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

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)

"Alan Silver" wrote in message
...
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)

Hi Alan,
How's the algae fight going? I checked for phosphates today which came out
at 0.25 so not much to go on there.

I noticed if I loosen the algae myself the fish will then eat
it....obviously too lazy to scrape at it themselves but appreciative if I do
all the hard work.

Gill

Hi Alan,
How's the algae fight going? I checked for phosphates today which came out
at 0.25 so not much to go on there.

I guess I should point out that I'm not really fighting algae, I just
had a greenish tinge to my tank. I've fought algae before and it's
awful. This is nothing like that.

Anyway, I tried swapping the halogen lights for energy saving bulbs,
which are basically little fluorescent tubes, but it didn't make any
difference. The slight green fur on the glass came back just as fast as
with the halogens.

--
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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wrote in message
...
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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Mine is 3-4 months...haven't tested for phosphates yet but nitrates are 10.
Had no problem with this until the last 2-3 weeks but have noticed the same
problem in a tank I set up 3 weeks ago that is heavily planted.....looking
for test kits for phosphate over the weekend....

Gill

Gill

It doesn't sound like Nitrates are the problem. At 3 to 4 months old (which
is still relatively young) I wouldn't worry TOO much, it may be a passing
fad. But do check the phosphates and also keep the feeding to a minimum. In
a crisis period like this, I reduce the feeding to every other day, or twice
a week (I know the fish are begging for the food but you have to remember
that relative starvation is normal in the wild!) - keep the feeding small
and only use quality feeds that are nitrate and phosphate free..

Again, I'm sorry if I missed the earlier posts, but with a heavily planted
tank, you can probably get away with 9 or 10 hours of lighting but in
theory, the higher plants should out compete the algae if they are able to.
If you have CO2 and feed with a nitrate/phosphate free feed, this shouldn't
be a problem.

I hope it helps

Mark

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