How do I have a brightly-lit tank without algae?

Tim,

Thanks for the reply. I have already cut down the lighting hours, so
that's not really an option. I do pretty regular water changes too and
the water quality is good. I haven't tested for phosphates though, so
that could be an option.

I don't know if this is hair algae as it's very short. I thought hair
algae tended to be longer, like hair (!!).

Would the type of lighting be a factor? I am thinking of changing the
halogen lights for fluorescents anyway as the halogens produce too much
heat. Would this help the algae problem?

Thanks again.

alan

First thing to do is cut down on the amount of time the light is on. Have
the lights turn on later in the day, and off earlier. More frequent water
changes will reduce the amount of nitrates in the tank which will help with
algae growth. Being that's it's a Mbuna tank, (which is too small IMO, but I
covered that a few months ago) adding fish or shrimp that eat hair algae
probably isn't an option. Plus, adding more to the tank can add to the
problem with a higher bio-load.
Test the phosphate levels in the tank. You can buy filter material that
removes phosphates if you have phosphates in the tank. Phosphates are a big
contributor to hair algae. Hair algae is difficult to get rid of and off
requires removing it by hand. Don't wipe it down and let it float off into
the tank, else it will eventuall reattach or send off pieces to grow
elsewhere. It needs to be removed. ;-)
Not real enlightening, but it's all I've got.
Tim
www.fishaholics.org



--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)

On Thu, 5 May 2005 14:42:29 +0100, Alan Silver
wrote:

Would the type of lighting be a factor? I am thinking of changing the
halogen lights for fluorescents anyway as the halogens produce too much
heat. Would this help the algae problem?

My halogen spots don't cause a problem. They are on for about 16 hours
a day. I don't use fluorescent lights. Maybe they are your problem.

Steve

Would the type of lighting be a factor? I am thinking of changing the
halogen lights for fluorescents anyway as the halogens produce too much
heat. Would this help the algae problem?

My halogen spots don't cause a problem. They are on for about 16 hours
a day. I don't use fluorescent lights. Maybe they are your problem.

Dunno, fluorescents are the standard for fish tanks, they aren't
generally known for causing algae problems.

Maybe I'll have to add a Plec and see if that helps. They are supposed
to be good algae eaters.

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)

"Alan Silver" wrote in message
...
Would the type of lighting be a factor? I am thinking of changing the
halogen lights for fluorescents anyway as the halogens produce too much
heat. Would this help the algae problem?

My halogen spots don't cause a problem. They are on for about 16 hours
a day. I don't use fluorescent lights. Maybe they are your problem.

Dunno, fluorescents are the standard for fish tanks, they aren't
generally known for causing algae problems.

Maybe I'll have to add a Plec and see if that helps. They are supposed
to be good algae eaters.

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)

I've got the same problem as you in my Malawi tank...it's a bit like a green
carpet on the rocks and substrate. It's not slimy or anything so does seem a
little bit like hair algae - it's a very bright green. The front of the tank
needs doing a couple of times a week. Ammonia is 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate
around 10. Of course there are only a couple of plants. Do a 10-20% water
change each week.

I've got a Pl*co but although he is working on the back of the tank the job
seems to be beyond him.....

I'm wondering if it is Phosphate level after reading Tim's posting (thanks
Tim)

I'll continue following this thread. Please let me know how you get on

Gill

I've got the same problem as you in my Malawi tank...it's a bit like a green
carpet on the rocks and substrate. It's not slimy or anything so does seem a
little bit like hair algae - it's a very bright green.

Mine's quite a dark green, but like your's it's furry, not slimy. Mine's
more in patches than a carpet.

I actually don't mind it too much, it's just that it makes the tank look
too dark.

I've got a Pl*co but although he is working on the back of the tank the job
seems to be beyond him.....

Sounds like my bristlenose!!

I'm wondering if it is Phosphate level after reading Tim's posting (thanks
Tim)

Me too, I might see how much the filters are.

I'll continue following this thread. Please let me know how you get on

You too ;-)

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)

"Alan Silver" wrote in message
news
I've got the same problem as you in my Malawi tank...it's a bit like a
green
carpet on the rocks and substrate. It's not slimy or anything so does
seem a
little bit like hair algae - it's a very bright green.

Mine's quite a dark green, but like your's it's furry, not slimy. Mine's
more in patches than a carpet.

I actually don't mind it too much, it's just that it makes the tank look
too dark.

