Annoying Algae!

[Laki]

I don't mind the algae on the glass, I bought a sponge scraper. It's the algae that clumps around the sponge on the filter and salvinia that bothers me.
Weekly, I remove all the salvinia and put it in a bowl of tank and tap water and with my hands try to remove the slimy algae. I never get it all and it doesn't matter anyway bc the lights will just grow it again.
Here's a few things I have done to confuse the growth of algae (which subsequently killed my hygrophilia in the process).. No set time for the lights. When I first got the 6500K light I left it on for about 14 hours a day like I read for planted tanks. Then to battle the algae I began turning it on and off at random times. (today was about 1130am) yesterday it was in the evening sometime. It worked for a coupld weeks and the algae laid off. Now it's back. I think it's a super strain lol

I do not overfeed. I have a filter and 2 snails (one nerite and one mysterious pond snail)

I do not know the parameters of my tap water and last couple of weeks I have been too poor and no time to go get water conditioner so I have been using aged water.

The algae ONLY attacks one side of the tank. The side with the light.


What to do?! (thanks )

[registereduser]

according to this article maybe a new bulb will help?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=712

[Laki]

Thanks that was an interesting, easy to read article!

My light is new- its an aquarium one which I bought in late August or September (I think) and it cost me 16.99$!!!So I'm not ready to buy a new one lol

I think it might be nitrates or phosphates. Because aren't those present in the tap water too? Plus in the tank there is biological processes. I don't know because I cannot afford a good water testing kit.

[registereduser]

maybe a phosphate control product?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-s...ps/c/3578/8057


I know nothing about them, maybe google "aquarium phosphate removal"

[FishyFishy89]

Reduce your lighting period. Algae feeds off of lighting. Also try some amano shrimps. Mine ate up my infesation in less than 5 days.

[Laki]

Amano shrimp?? Would they be in danger of being attacked or anything? I had bad luck with ghost shrimp, the ammonia spike off one dying killed Lakiti- I'm reluctant to try shrimp :( (unless people here have really awesome convincing powers)

I could reduce the photo period again, but I do have other live plants.

[FishyFishy89]

My amanos are in with my "eat everything" crowntail. They're the size of Spike(minus his fins of course) and ive never seen him attempt to eat them.

[Laki]

Ludey would peck them into permanent hiding. He did with the snails, ate half of them too. If I can get my grubby hands on some for cheap I might research them a bit, I have no money atm. Won't be able to afford anything until my next loan in January.

[FishyFishy89]

Maybe cheack your petco
Mine maybe weird but they arent stocking amanos anymore and were giving them out for free o.O

[Laki]

haha ! I wouldn't have that kind of luck!
Besides, Newfoundland hasn't ANY petco's. . . Yet. We only got our first PetSmart last March!