Help with new algae growth?!

[lilsilkk1112]

Well, I usually do a 25% water change every monday.

Today I did a 30% after I noticed algae growth starting on the glass. They were small brownish-green spots on all 4 sides. I used a toothbrush to scrub the algae off before I did the water change. I also pulled the one rock in the tank with growth and scrubbed him off a bit.
My water seemed awful brown today for some reason and there was a slight odor as well that I didnt really notice before.

Is this growth normal? If so, why did it just occur in the past week, but not before? I'm keeping to weekly changes, so what could have made it happen? Weather? What can I do to solve the problem? You can see the fish stock in my 10g. below. Would it be wise to pick up another fish that eats algae? Otto possibly? Or the LFS said they'd sell me a pleco and keep letting me return them when they get larger for smaller ones since its only a 10g.

Any tips, tricks, or knowledge on this is appreciated. Thanks.
-S

 

[smalltank99]

I would get some kind of algea eating fish and/or an oto

 

[lilsilkk1112]

Would it be wise though with the stock I have.

If you obey the 1" per gallon rule, I'm right at that mark.

5 Zebra = 5"
2 Cory = 3"
1 Dwarf Gourami = 2.5"

i.e. I already have 10.5" of fish in my tank. Would it be wise to overstock to have the algae taken care of? Or would 1 Otto not help that much anyway?!

 

[equinom]

I am not familiar with your setup (don't get a chance to visit as much as I used to), but may I ask where you are? Has the temperature changed recently - is it a sweltering summer where you are?
I ask this because it has been pretty warm here recently and our AC unit isn't in the best shape - so the water temps have slowly climbed into the mid 80s. Every year when the water warms up I see an algae problem.
And what about light - has that changed recently? Too much light and high phosphate will result in algae.

Don't know if this is too basic for you - you may already know this stuff. What I end up doing is to decrease the amount of food - so there is hardly any that hits the bottom and is left to decay (resulting in the PO4). I decrease the lighting and lower the settings on the thermometers.

Hope this helps. Until you you get cleared up - keep scraping!

 

[lilsilkk1112]

No, that helped...

The tank saw two mid-80 degree days last week before I cooled it down to its regular 76-78.

That could be the problem. The higher temps....

 

[geKo]

Just take a look at what the number 1 cause of algae is. Obviously its light. Without light almost all forms of algae will not and cannot grow.

Cut off the lights for a few days and do two 20% water changes a week for about a month untill its gone!

 

[lilsilkk1112]

Thing is, I have only the 18" flourescent bulb as lighting and i have half of that blocked with cardboard as to give it a subdued light look...

its been gettin the same natural light ever since i've set it up.

*shrug*

its better now, so im not going to complain... until it comes back!

 

[AndyL]

Its brown algae, which is a sign of higher nutrients and LOW lighting... Reducing lighting will only exascebate the problem...

I posted a link yesterday to a good algae ID/cure page...

Andy

 

[lilsilkk1112]

awesome Andy. I'll pull the light blockers...

I'll look for your other post too.

 

[revfred]

Definitely add an otocinclus. If your filtration is good, and you clean regularly . . . and it sounds like you do, pushing the 1 fish inch/gallon rule shouldn't be much of a problem.

I've read that some folks to subdue the lighting a bit, put a piece of toilet paper across the glass top rather than blocking it. This might be a way to subdue the light without cutting it off completely.

 

[steve-0]

try not to get direct sunlight

 

[lilsilkk1112]

it doesnt get much direct sunlight at all... if any. its near a window between my house and garage with about 2 feet of space between the two... its also on the bottom of 3 floors, so the light rarely hits that window. maybe 1 hour per day.

 

[equinom]

Here are a couple of other things you may want to try:

fast growing plants

Plants will compete with the algae for nutrients - if you get a bunch of fast growers in there it will lower the food supply available for the algae. Examples of fast growing plants: wisteria and hygro

One last thing - are you using a phosphate buffer in your water? Something like Proper pH? If you are not sure if it's a phosphate take a look on the label. From the looks of your livestock they aren't tremendously pH sensitive (like a discus) perhaps you can change to a simple dechlorinator. What is the pH of your tap water?
How about the KH? If the pH is very low, you may be able to bring it up with some crushed shells or the like - that will also increase the KH, which will help maintain the balance. Just think, it would be an "all natural" alternative, plus it's cheaper than having to buy buffer all the time - declorinators are less expensive than buffers (imho) and the shells, well, where did you want to vacation this year?

 

[lilsilkk1112]

Ph of my water is always right on 7 with no buffers at all other than decholirinator...