What are my Options? Opinions needed on algae control.

joshheat25

I have a ten gallon tank with 3 guppies two female one male, 3 neon tetras and a cory catfish. Now my tank is getting different types of algae on the glass/ornaments/suction cups. Instead of me cleaning it what can I get to eat/clean. I was thinking of either snails or obviously algae eaters. What are your experts opinions/ pro's and cons on both? Or are their other options?

Pre- thanx

joshheat25

http://www.fishforum.com/freshwater-...my-tank-30300/

JohnnyD44

you can always try and eliminate the algae through a 'natural' process......algae can be kept under control with partial water changes

what are you water parameters?

MoneyMitch

going to need to know what your nitrate levels are along with your light schedule. in the mean time cut your light cycle in half for a week or two and do like 30% w/c every three days or so.

Jack Middleton

Id'ing the algae will make it easier for us to advise you.

James' Planted Tank - Algae Guide

All algae will be caused by at least one of the following problems:
Lack of CO2
Unstable CO2
Lack of nitrate, phosphate and pottasium and even traces
Undetectable ammonia
To much light in relation to CO2 and ferts
Poor Circulation/filtration

Contrary to popular belief excess nitrate and phosphate do not cause algae

MoneyMitch

These resources backup what I said. Read this first and heres another one.

Jack Middleton

so you're saying that nitrates cause algae then? my planted tank get 40ppm of nitrate and 3ppm of phosphate a day, funnily enough my tank is algae free.

you may actually want to log onto UKAP's, where people that actually know about plants and algae go, and again you will find that nitrate and phosphate do not cause algae, the paper which you linked to is from 2007, it is old.

MoneyMitch

old but reliable, do you not see the agency's that are cited?

Jack Middleton

obviously the source isnt reliable, it has been proven that nitrates and phosphates dont cause algae.

Aquarium Algae ID (updated 16th Spet '08)

MoneyMitch

again look at the source... any real background info? NO any legitimate institutes? NO