Algae Problem
Monday January 12, 2009
Algae is one of the most frustrating problems an aquarium owner faces, as this forum member relates.
"I seem to have developed a problem with algae in my planted tank. About six months ago I noticed small snails in my tank that had been introduced on some new plants. Slowly, I got rid of them (by scooping them out one by one) because they were nibbling on my plants ..... A month or so ago I started seeing increased algae growth in the tank......
Should I re-introduce the snails on a limited basis? The only size snail that I have seen in my aquarium shop are the ones that are rather large and I really don't want to add them to my tank, but I don't want to add any unnecessary chemicals either. Please advise!
More About Algae
"I seem to have developed a problem with algae in my planted tank. About six months ago I noticed small snails in my tank that had been introduced on some new plants. Slowly, I got rid of them (by scooping them out one by one) because they were nibbling on my plants ..... A month or so ago I started seeing increased algae growth in the tank......
Should I re-introduce the snails on a limited basis? The only size snail that I have seen in my aquarium shop are the ones that are rather large and I really don't want to add them to my tank, but I don't want to add any unnecessary chemicals either. Please advise!
More About Algae
Comments
I would get a couple of algae eaters or a rubber lip pleco(it does not get nearly as big as standard plecos)rather than reintroduce those pesky little snails into your tank. If you do end up having to use a chemical I have had the best luck with API or Tetra brand products. My experiences with Jungle products have been poor ones so I recomend avoiding them.
I have had an algae problem. I cured filamentous algae by pulling it off using a stem of a plant. Green algae can be reduced by scrubbing and a good filter. Combine this with increased water changes. I boiled tap water to remove chlorine, rather than dechlorination products which have killed fish. Algae killers are OK, but will severely reduce oxygen, also killing anything that eat dead algae. Algae eaters do very little. Snails are good, but my fish eat them too. Biggest problem I have now is a black tufty algae. I’m trying scrubbing any contaminated items and removing infected leaves.