I've got a Pl*co but although he is working on the back of the tank the
job
seems to be beyond him.....

Sounds like my bristlenose!!

I'm wondering if it is Phosphate level after reading Tim's posting
(thanks
Tim)

Me too, I might see how much the filters are.

I'll continue following this thread. Please let me know how you get on

You too ;-)

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)

I actually left the tank alone this weekend (apart from the usual water
change and scrape) as there are a couple of fry in there and I didn't want
to upset them. However, I have made another observation since then, which as
you are in England as well, depending on the area might be relevant.

I have set up two tanks in the last few months - one is the Malawi tank and
the other is a small 7.5gall species tank. Both I filled with tap water -
the Malawi tank is not planted but the 7.5gall is heavily planted. Both
tanks have this bright green algae stuff....the 7.5gall doesn't have the
carpet yet.

I'm wondering if there has been something added to the water
recently....where are you based? I'm in Reading....

Gill

snip
I'm wondering if there has been something added to the water
recently....where are you based? I'm in Reading....

I'm in Manchester, so we're on different water supplies. I don't think
our water has changed, I've had problems with this sort of algae ever
since I started keeping fish. I think my problem is a lot of light and
nothing to use it up. I don't have any plants in there as the Malawis
would probably look on them as salad, so the algae has free run on any
nutrients.

Thanks for the reply

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)

The planted tank is using some the nitrates/phosphates present in your
tank-water. I wouldn't read too much into that. Try testing your tap-water
for nitrates and phosphates, if it is clear, the problem is possibly due to
over feeding and possibly over-lighting. If either are present, you may have
to consider using RO/DI water and 'artificially' rebuilding it like some of
us need to. It's a pain. I apologize if I've missed some of the early posts
but how old are your tanks?

Mark

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On Thu, 5 May 2005 16:41:23 +0100, Alan Silver
wrote:

Would the type of lighting be a factor? I am thinking of changing the
halogen lights for fluorescents anyway as the halogens produce too much
heat. Would this help the algae problem?

My halogen spots don't cause a problem. They are on for about 16 hours
a day. I don't use fluorescent lights. Maybe they are your problem.

Dunno, fluorescents are the standard for fish tanks, they aren't
generally known for causing algae problems.


"Standard" or not, try using just the halogens for a while. If the
algae starts to fade away don't forget that dead algae can also be a
problem so keep it cleared out.

Maybe I'll have to add a Plec and see if that helps. They are supposed
to be good algae eaters.

Plecs are not as good at algae clearing as bristlenose and you already
have one of them. Get another one. If you get a pair they will breed.
OTOH Plecs will never breed in a tank.

BTW what sort of Malawi cichlids are they? Most of the common Mbuna
eat algae, especially if no easier food is supplied. If they have
other food they won't eat the algae - why scrape rocks when flakes are
around. Mbuna fed on algae turn on their best colours.


--
Steve Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software

EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
http://www.easynn.com

Would the type of lighting be a factor? I am thinking of changing the
halogen lights for fluorescents anyway as the halogens produce too much
heat. Would this help the algae problem?

My halogen spots don't cause a problem. They are on for about 16 hours
a day. I don't use fluorescent lights. Maybe they are your problem.

Dunno, fluorescents are the standard for fish tanks, they aren't
generally known for causing algae problems.

"Standard" or not, try using just the halogens for a while. If the
algae starts to fade away don't forget that dead algae can also be a
problem so keep it cleared out.

Can't harm to try I suppose. I don't know how long it would take before
I would expect to see a difference though. I know algae grows pretty
quickly, how quickly is it likely to fade away if the fluoros are the
problem?

Maybe I'll have to add a Plec and see if that helps. They are supposed
to be good algae eaters.

Plecs are not as good at algae clearing as bristlenose and you already
have one of them. Get another one. If you get a pair they will breed.
OTOH Plecs will never breed in a tank.

Baby bristlenoses? That sounds like fun!! Trouble is, I have no idea
whether mine is a boy or girl, and catching him wouldn't be easy. Still,
I might do some research and see if I can find out how to tell the
difference.

BTW what sort of Malawi cichlids are they? Most of the common Mbuna
eat algae, especially if no easier food is supplied. If they have
other food they won't eat the algae - why scrape rocks when flakes are
around. Mbuna fed on algae turn on their best colours.

Mine do scrape at the algae a bit, but not a huge amount. Maybe if it
were longer they might, but as I said, it's very short.

Thanks for the reply.

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)