Green Algae problem

[iAxolotl]

Hey,
Since i small time i've seen a lot of green strings in the tank which is probally Green algae.
How do i remove it good without hurting my Axie's and for a long time?
And which water levels should i test?

 

[carsona246]

You dont really test your water for algae. If you talking about testing your water for axolotls you need to test ammonia/nitrite/nitrate, unless your tank is already cycled, and then I usually only test for nitrate. You could just scrape the algae off the glass, or lower your photoperiod

 

[Danicus12]

Just so you know, photoperiod = amount of time the light is on in your tank. Algae need light to grow so reducing the amount of light available should slow the algae's growth.

-D-

 

[Jennewt]

If it's green stringy algae, the best approach is just to remove it manually. Roll up those sleeves and dig in! If you keep this up for a while, and you keep the nitrate level in the tank under control, the problem will eventually subside.

 

[iAxolotl]

The problem is that the stings are attached at hard to get off places. (Like the filter)

 

[iAxolotl]

BUMP,
It's pretty hard to roll up those strings. I want to use something like a Algae control thing but is it safe for my Axie's? or does anyone else know a good thing to remove them fast?

 

[smily sam]

i woldn't use chemicals to get rid of the alae
if its stuck to the filter then next time you do a water change pull of the algae :wacko::happy:

 

[iChris]

Algae is not really a bad thing in a aquarium, a properly cycled aquarium should have some infact.

Your nitrates are probably abit high, and pair this with some strong light and you'll see a big bloom of the stuff in no time.

Try adding some aquarium plants if you haven't already, or add a few more, they absorb nitrates and nitrites. Also try using weaker lighting, or reduce he amount of time the lamp is on, for a planted aquarium 8 hours a day will be enough, even less if you don't have any plants.

Removing the stuff manually is the way to go.

 

[Kaysie]

Get a scrub brush and remove the algae with that, then do a 20% water change. Use a siphon to try to target the stuff you just pulled off (if you have a friend to help, this works great). Then just stay up on water changes and the algae should go away.

 

[iAxolotl]

My Aquarium is full of plants.
The nitrates and nitrites are at 0.
Will try less light.
Maybe i'm going to swap some plants since they are almost black and full of Green algae.
Anyone knows a good plant? ( I already have Elodea all over the place )

 

[carsona246]

How many watts per gallon are you running? I havn't had any trouble with algae in my axolotl tanks, but I have less than 1 wpg in both tanks. I'd just try to get a fast growing plant to out compete the algae. How long do you leave your lights on a day? Changing my photoperiod from 8 hours a day to 6 when I ran a planted tank did wonders for my algae problem.

 

[iAxolotl]

Found possibly the problem; Im using a blue light that helps zooxanthellae algae.
The bluelight is 17 watts (from coral sun i think) and the other one is a Jewel 18 Watt warm lite.
First i turned on the lights 12 hours a day but i'm changing it to 8 hours.
If you want a pic of the tank i can give it.

 

[iChris]

12 hours a day is a lot of light even for a planted fish tank.

I would try cutting back to 6 hours, or only using the lamps when you are at home, eg, not working, and when there are people about to actually look at the tank, but try to keep a set timeframe as lights going on and off could annoy our axies.

 

[iAxolotl]

Every time i come from school i will turn the light on.
I'm going to set a timer thing.