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Algae on aquarium glass
By yanketh, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:58:21 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

I've been fiddling around with my aquarium contantly for about 6 months and i'm finally beginning to be happy about it's setup (30 gallons, co2 injected, live plants thriving, fish thriving) but i'm tired of this algae

You know what I'm talking about...that algae that lives on the glass...my ottos love the algae they can eat off of the rocks and plants, but for some reason they don't want to eat it off of the glass and it gets stuck on there so well that my magnet scrubber can't get it and i have to stick my hand in there and scare the fishes

is there any sort of natural way to deal with this (i know there are animals who eat algae off of glass in the wild haha)?

i was thinking maybe a snail or group of snails may do the trick but i'm no expert on those and wasn't really sure if i had their aquarium function down...

just trying to get my aquarium to be one step closer to self sustaining (barring weekly 25% water changes, bi-weekly plant trimming, and monthly filter changes which i can deal with)

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Algae on aquarium glass | 5 comments (5 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

I wouldn't do the Snail thing (none / 0) (#1)
by cntrygurlgppylvr on Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 09:55:11 AM PST

I have snails in my tank and well I have to go snail hunting in my tank at least 3 times a week. My fish have always been used to my hand going in the tank.I have Algea in certain spots on my glass and well my pleco takes good care of that. Getting a pleco would be my best suggestion, if you do decide to go with snails go for the trombone snails. they don't reproduce as quickly as the other snails do.

As for my snail problem, I've tried all the chemicals possible and well they haven't worked for me so my best idea was dropping in Algae Wafers waiting half an hour then picking all the lil buggers out.

So yeah thats my thoughts on it. Let me know what you think.
Cntry Gurl~EVE~

Re: I wouldn't do the Snail thing (none / 0) (#2)
by yanketh on Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 02:18:30 PM PST

i have a clown pleco but he hides all the time...so much so that i think he's dead till i find him venturing out once every few days...i would get another pleco but i don't want a common one (even though i know they are excellent cleaners)...

i got the clown knowing they stay on the smaller size cuz big fishies are disruptive...are rubbernose or bristlenoses good at cleaning glass? i think those stay smaller too... i really have no concern over any other surface cuz my ottos really do awesome on those other surfaces

[ Parent ]

Intreresting proposal! If you don't want to (none / 0) (#3)
by unclescott on Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 04:40:37 PM PST

take a plastic scrubber to the tank side (I suppose giant hands descending from the sky is unusual in a guppy habitat, unless the scientists are back) then maybe the rubber nose or bristlenoses are a good idea. They probably will not be bothered by your clown pleco - who would go after another of his species and probably of his genus.

http://www.azgardens.com/algae_eating_fish.php
sells a lot of plants and even algae eating fishes. I don't always trust their advice (such as having Gambusia for mosquito control). Several of their recommendations get very big, but they do mention sizes. You tank is a little small for a group of SAE (Siamese algae eaters) or I would suggest them. The suckermouths you mentioned or even one of those hill stream loaches probably would do well.

I might add that I never quite got how much to feed my bristlenoses so that they would/ will still eat algae. I don't want them to starve, but too many algae tabs and pieces of zucchini and they leave the glass alone. ;)

[ Parent ]

Re: Intreresting proposal! If you don't want to (none / 0) (#4)
by New Guppy Momma on Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 05:22:31 PM PST

I use a plastic spatula. The kind used for scraping the bowl after making a cake. Then teh gups(#'s unknown) and mollies(3) gobble it up faster than my 10 year old can make a piece of cake disappear. Oh and with making the fish skip a meal or two here and there they will eat the algae too. Or at least mine do.
One of my 10 gallons (tetra tank) had a bad case of algae before I replaced my glow-light tetras with 6 female guppies. They ate up the algae in two days and it hasn't been back.

Before all else fails....do a 25% water change ;)
[ Parent ]

Better living through aquarium chemistry: (none / 0) (#5)
by unclescott on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 09:31:06 AM PST

Phosphate removal is a way to limit algae by blocking the supply of a key growth ingredient. Don’t fertilize your plants while doing this. ;)

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaecontrol/a/aa070403.htm

Older tanks, with 25% or less weekly water changes, can accumulate an amazing level of nitrates. Sometimes the fish get used to it. But they are so high that new additions wilt and die.

And sometimes we unfairly condemn the shop for selling poor fish. That is one of the reasons why many return policies ask for a water sample. I have been carrying on about how many of us, myself included, need to increase the number of water changes. Under the title of “An Instant Nitrate Reduction Method” the author Stan Hunter, with a Salt-Water site, has very succinctly showed how this works. They included an excellent graphic for those of us who are or are also visual learners.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/nitratecontrol/l/aa091901.htm

I hope these are of use. I for my part, have GOT to got make a heck of a lot of water changes this afternoon rather than spend further time summarizing another person’s thoughts. ;)

All the best,
30 liters down, 1 on the floor. (The towels are already in the wash.) At least 379 liters to go.

[ Parent ]

Algae on aquarium glass | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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