. so the ph never crashes or drops fast). The experts in
here are going to have to try to help you more to try and control that
danged algae - I don't have any other advice right now as I have no other
poignant experience. Good luck and later!


>
> Thanks
>

[NetMax]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> Mid posted.
>
> --
> You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
> "Cymro Gwirion" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi,
>> Lately I have been having a great deal of trouble with algae in my
> tank.
>> Green algae will develop after a thorough cleaning within a few days -
> along
>> the gravel initially, and then all over the glass. I have a 4 foot
>> tank. I
>> have 4 golden loaches in the tank and a plec, who cannot keep up with
>> the
>> growth rate! I have tested my water - Ammonia - nil, Nitrate - Nil,
> Nitrite
>> - Nil. PH is 6.4 (i think this is low - would this affect the algae
>> growth?). I have recently also carried out a 25% water change. My
>> light is
>> on now for only 6 hours a day. I do have a problem fish, that eats my
>> plants, and at the moment I have no plant in the tank, though these
>> are
>> replenished as often as I can. I cannot seem to find the culprit fish
> though
>> - as the plants seem to disappear overnight! I mention this as I
> considered
>> the lack of plants would give more nutrition for the algae. As far as
>> the
>> fish are concerned - they seem very healthy - and I have not lost one
>> in
>> many many months. I am not a fan of putting chemicals in my tank, and
>> I am
>> aware that there are algae destroying powders etc that I could add to
>> my
>> tank. Can anyone please suggest something for me to try. Also is the
>> low
> pH
>> a problem and how could I raise it (again without the use of chemicals
>> if
>> possible)
>
> Depends on what you mean by "chemicals". You can add pure baking soda
> 1/4 a
> teaspoon a day to slowly raise your ph most likely (remember that fish
> don't
> take kindly to drastic/sudden changes), this also raises your kh which
> aids
> in ph stability (i.e. so the ph never crashes or drops fast). The
> experts in
> here are going to have to try to help you more to try and control that
> danged algae - I don't have any other advice right now as I have no
> other
> poignant experience. Good luck and later!
>
>
>>
>> Thanks


I agree. You need to start by measuring the pH of your tap water, from a
glass of water which has been left to air for 24 hours. Compare this
with your tank water. Also check your buffer (dkH). If your tap kH is
high (above 5-6dkH) and your aquarium is low (under 2dkH), then this
would explain your low pH and your algae. Remember that the bacteria in
your filter which removes ammonia are very ineffective at low pH, so your
algae is doing your biological filtration right now. This explains the
zero NO2, but you should measure your ammonium (NH4), not your ammonia
(NH3) for a more accurate look. Gravel vacuuming might be your best
friend (depending on the test results I'm asking for).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

Cymro Gwirion wrote:
> Hi,
> Lately I have been having a great deal of trouble with algae in my tank.
> Green algae will develop after a thorough cleaning within a few days - along
> the gravel initially, and then all over the glass. I have a 4 foot tank. I
> have 4 golden loaches in the tank and a plec, who cannot keep up with the
> growth rate! I have tested my water - Ammonia - nil, Nitrate - Nil, Nitrite
> - Nil. PH is 6.4 (i think this is low - would this affect the algae
> growth?). I have recently also carried out a 25% water change. My light is
> on now for only 6 hours a day. I do have a problem fish, that eats my
> plants, and at the moment I have no plant in the tank, though these are
> replenished as often as I can. I cannot seem to find the culprit fish though
> - as the plants seem to disappear overnight!

Just how big is your pleco? Big plecos can certainly make plants
disappear overnight.

I mention this as I considered
> the lack of plants would give more nutrition for the algae. As far as the
> fish are concerned - they seem very healthy - and I have not lost one in
> many many months. I am not a fan of putting chemicals in my tank, and I am
> aware that there are algae destroying powders etc that I could add to my
> tank. Can anyone please suggest something for me to try. Also is the low pH
> a problem and how could I raise it (again without the use of chemicals if
> possible)
>
> Thanks
>

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Cymro Gwirion]

He is about 3 inches long - he is a "Zebra Plec" (though I am not sure
whether this is a commonly used name as I suspect my LFS just makes
names up!!! The plec is a beauty - with long white stripes running the
length of his body - does anybody know the latin name for this species)
It would make sense as he is a shy creature, and only comes out at
night.

