[Nick]

Hey everyone...
Just got back from vacation and when i left i had some algea on the gravel and a little on the glass, no big deal. So than i got back today and the gravel is smothered in algae, I mean you can still see it, but there's a lot of it. Also on the glass. I didnt know if i should buy another pleco or what. I will be getting a magnet scraper for the glass. All advices are helpful, Thanks

Nick

 

[Lupin]

Hi Nick,

First of all,what kind of algae is that? It could be BGA(blue-green algae).
A pic may help identify the algae.
If it's BGA, then a blackout can be tried. If it fails, then you can try adding potassium nitrates. BGA is a result of very low or zero nitrates.

 

[Nick]

Hey blue not sure what type of algae. I'm actually positive its not BGA. My test results today were this
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate:10

My results are perfect. It's just normal algae, and i only have a small pleco so I was thinking on buying another one, a bigger one to get rid of it faster and more efficient. Didn't get a pic just yet.

Nick

 

[Lupin]

It's probably a gravel brown algae. To minimize its growth, you need to add more light tubes on that.

 

[Nick]

Hmmm...What about a bigger algae eater? That can actually do some help, untill my baby pleco gets bigger? I dont no what else to do....

 

[SimplySplendid]

I would advise against getting another pleco as they can outgrow a 55 gallon, especially having 2 of them. First try scraping the glass with a razor blade or algae scraper/magnet. Bleach your rocks and ornaments, then boil them to get the bleach out. That should help tremendously.
Good luck with the algae.

Brie

 

[Nick]

Its not the ornaments in the tank that has 'alot' of the algae. Its the glass and the gravel. And I'm not getting another pleco. I dont know why i said that.I think I am going to get a magnet scraper for the glass...Dont know about the gravel though

 

[SimplySplendid]

If only the top layer of gravel has algae, you could scoop it out and bleach and/or boil that.

 

[Nick]

yeah...well im going to do a 10% water change right now cause i havnt done one in a while. And im going to just find a scrubber to scrub the glass, to get the algea off. I'm just going to leave the algea on the bottom right now. C ya

 

[Nick]

Alrght well I just did a 10% water change and just got a new scrubber and the algea came right off 8).....Scared the crap out of my I thought my bala jumped out so i had an hour search for him but than found he was just hiding because he was scared...pretty much lol...Also the algae on the bottom just sort of got turned over cause i did a gravel vac so yea...I'm posting a picture of my whole tank again, just for an update.
Nick

 

[Lupin]

Nick, if you post a word which should be in asterisks, there's no need for you to post that. That's rather pointless as you are trying to state what exactly happened to the tank. Expressions like that(words which are to be posted in asterisks), however, may put a dent on your explanations.:wink:

I have replied to your pm by the way.:wink:

 

[Nick]

Sorry I didnt get at all what you said...are you talking a bout what I wrote for the topic? 'algae'?

 

[joeshmoe]

I think he means the word 'alot'.

 

[Lupin]

I'll pm you, Nick.:wink: