Green Spot Algae

[TheFighterFish]

My 5 gallon currently has a sponge filter. If I add on a larger canister filter, will the green algae go away, or will I still have to scrape it off myself?

 

[Lotus]

GSA isn't generally caused by under-filtering. You'd still have to scrape it off.

A lack of phosphates (especially when there are nitrates in higher numbers) tends to lead to GSA.

An old credit card (or gift card, etc.) is great for getting GSA off of glass.

 

[TheFighterFish]

I'm running cherry shrimp in there, so I'm not sure if it is okay to dose phosphates. I hear they are sensitive to chemicals.

I wish I knew about the gift card. I already have a KENT Pro-scraper short. It's not bad, but it's not so good either.

Would Otos eat GSA?

 

[Lotus]

Unfortunately, there's really nothing that eats GSA.

I add phosphates (Fleet Enema) to my shrimp tank without problems.

 

[Cas]

Our local fish shop mentioned that leaving the light off for periods when it isnt needed like during the day reduces alage. Is this true?

Cas

 

[Lotus]

If you don't have real plants, there's no need to leave the light on all day. If you do have live plants, there's no evidence that a "siesta" will help with algae. A blackout of a planted tank is really a last resort if you haven't been able to fix algae by balancing your light, CO2 and fertilization.

 

[tropicalfish]

Is green spot algae stuff that looks like algae "freckles"? Because I have it ALL OVER. The snails eat only part of it, they eat the middle of the "freckle" and leave the circles.

 

[TheFighterFish]

Yeah, GSA looks a bit like freckles. With my tank, there are lines that are eaten through that look kind of like snail movement. However, it was still unsightly so I scraped of the majority of it.