5 gallon hair and green slime algae

[LoudMouse1]

I've recently upgraded from a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon.  In all of my tanks I've had a hair algae and a green slime algae problem.  I think it's a water quality issue that might be causing it, but I'm not 100% sure.  

 

Onto the issue, due to a shellfish and mussel allergy in the home I can't keep just one betta and one snail like I originally planned.  I'm thinking about trying to put just 3 otocinclus in the tank, but I don't know how well they would do with this type of algae and water quality issue.  

 

Is there anything I could put in this 5 gallon that isn't a shellfish or mussel that could keep the algae under control and also live comfortably.  Would 3 otocinclus work or should I try some guppies with a couple dwarf african frogs?  Please help!

 

I've been doing so much research and watching so many videos and I'm getting really frustrated with all the conflicting information I'm getting and was hoping I could get some input here.

 

Edit: I forgot to mention I have a layer of bio rings under aqua soil that combine to make a 1.5" thick substrate, one nano sponge filter, and have all fast growing plants.  Currently I have two 3-stripe corydoras in the tank, but I plan on bringing them back to my LFS or give them away if possible.

 

Also, I noticed my water quality was better and more stable with more dirt, which is why when I upgraded to this 5 gallon I put so much dirt and bio rings in.

Edited September 2 by LoudMouse1
Forgot important info

[Zac]

On 9/2/2023 at 4:44 PM, LoudMouse1 said:

I've recently upgraded from a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon.  In all of my tanks I've had a hair algae and a green slime algae problem.  I think it's a water quality issue that might be causing it, but I'm not 100% sure.  

 

Onto the issue, due to a shellfish and mussel allergy in the home I can't keep just one betta and one snail like I originally planned.  I'm thinking about trying to put just 3 otocinclus in the tank, but I don't know how well they would do with this type of algae and water quality issue.  

 

Is there anything I could put in this 5 gallon that isn't a shellfish or mussel that could keep the algae under control and also live comfortably.  Would 3 otocinclus work or should I try some guppies with a couple dwarf african frogs?  Please help!

 

I've been doing so much research and watching so many videos and I'm getting really frustrated with all the conflicting information I'm getting and was hoping I could get some input here.

 

Edit: I forgot to mention I have a layer of bio rings under aqua soil that combine to make a 1.5" thick substrate, one nano sponge filter, and have all fast growing plants.  Currently I have two 3-stripe corydoras in the tank, but I plan on bringing them back to my LFS or give them away if possible.

 

Also, I noticed my water quality was better and more stable with more dirt, which is why when I upgraded to this 5 gallon I put so much dirt and bio rings in.

You could do some shrimp at most. You can’t really keep any fish in a 5 gallon. Maybe 6 ruby or ember tetras but that’s it 

[LoudMouse1]

I upgraded from a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon.  I'm still having algae issues but at least I got rid of the slime algae by changing my light settings.  I'm slowly getting there!  I still have the 2 three-striped corydoras and I now also have a betta and 2 otos.  One of the otos seems to have ich even though I've been medicating them unfortunately but hopefully they make it!  If the otos don't make it I think I'm going to start dosing the tank with liquid carbon because the algae killing meds I put in weren't working at all.  Hopefully I can eventually get the algae under control with maybe lower light and a regular liquid fertilizer schedule.

[Pepere]

On 9/2/2023 at 4:44 PM, LoudMouse1 said:

've been doing so much research and watching so many videos and I'm getting really frustrated with all the conflicting information I'm getting and was hoping I could get some input here.

 

Conflicting information is the rule of life….

An out of state tourist stops at a field on the side of the road admiring the cows.  The farmer sees him and says “ You know, you can tell what the weather is going to be by looking at the cows.  If it is going to be sunny they lie on the ground.  And if it is going to rain they stand up.”

The tourist takes it inand replies, “Well. Half of them are lying down and half are standing.  What does that mean?”

 

The farmer replies, “It means half of them are wrong.”

Now, as to conflicting information in aquariums….   Some of them might be wrong, but by the same token it might be right for them in their circumstances and not for everybody…. And, there are many ways to be successful in aquariums.  Different methodologies can both work…

 

But sometimes the cow is just flat out wrong, and so is the youtube presenter….

[LoudMouse1]

I understand that and have looked at multiple different websites and videos by other channels.  That's why I thought it would also be in my best interest to ask in a forum like this.

[Pepere]

On 10/2/2023 at 10:29 AM, LoudMouse1 said:

 That's why I thought it would also be in my best interest to ask in a forum like this.

Even here there are competing opinions on many things…

 

To be honest I dont even agree with things I believed a year ago..

 

a year from now I could hold differing opinions from what I hold now…

Edited Monday at 05:28 PM by Pepere