Algae

[NYfan78]

I am getting a lot of algae build up now that i have fish in the tank the light stays on most of the day and the moonlights come on at night. With 5 Labs and 1 Johanni as of now am I able to get any kind of snail or pleco in there to help with the algae? Thanks for the help guy!

 

[danger_chicken]

nerite snails and clown pleco's (I can't remember their L#)

 

[McFluffrichromis]

Plecos do ok with those fish if they are of similar size. I have plecos in almost all of my tanks with Tangs and Mbuna. I experienced issues when the plecos are smaller than the cichlids.

 

[chris_todd]

If your lights are on a timer, try either reducing the light period to 8 hours, or splitting it (e.g., four hours on, three hours off, four hours on).

 

[NYfan78]

I only have the moon lihts on timers. Nerite snails wont get picked on or eaten by the fish????

 

[jonclark96]

I haven't had any problems with fish eating the nerite snails, but I have them in with smaller new worlds.

 

[mscichlid]

Like Chris said, reduce your lighting duration, especially if your tank isn't planted. You could set your lights for the period you are home enjoying your tank. Why have them on when no one is home?

Perhaps have the main lights come on a half hour before you get home and a few hours later have the moon lights come on and then all the lights go off an hour after you go to bed?

 

[NYfan78]

Where can i find these Nerite snails? Anyone here sell em?

 

[chris_todd]

Where can i find these Nerite snails? Anyone here sell em?

Aquarium Depot in Randallstown has them in stock from time to time, and Rachel (msjinxd) on this forum has had them at times in the past (though I think the last time I checked with her, she was out).

There are some places online where you can order them as well (Arizona Aquatic Gardens, e.g., but there are others). http://www.azgardens.com/p-222-snail-algae-eating-olive-nerite-snail.aspx

The nice thing (or the bummer, depending on your point of view) about Nerites is that they will not multiply like rabbits in your tank, because their eggs need brackish conditions to hatch.

 

[fischfan13]

Less time with the lights on.
Less food.
Two small ancistrus.
A real plant or two.

That's it.

 

[iamzrad]

We have figured out the algae boom, too much wattage.
He's running 220watts on a 55gal!

 

[fischfan13]

We have figured out the algae boom, too much wattage.
He's running 220watts on a 55gal!

Cape Canaveral!

 

[NYfan78]

Phil helped realize I am over whelmed with too much lighting power. opps

 

[DonkeyFish]

I still say you need some plants

Seriously though...

 

[NYfan78]

Why plants?

 

[dogofwar]

The tank at the Gaithersburg library is lightly stocked and was getting a big algae bloom every time I did a water change (stringy algae).

I added a piece of Polyfilter to remove (among other things) the phosphates in our tap. Problem solved...

Matt

 

[fischfan13]

I still say you need some plants

Seriously though...

Absolutely.
...and lighter feedings and maybe an ancistrus or two.

The lighting is pretty bright, but I would say that you probably still have other issues.

 

[chris_todd]

We have figured out the algae boom, too much wattage.
He's running 220watts on a 55gal!

Hehe, yeah, that would be it. Light = algae food. Heck, most planted tanks don't run quite that much light (and the ones that do also include CO2 and fertilization).

Jen suggested plants because they can out-compete algae for the nutrients in the water column (nitrates, phosphates, etc.).

Just cutting the light output, and possibly tweaking the photoperiod, should solve the algae problem.