How do I avoid algae in a tank ?

Hello,

I am in the process of researching for a new tank (Malawi cichlids) and
want to get it right from the start. One thing that bothers me is algae.
I have a well-planted tropical tank which does not have too much
trouble, but that's mainly 'cos I fertilise it and inject CO2. This new
tank won't have any of that, but I still want to make sure I don't get
the old green plague.

Tank parameters :-

*) 220 litre, 24" cube tank

*) water will probably be around pH8 and hard (basically I have soft
neutral water out of the tap, but am going to use a crushed coral
substrate)

*) Lighting unknown as yet, but will not be huge. Most cichlid tanks
seem to have a blue light and a white light. I assume the white is a
normal tube, but no idea yet what the blue one is, nor if it contributes
to the light for plants/algae. Due to the shape of the tank, lighting
will probably be two 18" or 24" tubes.

*) A few tough plants, such as Java Fern, Anubias, etc. Basically
limited to the ones that Tropica's site said are safe for veggie fish.

*) Water changes will be 10% twice per week.

Any tips for how to keep such a tank algae free ? I'm particularly
bothered about the plants as Tropica's site mentioned that Anubias (in
particular) are slow growing and so more likely to get algae as the
leaves hang around for longer. I know the last time I kept one I had
very great difficulty keeping the leaves clean.

Thanx for any help

--
Alan Silver

Alan Silver wrote:
Hello,

I am in the process of researching for a new tank (Malawi cichlids) and
want to get it right from the start. One thing that bothers me is algae.
I have a well-planted tropical tank which does not have too much
trouble, but that's mainly 'cos I fertilise it and inject CO2. This new
tank won't have any of that, but I still want to make sure I don't get
the old green plague.

Tank parameters :-

*) 220 litre, 24" cube tank

*) water will probably be around pH8 and hard (basically I have soft
neutral water out of the tap, but am going to use a crushed coral
substrate)

*) Lighting unknown as yet, but will not be huge. Most cichlid tanks
seem to have a blue light and a white light. I assume the white is a
normal tube, but no idea yet what the blue one is, nor if it contributes
to the light for plants/algae. Due to the shape of the tank, lighting
will probably be two 18" or 24" tubes.

*) A few tough plants, such as Java Fern, Anubias, etc. Basically
limited to the ones that Tropica's site said are safe for veggie fish.

*) Water changes will be 10% twice per week.

Any tips for how to keep such a tank algae free ? I'm particularly
bothered about the plants as Tropica's site mentioned that Anubias (in
particular) are slow growing and so more likely to get algae as the
leaves hang around for longer. I know the last time I kept one I had
very great difficulty keeping the leaves clean.

Thanx for any help


I've kept algae pretty well in check by keeping the lights off most of
the time and minimizing the sunlight that hits the tank. Don't overfeed,
and a couple of good cleaner fish will help. I get a little algae on the
rocks, but hardly any on the glass.

HTH,
Mark

Chuck Gadd wrote:
On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 16:08:51 -0500, mark wrote:


I've kept algae pretty well in check by keeping the lights off most of
the time and minimizing the sunlight that hits the tank. Don't overfeed,
and a couple of good cleaner fish will help. I get a little algae on the
rocks, but hardly any on the glass.


But if the tank contains live plants, then that will not work.



Chuck Gadd
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua

I haven't had a lot of live plants in my tanks, esp. with Malawi
cichlids, but when I have had live plants, I had very few problems with
algae. I assumed this was because the plants were using up the nutrients
and leaving nothing for the algae.
Am I mistaken on that point?


Mark

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:07:04 -0500, mark wrote:

I haven't had a lot of live plants in my tanks, esp. with Malawi
cichlids, but when I have had live plants, I had very few problems with
algae. I assumed this was because the plants were using up the nutrients
and leaving nothing for the algae.
Am I mistaken on that point?

Well, I would guess that malawi cichlids eat lots of food, and
therefore produce lots of waste. And I'd bet that the tank didn't
have really high lighting. So I'd doubt the plants really did consume
all the nutrients.

I would probably bet that the tank just had low enough lighting to
avoid algae, and still keep lower-light plants alive.


Chuck Gadd
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua

In article , Chuck Gadd
writes
I would probably bet that the tank just had low enough lighting to
avoid algae, and still keep lower-light plants alive.

Any idea what that level would be ? It sounds like what I want !!

--
Alan Silver

I had a problem with algae and tried a few of the algae elimination products
which did not work, plus I do not want to add too many chemicals to tanks. I
added various plants to tank usually the plants will root and the algae has
disappeared. I add more plants as they are eaten by inhabitants. I have
plecos and kuhlai loaches plus have had algae eaters to control algae but
after I added plants the problem was solved. The tank light is on for at
least 12-14 hours a day. 29 gal tank 2plecos 2 small frogs 3 giant danios 3
kuhlia loaches 1 silverdollar 2 small unknowns and 1 redtail catfish or
shark .
JBS

"Alan Silver"
wrote in
message ...
Hello,

I am in the process of researching for a new tank (Malawi cichlids) and
want to get it right from the start. One thing that bothers me is algae.
I have a well-planted tropical tank which does not have too much
trouble, but that's mainly 'cos I fertilise it and inject CO2. This new
tank won't have any of that, but I still want to make sure I don't get
the old green plague.

Tank parameters :-

*) 220 litre, 24" cube tank

*) water will probably be around pH8 and hard (basically I have soft
neutral water out of the tap, but am going to use a crushed coral
substrate)

*) Lighting unknown as yet, but will not be huge. Most cichlid tanks
seem to have a blue light and a white light. I assume the white is a
normal tube, but no idea yet what the blue one is, nor if it contributes
to the light for plants/algae. Due to the shape of the tank, lighting
will probably be two 18" or 24" tubes.

*) A few tough plants, such as Java Fern, Anubias, etc. Basically
limited to the ones that Tropica's site said are safe for veggie fish.

*) Water changes will be 10% twice per week.

Any tips for how to keep such a tank algae free ? I'm particularly
bothered about the plants as Tropica's site mentioned that Anubias (in
particular) are slow growing and so more likely to get algae as the
leaves hang around for longer. I know the last time I kept one I had
very great difficulty keeping the leaves clean.

Thanx for any help

--
Alan Silver