[goldfish98]

About a week ago I noticed the gravel was turning a dark green color, and I saw green spots on the tank. I dumped the gravel in a cup and rinsed it out until it was clean, and I used a clean toothbrush to scrub the algae off the glass. For good measures, I also did a water change. It's been a week, and the algae is growing back! What could be causing this and how can I stop it? I have a 10 gallon, but I am currently bugging my parents to get a larger tank. I have one Hifin platy, two green lantern platy, and one Marigold wag swordtail.

 

[Boredomb]

How long are the lights on for? Does the tank get sun light? How much are you feeding them? Do you siphon the gravel? If so how often?

 

[goldfish98]

How long are the lights on for? Does the tank get sun light? How much are you feeding them? Do you siphon the gravel? If so how often?

I turn the lights on when I wake up (5:00) and turn them off around 8:30 at night. It gets very indirect sunlight. I feed them about a pinch once a day. Each fish gets around 3 flakes before speedy steals the rest :roll: I just got a gravel siphon the other day, which hasn't been used yet.

 

[Boredomb]

That's kind of a long photo period. Plus the waste building up in the gravel could be leading towards your algae problem. Algae doesn't need much to thrive on. A little food in this case could be the waste in the gravel and light is all that is needed for it. Would reduce the time and vacuum the gravel more and see if that helps.
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[beaslbob]

About a week ago I noticed the gravel was turning a dark green color, and I saw green spots on the tank. I dumped the gravel in a cup and rinsed it out until it was clean, and I used a clean toothbrush to scrub the algae off the glass. For good measures, I also did a water change. It's been a week, and the algae is growing back! What could be causing this and how can I stop it? I have a 10 gallon, but I am currently bugging my parents to get a larger tank. I have one Hifin platy, two green lantern platy, and one Marigold wag swordtail.

You tank is growing algae because it has the nutrients, light, and carbon dioxide needed for plant life.

Kill your lights and suspend feeding and the algae will die off. Usually in a few days.

If you do not have live plants, then adding fast growing plants will be a great help. The plants will consume the nutrients and starve out the algaes.


my .02

 

[goldfish98]

Are you saying I should not feed the fish? None of the food makes it to the bottom. Speedy makes quick work of it What would be the best time to turn the light on and off?

 

[beaslbob]

Are you saying I should not feed the fish? None of the food makes it to the bottom. Speedy makes quick work of it What would be the best time to turn the light on and off?

Don't get me wrong. This is not a permanent situation. Just a temporary fix.

Yes I do mean to not feed the fish.

And yes I mean to completely turn off the lights.

In a few days the algae will die off.

then resume with less duration lighting and less feeding.

And adjust. More of both if algae does not return. less of both if it does return.

Basically you have nutrients and light that is feeding the algae. By stopping both the algae dies off and returns nutrients your plants need. then by adjusting both you can reach a point where the plants thrive and the algae stays away.

but I can understand how it initially sounds. It just works.

if it makes you feel any better I have to do that occasionaly with my tanks.



my .02

 

[beaslbob]

and if you don't have live plants add some. like anacharis or vals.

If you already mentioned you have some



sorry


memory fails this old guy from time to time. :shock:

my .02

 

[goldfish98]

I already have the feeling that I underfeed them, stopping would kinda worry me. And keeping the light off doesn't really make the tank look pretty, but I could do that. As a side question, why does my hifin platy lay on the bottom of the tank soon after I turn the light off? Why do the other fish hide in the reef? Are they sleeping? The algae isnt actually growing on the decorations anymore, but I can see green dots on the glass of the tank.

 

[beaslbob]

I already have the feeling that I underfeed them, stopping would kinda worry me. And keeping the light off doesn't really make the tank look pretty, but I could do that. As a side question, why does my hifin platy lay on the bottom of the tank soon after I turn the light off? Why do the other fish hide in the reef? Are they sleeping? The algae isnt actually growing on the decorations anymore, but I can see green dots on the glass of the tank.

Fish do "sleep" with light out. Should get active once the lights come back on. Hiding is probably also a defense mechanism with low lights also.

actually a few green dots of algae is nothing to worry about. Could be the algae is already dying off. Which is a good thing requiring little to no action.


my .02

 

[goldfish98]

Its all over the glass though.

 

[beaslbob]

Its all over the glass though.

without any plants bout the only thing you can do is keep cleaning up the glass.

It will die off the glass with no light and no food being added.


my .02

 

[rexpepper651]

all good info has been said. no lights no food for a while. and then figure out how long and how much food should be giving along with a good cleaning schedule. add plants tho youll love it!

 

[goldfish98]

Eventually I will get a larger tank to start a community, and I will put the 10g in my bedroom and get a Beta. They look so pretty. It pains me to see them in tiny cups at the pet store they don't even have room to swim! Thank you for your advice, I will reduce the amount of light I give them and I will certainly do more cleaning.

 

[JonandJo]

I had the same problem when I first started eventually I was advised to black the tank out for a couple of days. I put a bin bag over it. After two days algae was gone. Hoovered the gravel and it's been good since.
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