Algae just started showing up on my tank.?

Question

Hey everyone. I just noticed algae started growing on the side of my tank, it's brownish and loosely attachedd to the wall of the tank. Is it harmful? how should i clean it?

Answer 1

its not as harmful as it is unsightly, but yes, you should clean it A.S.A.P.,

I use two methods of algae control in my tank:

1 the natural method. find fish or invertebrates that eat algae.

http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_alga...

http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fres...

i use siamese algae eaters in my tank. make sure you get siamese algae eaters, and not chinese or golden algae eaters. chinese algae eaters only eat algae when young (goldens are just a color strain of chinese) and get aggressive when older

or use snails, like malaysian trumpet snails.

2 the manual method. find an algae scraper. i use an algae scraper from petco, all it is is a plastic sponge on a stick.

Answer 2

Chill. Green algae comes from too much sun, brown from not enough light or your tank might be a little too warm. 78degrees should be ok. Algae eaters are great and super personalities. I had one that rolled a marble across the tank all the time. Don't panic enjoy your tank.  

Answer 3

Is your tank new?  Brown algae is usually in new tanks.  I had it in my tank when it was new.  After a couple of months it went away.  I also bought an otto.  It is supposed to stay small and he is the hardest worker in my tank.  I do not have to scrape my walls anymore.  He ate the brown and the green algae.  Before I had my otto I would take out my deco and run it under water and just wipe the brown algae off.  On the sides of my tank I would use the algae sponge to wipe it off.  If you have a lot and it gets in your tank I would do a small water change after.

Answer 4

Make sure your tank is not in direct sunlight; this can cause allot of algae growth. Are you vacuuming the substrate and changing the water regularly? This is essential. Whenever you buy a chemical for your tank, make sure you read the label well to make sure it is right for you and your fish. You can also try leaving the tank light on for less time during the day, this also helps.  

Answer 5

You can either buy an algae remover from the pet store (sponge format, sometimes sold with handles on them) or, you can visit the pet store and ask them what algae eater would be compatible with the other fish in your tank.

Answer 6

Well destroy it right away, get some algae remover solution, get snails and of course algae eater and you'll be fine.

Read more about it on this useful website.

http://aquatropicalfish.com/forum/index....

or ask on forum

http://aquatropicalfish.com/forum/index....

Answer 7

its not harmfull, infact its very normal...

firstly get an algea pad, you can buy the magnetic ones or a sponge specifically for the job of cleaning the tank.

check your light level, algea grows best with lots of nutrients and plenty of light, if its in a very sunny spot theres your culprit, try closing the curtains a little at the brightest part of the day...if you have a light stip put it on a timer so its turned on no more than 8-10 hours a day.

and feed a little less...fish waste is eventually convereted form amonia to nitrates to nitrite...the nitrite is the perfect "compost" for algea.  adding some live, easy to care for plants like amazon sword will help keep those nitrites down and control the growth of algea!

and then, assuming you have enough space in your tank, i suggest in investing in a group of 5-10 ottos www.fishlore.com/profiles_otocinclus.htm

1 per 2 gallons, they dont realy contribute to your bioload and stay small so 5 do well in a 10 gallon tank.

of all the algea consuming fish the Otto is THE BEST...hes a drab little fish true...but he will consume more algea than any other species of algea eater, Ottos also consume the largest veriety of algeal species including sting algea, a type that no other algea eater will touch.

they are also algea consumers their entire life...fish like Chinese and siamese algea eaters and plecos are in nature only algea consumers when young (plecos require a 50/50 diet of plant and meat!) and get large, they also have quite a large bioload for their size so will quickly outgrow most tanks and stop doing the job they were bought for.

Ottos also have good little personalities and can always be found darting round from algea patch to algea patch and when there not eating thir often swimming round doing somersualts with other ottos....

being a schooling fish however they realy need to be kept in groups of 5 or more.

good luck.

Answer 8

they have tablets in the pet store that will aid in removing the algae...also they have a magnetic scraper you can use...its neat and works good...

my 55 gal got the same algae but i noticed that it was getting a good bit of sun...i just went ahead and emptied the tank and cleaned it thoroughly..

Answer 9

You could just scrape it off. They sell magnetic things that attach on the side of the cage that you just slide on the algae and it's gone! I use a toothbrush and just rub it off. you don't really have to buy special tablets, all you need is an old tooth brush! If your tank is next to a window that could be the reason for algae!