Calorad Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I have a 36 gallon tank that is having issues with algae. I scrubbed the walls and did a water change after but it comes back. I have looked into an alge control however I cannot use it due to the shrimp in the tank. Is there anything I can do or use that would be safe for me to try in controlling the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levi_Aquatics Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I would try turning the light out for a few days as this can put the algae on its heels and give the algae eaters a chance to catch up. I hope this helped! Good luck! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calorad Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) I tried that and its still coming back have limited lighting to 6 hours a day for the past week and most of it has been with blue lights on. Should I completely shut it off then? Edited February 2, 2021 by Calorad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorbidFinch Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I recently fought an algae fight. My battle was won with reducing the intensity of the light, shortening the duration of the light being on, reducing plant fertilizer (heavily planted tank), and daily water changes. 27 minutes ago, Calorad said: I tried that and its still coming back have limited lighting to 6 hours a day for the past week and most of it has been with blue lights on. Should I completely shut it off then? The internet says that algae can actually utilize the blue lights where plants generally cannot. I would have the light out completely and avoid just the blues. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calorad Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 22 minutes ago, MorbidFinch said: I recently fought an algae fight. My battle was won with reducing the intensity of the light, shortening the duration of the light being on, reducing plant fertilizer (heavily planted tank), and daily water changes. The internet says that algae can actually utilize the blue lights where plants generally cannot. I would have the light out completely and avoid just the blues. How much of a water change did you do, 25 percent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorbidFinch Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Just now, Calorad said: How much of a water change did you do, 25 percent? A little late in the day for math don't you think😋? I was doing between 25% and 50% daily, and removing what I could by hand from the glass and plants etc. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calorad Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Okay I will start doing that and see what happens, thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levi_Aquatics Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 The blue lights don’t help plants but do help algae so I would just shut off the lights. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottEsh Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 (edited) I went on vacation for a week after adding a second light to my fluval 123litre tank and came home to this.... I’d like to get a few snails but I have some yoyo’s in there and the 2 octo’s I have aren’t doing much Edited April 16, 2021 by ScottEsh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 4 minutes ago, ScottEsh said: I went on vacation for a week after adding a second light to my fluval 123litre tank and came home to this.... What fertilizer are you used how many hours a day do you have your lights on do you have any algae eating fish or snails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottEsh Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 (edited) No fertilizer, just 2 fluval aqua sky lights that came with the lid.. lights are on from 9am to 6pm no snails and I have 2 octo’s and 2 yo-yo loaches... Edited April 16, 2021 by ScottEsh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 (edited) I would cut your lighting to 8hours a day you can have algae problems when your plants are not getting enough nutrients I would start dosing with some easy green or seachem flourish liquid fertilizer and some root tab you could also add some more quick growing plants to help out compeat the algae like vallisneria and Hornwort @ScottEsh Edited April 16, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenA Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Colu said: I would cut your lighting to 8hours a day you can have algae problems when your plants are not getting enough nutrients I would start dosing with some easy green or seachem flourish liquid fertilizer and some root tab you could also add some more quick growing plants to help out compeat the algae like vallisneria and Hornwort @ScottEsh I am not sure that liquid fertilizer is a good idea for rooted plants, this plants do much better with good quality tabs and I think that this is what ScottEsh has. Liquid ferts. are good for plants that feed via the leaf or plants that cant be planted into the substrate such as Anubias and Thea Green, also good for floating plants. Edited April 16, 2021 by BenA adding floating plants. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted April 17, 2021 Share Posted April 17, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, BenA said: I am not sure that liquid fertilizer is a good idea for rooted plants, this plants do much better with good quality tabs and I think that this is what ScottEsh has. Liquid ferts. are good for plants that feed via the leaf or plants that cant be planted into the substrate such as Anubias and Thea Green, also good for floating plants. I think root tabs would be the way to go Edited April 17, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted April 17, 2021 Share Posted April 17, 2021 Ramshorn snails are doing a great job on my algae. Since I've added them I haven't had to scrub any algae off at all. If all else fails try adding a few of them. (Which will become many of them in short order, but the algae will be under control even if the snail population isn't.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted April 17, 2021 Share Posted April 17, 2021 7 minutes ago, gardenman said: Ramshorn snails are doing a great job on my algae. Since I've added them I haven't had to scrub any algae off at all. If all else fails try adding a few of them. (Which will become many of them in short order, but the algae will be under control even if the snail population isn't.) I think Ramshorn snail are out he has to loachs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottEsh Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) Yes I have 2 loaches in there and 2 oto’s was going to take my Chinese alge eater aka (nom) from my other tank but he is like 3”long and may be to big. Edited April 19, 2021 by ScottEsh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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