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Posted by A Paul Ing on September 22, 2009, 1:46 pm
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On Sep 21, 3:26=A0pm, info_at_air-space_dot...@foo.com (DA) wrote:
> This is a noob question. I had an aquarium for many years now but when it
> comes to taking a good care of it, I'm pretty much still a noob.
>
> Anyways, here is the situation:
> About a year ago I had to move a 55 gal tank to an unfortunate place
> alongside the wall facing south windows, 12' away from the windows.
> Pretty much the only spot in the house I have for a tank this size. The
> algae has always been growing there but this year it is terrible. It form=
s
> dense dark brown threads that looks like fur on every surface, including
> the scarce water plants I had there. The plants are almost dead and the
> overall look is pretty terrible. The sun never directly hits the tank but
> there is still plenty of light in the room. Also, I'm running the aquariu=
m
> lights for approx 12 hours a day.
>
> I have an algae eater, just one but it's now a size of a small shark (I
> think due to great abundance of algae food). There is also just one other
> fish in that tank - a 7" cichlid. All the other fish died out a few years
> ago but those two seem to be doing pretty good.
>
> I would like to do something about the algae without =A0damaging the plan=
ts
> and destroying the entire food supply for the algae eater (which, again,
> has grown to become the centerpiece of the tank) . I was thinking about
> maybe shutting the lights sooner (or maybe not even running them at all
> for some time) but I'm not sure if the plants are going to like it.
> Anyways, what types of algae control techniques are known to work?
>
> I would greatly appreciate any suggestion or advise you guys may have.
>
> -------------------------------------
> this is ma sig
It will take a heap of algae eaters to keep up with the amount of
algae that can grow in an aquarium. Paint the back of the tank with
black latex paint to block out light, (also makes good contrast with
fish, removedead or brown and dying plants and plant growth, and
reduce your aquarium lights down to 8 hours for awhile. If your going
to replace the plants, keep lights off totally and you can also cover
up aquarium with a blanket etc to deprive it of any light which will
kill all algae most of the time in about 3 or so days. A few water
changes and good vac of tank will also help. Look up hydrogen peroxide
method of killing algae, its safe if done correctly, and a google
search should show proceedure for it. As for food for algae eater you
can get algae (spirolina ) tablets in any petshop for them to eat. 12
hours in that location is just way too long for lights to be on
without inducing an algae problem.
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> comes to taking a good care of it, I'm pretty much still a noob.
>
> Anyways, here is the situation:
> About a year ago I had to move a 55 gal tank to an unfortunate place
> alongside the wall facing south windows, 12' away from the windows.
> Pretty much the only spot in the house I have for a tank this size. The
> algae has always been growing there but this year it is terrible. It form=