On 2005-12-23 22:06:54 +0000, Elaine T > said:

> Cymro Gwirion wrote:
>> Hi,
>> Lately I have been having a great deal of trouble with algae in my tank.
>> Green algae will develop after a thorough cleaning within a few days - along
>> the gravel initially, and then all over the glass. I have a 4 foot tank. I
>> have 4 golden loaches in the tank and a plec, who cannot keep up with the
>> growth rate! I have tested my water - Ammonia - nil, Nitrate - Nil, Nitrite
>> - Nil. PH is 6.4 (i think this is low - would this affect the algae
>> growth?). I have recently also carried out a 25% water change. My light is
>> on now for only 6 hours a day. I do have a problem fish, that eats my
>> plants, and at the moment I have no plant in the tank, though these are
>> replenished as often as I can. I cannot seem to find the culprit fish though
>> - as the plants seem to disappear overnight!
>
> Just how big is your pleco? Big plecos can certainly make plants
> disappear overnight.
>
> I mention this as I considered
>> the lack of plants would give more nutrition for the algae. As far as the
>> fish are concerned - they seem very healthy - and I have not lost one in
>> many many months. I am not a fan of putting chemicals in my tank, and I am
>> aware that there are algae destroying powders etc that I could add to my
>> tank. Can anyone please suggest something for me to try. Also is the low pH
>> a problem and how could I raise it (again without the use of chemicals if
>> possible)
>>
>> Thanks

[Koi-lo]

"Cymro Gwirion" > wrote in message
news:2005122323551316807-cymro@emailcom...
> He is about 3 inches long - he is a "Zebra Plec" (though I am not sure
> whether this is a commonly used name as I suspect my LFS just makes names
> up!!! The plec is a beauty - with long white stripes running the length of
> his body - does anybody know the latin name for this species) It would
> make sense as he is a shy creature, and only comes out at night.
====================
You need to buy bigger plants. ;-) Try the vals. I never had any fish eat
them.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[NetMax]

Zebra plecs
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/hypancis/168_F.PHP are not
plant eaters.
--
www.NetMax.tk

"Cymro Gwirion" > wrote in message
news:2005122323551316807-cymro@emailcom...
> He is about 3 inches long - he is a "Zebra Plec" (though I am not sure
> whether this is a commonly used name as I suspect my LFS just makes
> names up!!! The plec is a beauty - with long white stripes running the
> length of his body - does anybody know the latin name for this species)
> It would make sense as he is a shy creature, and only comes out at
> night.
>
> On 2005-12-23 22:06:54 +0000, Elaine T > said:
>
>> Cymro Gwirion wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> Lately I have been having a great deal of trouble with algae in
>>> my tank.
>>> Green algae will develop after a thorough cleaning within a few
>>> days - along
>>> the gravel initially, and then all over the glass. I have a 4 foot
>>> tank. I
>>> have 4 golden loaches in the tank and a plec, who cannot keep up with
>>> the
>>> growth rate! I have tested my water - Ammonia - nil, Nitrate - Nil,
>>> Nitrite
>>> - Nil. PH is 6.4 (i think this is low - would this affect the algae
>>> growth?). I have recently also carried out a 25% water change. My
>>> light is
>>> on now for only 6 hours a day. I do have a problem fish, that eats my
>>> plants, and at the moment I have no plant in the tank, though these
>>> are
>>> replenished as often as I can. I cannot seem to find the culprit fish
>>> though
>>> - as the plants seem to disappear overnight!
>>
>> Just how big is your pleco? Big plecos can certainly make plants
>> disappear overnight.
>>
>> I mention this as I considered
>>> the lack of plants would give more nutrition for the algae. As far as
>>> the
>>> fish are concerned - they seem very healthy - and I have not lost one
>>> in
>>> many many months. I am not a fan of putting chemicals in my tank, and
>>> I am
>>> aware that there are algae destroying powders etc that I could add to
>>> my
>>> tank. Can anyone please suggest something for me to try. Also is the
>>> low pH
>>> a problem and how could I raise it (again without the use of
>>> chemicals if
>>> possible)
>>>
>>> Thanks
>
>