Algea gone Mad

[hailee]

I have a 20gallon tank with a California Newt in it. I keep the light on from 8am-6am...and wow there is a ton of algea in my tank. I have a filter, live plants, and moss in it (moss is for land, on a big rock). I have try to scrub it off with a clean rag when i am cleaning it but it keeps on coming back...and i have shorted the lighting time, that didn't help me either. My tank is not infront of a window and it dosen't get alot of light when the tank light is off. Should I put a snail, some fish, or an algea eater or will that effect my newt??

-AnImAl-InSaNe5

 

[kaysie]

If the Taricha is in an area with ambient lighting, you dont need supplimental lighting. In other words, take the light out. No fish, no algae eaters. These could wind up being food, and probably not good food, as a lot of newts have died on algae eaters

 

[nesaraj]

Hailee, my advice is as follows:

(a) remove the light. Most caudates prefer cooler temperatures and lower-light levels,

(b) if you tank has already been through the nitrogen cycle, the algae will subside once the higher plants use the nutrients in the water column, and

(c) snails will help some of the algae problem.

 

[hailee]

If i take the light away it will be all dark in the corner of my room and will look like their is nothing is in it tank. I also have live plants in there...so I Kinda need the light on. Should i just go with the snails

 

[nesaraj]

Yep, go with the snails (make sure they are the smaller variety). Also, you might want to explore the possibility of using a different type of lightbulb (e.g. an actinic fluorescent).

 

[isaac]

Why smaller snails?

 

[jennifer]

Some of the big snails can clamp down against the glass (the "pulling-in" reaction they have when you poke them), and in the process they can trap the leg of a newt. It's not very likely, but it has happened.